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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Period: 1930s
Creator: Alvar Aalto
Original Photo of Furniture/Interior by Alvar Aalto, Marcel Breuer, 1937
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Praha, CZ
- Czechoslovakia
- Museum of decorative arts in Prague
- suitable for framing
- photographed by Illek and Paul
jr.
Category
1930s Czech Scandinavian Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Paper
Alvar Aalto Pair of Shelves Model 112-2, Artek
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Helsinki, FI
A pair of shelves designed by Alvar Aalto for Artek in the 1930s. They are made from bent laminated birch, solid birch, and plywood birch. The items ca...
Category
1930s Finnish Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Birch
Early Alvar Aalto Finsven Inc. Occasional Table
By Alvar Aalto, Finsven
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Early Alvar Aalto for Finsven Inc. Side Table, End Table, Coffee Table, Circa 1940. Featuring a rectangular form, newly relacquered Black surface, multi layered Birch bentwood legs, ...
Category
1930s Swedish Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Enamel
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 7 Stackable Stools Model No 60, 1930s
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Helsinki, FI
These seven Alvar Aalto iconic stools from 1930s are beautiful and space saving furniture pieces of timeless design. The legs are mounted direct...
Category
1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Birch
30's alvar aalto 403 hallway chair painted white
By Alvar Aalto
Located in 東御市, JP
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
Alvar Aalto Room / Screen Divider, Finland, 1960s
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Stockholm, SE
Excellent vintage condition with signs of usage and patina.
Pinewood. Produced by Artek, Finland, late 1960s.
Measures:
Height 150 cm
W 200 cm.
Category
1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Pine
Alvar Aalto 31 Armchair
By Alvar Aalto
Located in London, England
Alvar Aalto 31 armchair.
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Bentwood
Early Alvar Aalto 'Model 2' Arm Chair, 1930
By O.Y.Huonekalu, Alvar Aalto
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Original early Alvar Aalto 'Model 2' armchair for O.Y. Huonekalu- ja Rakennustyötehdas A.B., in molded plywood and solid birch. Unrestored condition with partly significant wear. Lat...
Category
1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Plywood
Set of 2 First Edition Alvar Aalto 402 Chairs for Finmar, 1930s
By Finmar, Alvar Aalto
Located in amstelveen, NL
402 Chair, Alvar Aalto, Finmar, 1933
The 402 armchair was designed by Alvar Aalto in 1933. Aalto was a famous architect and one of the most influential...
Category
1930s European Art Deco Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Birch
Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Pair of Chairs Model 69 by Alvar Aalto
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Courbevoie, FR
Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian pair of chairs model 69 by Alvar Aalto. Chair 69 is one of Artek’s most popular chairs, a universal wooden chair in the tradit...
Category
1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Beech
Functionalist Birch Desk by Alvar Aalto for Artek, Finland, 1930s
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Stockholm, SE
Striking desk by Alvar Aalto, made from birch in a compact functionalist design. Drawers to the right and a filing cabinet to the left with a jalousie door.
Ink spots inside the t...
Category
1930s Finnish Scandinavian 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 Model 406 Lounge Chairs
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Highland, IN
Aalto's 1936 design, the model 406 lounge chair is a perfect example of understated Finnish design. The bent wood cantelivered frame of laminated birch and n...
Category
1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Birch
Alvar Aalto 31 Lounge Chair for the Paimio Sanitorium, Finland, 1931
By Alvar Aalto
Located in London, GB
Huonekalu-ja Rakennustyötehdas
As an architect and designer, Alvar Aalto (1898-1976) should be celebrated for bringing Scandinavian modernism to global prominence. His sensitivity t...
Category
1930s Finnish Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Birch
Alvar Aalto Chair 2, Mode 15.1930
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Madrid, ES
An Alvar Aalto Borchardt chair, model 15, designed by Alvar Aalto and edited in 1930. Stamped. Upholstered in Eames style fabrics. Excellent condition.
Category
1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Birch
Rare, Early Alvar Aalto Model 31/42 Cantilevered Armchairs, Finland, 1930s
By Alvar Aalto
Located in London, GB
Rare, early Alvar Aalto model 31/42 cantilevered armchairs, Finland, 1930s, designed and produced in the 1930s. Painted birch-veneered bent plywoo...
Category
1930s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Birch, Plywood
Alvar Aalto Armchair 41 "Paimio" Produced by Artek, 1963
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Stockholm, SE
Produced 1963 by Artek, acquired new by previous owner. Designed by Alvar Aalto in 1932, Armchair 41 was created for the interior of a tuberculosis sanator...
Category
1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Birch
Armchair 42 “Little Paimio” Designed by Alvar Aalto, Finland, 1931
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Stockholm, SE
Armchair 42 “Small Paimio” designed by Alvar Aalto,
Finland, 1931.
Bent birch and lacquered plywood.
Dimesnions:
H: 63 cm/ 2' 1"
W: 60 cm/ 1' 11 1/2"
D: ...
Category
1930s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Birch
1930s Finnish "World's Fair" Table by Alvar Aalto for Artek
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A rare, museum quality, table with a solid teak top on laminated maple legs. Retaining a partial label from the 1939 World's Fair.
Category
1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Teak, Maple
Vintage Pair Hallway 403 Chairs by Alvar Aalto
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Pasadena, TX
Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto was born at Kuortane, Finland, February 3, 1898. He received his diploma in architecture from the Helsinki Institute of Technology in 1921. There were few com...
Category
1930s Finnish Art Deco Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Birch
Rare Alvar Aalto Armchair No. 31, Early Example, circa 1934
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Stockholm, SE
Alvar Aalto armchair No. 31. Produced by Huonekalu-ja Rakennustyötehdas Oy Turku, circa 1934-1935.
Bent laminated birch frame, seat in laminated birch root veneer.
Category
1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Birch
Alvar Aalto Cantilever Chair, Model 31
By Alvar Aalto
Located in San Francisco, CA
Alvar Aalto cantilever chair, model 31.
A very rare 1st edition model 31 lounge chair by Alvar Aalto in birch plywood with a floating bac...
Category
1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Birch
Vintage Pair of Hallway 403 Chairs by Alvar Aalto
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Pasadena, TX
Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto was born at Kuortane, Finland, February 3, 1898. He received his diploma in architecture from the Helsinki Institute of Technology in 1921. There were few com...
Category
1930s Finnish Art Deco Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Birch
Stool 60 by Alvar Aalto for Artek, 80 years anniversary model
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Centreville, VA
Alvar Aalto's iconic Stool 60 is the most elemental of furniture pieces, equally suitable as a seat, a table, storage unit, or display surface. Born of modernist ideals and Finnish i...
Category
1930s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Bentwood
Vintage Aalto Table rectangular (Table 81B) by Alvar Aalto for Artek
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Centreville, VA
Table 81B with red linoleum top
(Red linoleum top is no longer in production)
The Aalto Table rectangular is a perfect solution for numerous spaces, from a small kitchen to large di...
Category
1930s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Birch
Rare Alvar Aalto Radio Table, Oy Huonekalu- ja Rakennustyötehdas Ab, 1930s
By Oy Huonekalu-ja Rakennustyötehdas Ab, Alvar Aalto
Located in Helsinki, FI
Rare Alvar Aalto radio table, manufactured by Oy Huonekalu- ja Rakennustyötehdas Ab, 1930s. Stained birch. Great condition, minor patina consistent with age and use.
Alvar Aalto (1...
Category
1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Birch
Se of Three Model 112B Shelves, Alvar Aalto, Oy Huonekalu- ja Rakennustyötehdas
By Oy Huonekalu-ja Rakennustyötehdas Ab, Alvar Aalto
Located in Helsinki, FI
Se of three model 112B shelves, design by Alvar Aalto, manufactured by Oy Huonekalu- ja Rakennustyötehdas Ab, 1930s. Birch. Good vintage condition, minor patina consistent with age a...
Category
1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Birch
Chair 65 by Alvar Aalto for Artek (Blue Linoleum)
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Centreville, VA
Clean lines and a simple structure define the design of Chair 65.
A low, rectangular backrest is formed from a single piece of birch plywood and has a slight curve that forms natur...
Category
1930s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture
Materials
Bentwood
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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