Alvar Aalto Furniture
Finnish, 1898-1976
An architect and designer, Alvar Aalto deserves an immense share of the credit for bringing Scandinavian modernism and Nordic design to a prominent place in the global arena. In both his buildings and his vintage furniture — which ranges from chairs, stools, tables and lighting to table- and glassware — Aalto’s sensitivity to the natural world and to organic forms and materials tempered the hardness of rationalist design.
Relatively few Aalto buildings exist outside Finland. (Just four exist in the United States, and only one — the sinuous 1945 Baker House dormitory at M.I.T. — is easily visited.) International attention came to Aalto, whose surname translates to English as “wave,” primarily through his furnishings.
Instead of the tubular metal framing favored by the Bauhaus designers and Le Corbusier, Aalto insisted on wood. His aesthetic is best represented by the Paimio armchair, developed with his wife, Aino Aalto, in 1930 as part of the overall design of a Finnish tuberculosis sanatorium.
Comfortable, yet light enough to be easily moved by patients, the Paimio chair’s frame is composed of two laminated birch loops; the seat and back are formed from a single sheet of plywood that scrolls under the headrest and beneath the knees, creating a sort of pillow effect. Aalto’s use of plywood had an enormous influence on Charles and Ray Eames, Arne Jacobsen, Marcel Breuer and others who later came to the material.
Concerned with keeping up standards of quality in the production of his designs, Aalto formed the still-extant company Artek in 1935, along with Aino, whose glass designs were made by the firm. In the latter medium, in 1936 the Aaltos together created the iconic, undulating Savoy vase, so-called for the luxe Helsinki restaurant for which the piece was designed.
Artek also produced Aalto pendants and other lighting designs, many of which — such as the Angel’s Wing floor lamp and the Beehive pendant — incorporate a signature Aalto detail: shades made of concentric enameled-metal rings graduated down in diameter. The effect of the technique is essential Alvar Aalto: at once precise, simple, and somehow poetic.
Find a collection of vintage Alvar Aalto stools, vases, dining tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.
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Creator: Alvar Aalto
Alvar Aalto 40s 403 Hallway Chair
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Tomi, Nagano
40s 403 hallway chair.
Upholstery by Kvadrat canvas.
Category
1940s Finnish Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Birch
alvar aalto stool60 finmar 30's painted black
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Tomi, Nagano
alvar aalto 30's finmar .
Finmar tag remains on the back of the seat.
The seat is painted black, but pink paint can be seen here and there.
The legs also se...
Category
1930s Finnish Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Birch
Early Model 65 Chair by Alvar Aalto, ,
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Buffalo, NY
Model 65 encapsulates designer Alvar Aalto’s approach to systematic, rational design within the context of Finnish minimalism; showcasing clean lines and his favoured use of birchwood.The bolts, showcased along the back legs, imbued the chair with Aalto’s signature industrial design sensibility.This is a wonderful early example,, The color ,,finish and patina is outstanding.. Chair seat has been reupholstered in a classic Marimekko fabric
Category
1930s Finnish Bauhaus Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Birch
Alvar Aalto Model “A704” Table Lamp for Valaistustyö Ky, Finland 1950s
By Valaistustyö, Alvar Aalto
Located in Utrecht, NL
Finland and Helsinki were extremely important in the Mid-Century Modern design history, and one of its most famous designers was Alvar Aalto. In contrast with the functionalism of th...
Category
1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Leather
Model #43 Armchair, Maija Heikinheimo w. Alvar Aalto, Finland, 1960s
By Alvar Aalto
Located in London, GB
A substantial carver armchair designed by Maija Heikinheimo with Alvar Aalto for Artek circa 1950.
Visually, the frame of the chair is most informed by the legs. To create the legs ...
Category
Late 20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Leather, Upholstery, Birch
Vintage Crystal Vase, Alvar Aalto, 1980s
By Orrefors, Alvar Aalto
Located in Roma, IT
This vintage crystal vase is a decorative crystal object designed by Alvar Aalto and manufactured by the Swedish Companies Orrefors and Ittala in ...
Category
1980s Swedish Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Glass
Original Photo of Alvar Aalto Lounge chair / Finland - 1950
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Praha, CZ
- Czechoslovakia, 1950
- Museum of decorative Arts in Czech republic
- suitable for framing
- photographed by Illek and Paul
jr
Category
1950s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Paper
Alvar Aalto for Valaistustyö Ky, Desk Lamp, model A704, original early example
By Alvar Aalto, Valaistustyö
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
Alvar Aalto (Finnish 1898-1976)
Leather Desk Lamp, model A704, made by Valaistustyö, Finland 1950s
Designed in 1954, the A704 lamp has a black enamelled metal shade with double-lay...
Category
1950s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Metal
Alvar Aalto Angel Wing Floor Lamp Model A805 by Valaistustyö in Finland
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare and first production angel wing floor lamp model A805 designed by Alvar Aalto. Produced by Valaistustyö in Finland.
Category
1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Brass, Steel
Alvar Aalto 40s 406 Chair
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Tomi, Nagano
40s 406 chari.upholstery by jute webbing.
early production.
Category
1940s Finnish Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Birch, Fabric
Angel wing édition artek
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Paris, FR
Hand-riveted, white-painted metal slats. Black leather-covered tube and base. Polished brass or nickel-plated brass top.
The A805 floor lamp is characterized by the thin strips of ha...
Category
Late 20th Century European Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Metal
A Pair of Alvar Aalto Hallway Chairs, Model 403 by Finmar
By Finmar, Alvar Aalto
Located in London, GB
Pair of rare Hallway Chairs Model No.403 by Finmar, designed by Alvar Aalto.
An early production of one of Aalto’s classic designs. A classic piece of Scandinavian modernism, the Ha...
Category
Mid-20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Plywood
alvar aalto stool60 natural 1950's
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Tomi, Nagano
Designed by Alvar Aalto.
This stool60 was manufactured in the 1950s.
Category
1950s Finnish Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Birch
Alvar Aalto Serving Trolley 901 by Artek
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
901 Serving Trolley by Alvar Aalto. Authentic, stamp on bottom. 90s. Birchwood frame and linoleum covered trays. 35w 20d 20h
Category
1990s Finnish Modern Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Laminate, Wood
alvar aalto chair69 natural hedemora 1940's
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Tomi, Nagano
Designed by Alvar Aalto.
This chair 69 was manufactured in the 1940s.
It is from the era when it was manufactured in Hedemora, Sweden.
It has a structure manufactured with hedemora f...
Category
1940s Swedish Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Birch
Finnish Design Classic Lounge Chair No 401 by Alvar Aalto, 1930s
By Alvar Aalto, Huonekalu-Ja Rakennustyötedas Oy
Located in Renens, CH
Early edition of the 401 cantilever lounge chair designed by Alvar Aalto and produced by Huonekalu Ja Rakennustyötehdas (Turku, Finland) during the late 1930s.
Our version was re-u...
Category
1930s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Birch
alvar aalto stool60 vinyl leather red 1950's
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Tomi, Nagano
Designed by Alvar Aalto.
This stool 60 was manufactured in the 1950's.
The seat is covered with vinyl leather.
The condition of the vinyl leather is not torn, but there are some stai...
Category
1950s Finnish Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Birch
alvar aalto chair69 natural hedemora 1940's
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Tomi, Nagano
Designed by Alvar Aalto.
This chair 69 was manufactured in the 1940s.
It is from the era when it was manufactured in Hedemora, Sweden.
It has a structure manufactured with hedemora f...
Category
1940s Swedish Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Birch
alvar aalto stool60 natural 1950's
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Tomi, Nagano
Designed by Alvar Aalto.
This stool60 was manufactured in the 1950s.
Category
1950s Finnish Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Birch
Vintage White Bench by Designer Alvar Aalto
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Brescia, IT
Artek's 153A bench was designed by Alvar Aalto in 1945 and is still a modern and elegant design piece today.
The seat is made of solid birch and rests on ...
Category
1940s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Wood
Alvar Aalto Bedside Table for Paimio Sanatorium
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Tomi, Nagano
Alvar aalto design bed side table for paimio sanatorium
It is original paint and mark.
it was actually used in paimio sanatorium.
Category
1930s Finnish Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Iron
Pair of Model 401 Alvar Aalto Wing Chairs
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Stamford, CT
A pair of laminated birch wood wingback armchairs designed by Alvar Aalto. Unmarked but presumed to be produced by Arte in the 1970s. Newly upholstered i...
Category
1970s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Birch
alvar aalto chair68 Painted White 1950's
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Tomi, Nagano
Designed by Alvar Aalto.
This is chair 68 .
White paint is applied all over.
This chair was manufactured in the 1950s.
Category
1950s Finnish Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Birch
alvar aalto stool60 vinyl leather red 1950's
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Tomi, Nagano
Designed by Alvar Aalto.
This stool 60 was manufactured in the 1950's.
The seat is covered with vinyl leather.
The condition of the vinyl leather is not torn, but there are some stai...
Category
1950s Finnish Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Birch
alvar aalto stool60 painted red 1930's
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Tomi, Nagano
Designed by Alvar Aalto.
This stool 60 was manufactured in the 1930's.
This stool is painted red and white.
There is some peeling and damage in the paint here and there, but it is a ...
Category
1930s Finnish Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Birch
Dining Chairs by Alvar Aalto for Artek, 1933
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Sagaponack, NY
Set of four Alvar Aalto model No.62 laminated birch dining chairs produced by Artek in the late 1940s. The model of this listing, No.62, is slightly larger in scale than a very simil...
Category
1940s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Plywood, Upholstery, Leather
alvar aalto stool60 natural 1950's
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Tomi, Nagano
Designed by Alvar Aalto.
This stool60 was manufactured in the 1950s.
There is some damage to the seat.
Category
1950s Finnish Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Birch
Table Lamp Model A704 Designed by Alvar Aalto for Valaistustyö, Finland, 1950s
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Stockholm, SE
Lacquered metal and leather.
Measurements:
H: 38 cm/ 15"
D: 38 cm/ 15"
W: 36 cm/ 14 1/8"
Alvar Aalto was a Finnish architect and designer. His work includes architecture, furniture...
Category
1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Metal
1950s Pair of Aino & Alvar Aalto for Artek Laminated Birch Shelves, Model 112B
By Aino Aalto, Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a pair of wall shelves, Model 112B designed in 1936 by Aino and Alvar Aalto for Artek. This is an early and important pair, and is rarely seen in the American marketplace. Th...
Category
1950s Finnish Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Birch
Early Production Alvar Aalto Hallway Chair, Model 403 by Finmar
By Alvar Aalto
Located in London, GB
This exceptionally rare early production Alvar Aalto Hallway Chair, model 403, was designed for Finmar and showcases Aalto’s iconic use of be...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Plywood
Arm Chair in Black Linen by Alvar Aalto for Artek, 1947
By Artek, Alvar Aalto
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A laminated birch armchair with a black linen webbed seat and cane wrapped arms.
Category
1940s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Birch
30's alvar aalto 403 hallway chair painted white
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Tomi, Nagano
The early 403 was characterized by making the best use of the flexibility of the pre-wood, without the bearing surface on the cross.
This is an individual that has been painted in...
Category
1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Birch
2000s Pair of Model 402 Lounge Chairs by Aino & Alvar Aalto for Artek
By Aino Aalto, Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a pair of model 402 lounge ‘Ateljé’ chairs, designed by Aino and Alvar Aalto for Artek in 1933. This particular pair was born in the mid 2000s. These classic cantilever loung...
Category
Early 2000s Finnish Modern Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Birch
Alvar Aalto, Pair of Armchairs Model 402 for Finmar, 1930's
By Alvar Aalto
Located in London, GB
With bent beechwood sculptural frame and cantilevered wooden design, these chairs are a classic Aalto, encapsulating the beauty of mid-Century modernism.
They armchairs have been n...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Art Deco Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Beech
Alvar Aalto 401 Wingback Chair by Artek Finland, 1970s
By Alvar Aalto
Located in London, GB
Alvar Aalto 401 wingback chair by Artek Finland, 1970s.
Bent birch and plywood frame, recently reupholstered in a high quality cream boucle.
About the de...
Category
Mid-20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Bouclé
Beehive Pendent by Alvar Aalto for Artek
By Alvar Aalto
Located in San Francisco, CA
A classic beehive pendant model A331 by Alvar Aalto for Artek of white aluminum and chrome-plated steel rings that filter the light beautifully. ...
Category
1950s Finnish Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Aluminum, Steel
Alvar Aalto furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Alvar Aalto furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Alvar Aalto furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 448 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 8 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Alvar Aalto were created in the Scandinavian Modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Ilmari Tapiovaara, Oy Stockmann AB, and Yrjö Kukkapuro. Prices for Alvar Aalto furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $113 and can go as high as $80,707, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $3,662.
Creators Similar to Alvar Aalto
Questions About Alvar Aalto Furniture
- What style did Alvar Aalto use?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024The style most commonly associated with Alvar Aalto is Scandinavian modern. As an architect and designer, Aalto deserves an immense share of the credit for bringing Scandinavian modernism and Nordic design to a prominent place in the global arena. In both his buildings and his vintage furniture, Aalto's sensitivity to the natural world and organic forms and materials tempered the hardness of rationalist design, as is indicative of Scandinavian modern pieces. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Alvar Aalto furniture.
- What is Alvar Aalto known for?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024Alvar Aalto is known for bringing Scandinavian modernism and Nordic design to global prominence. In his designs for buildings and furniture, Aalto's sensitivity to the natural world and to organic forms and materials tempered the hardness of rationalist design. One of his most famous pieces is the Paimio armchair, which he designed in 1930 for a Finnish tuberculosis sanatorium. Comfortable yet light enough to be easily moved by patients, the Paimio chair's frame is made of two laminated birch loops. The seat and back are formed from a single sheet of plywood that scrolls under the headrest and beneath the knees, creating a pillow effect. Aalto's use of plywood had an enormous influence on Charles and Ray Eames, Arne Jacobsen, Marcel Breuer and many others. On 1stDibs, shop an assortment of Alvar Aalto furniture.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2024The Paimio chair, designed by Alvar Aalto, is a type of armchair created in 1932. Also called the Armchair 41, it was intended to help people breathe easier and was designed for a tuberculosis sanatorium in the Finnish city of Paimio. For the chair's frame, Aalto and his wife, Aino, opted to use Finland's native birchwood, which is strong and inexpensive and felt warmer and more organic than the tubular steel found in similarly shaped pieces. Laminated wood loops form the arms, legs and a pair of flat skids, while its sculptural seat and back are built from a single piece of thin plywood. Shop a variety of Alvar Aalto Paimio chairs on 1stDibs.
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