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Alvar Aalto Furniture

Finnish, 1898-1976

An architect and designer, Alvar Aalto deserves an immense share of the credit for bringing Scandinavian modernism to a prominent place in the global arena. In both his buildings and in his vintage furniture — which ranges from chairs, 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 in 1930 as part of his overall design of a Finnish tuberculosis sanatorium. Comfortable, yet light enough to be easily moved by patients, the 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 at the headrest and beneath the knees, creating a sort of pillow effect. Aalto’s use of plywood had 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 his wife, Aino Aalto, 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
Dealer: Berkshire Home & Antiques
Alvar Aalto L Leg Round Table
By ICF Group, Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Sheffield, MA
Alvar Aalto iconic Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern round table with birch L legs and contrasting black table top. 39.25" round. Table marked ICF, the retailer and designer/manufactur...
Category

1980s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture

Materials

Birch

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Alvar Aalto furniture for sale on 1stDibs

Furniture Alvar Aalto are available on 1stDibs for sale. These distinctive objects are often made of wood and designed with extraordinary care. In our collection of Alvar Aalto furniture, there are many options to choose from, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. In stock are 243 vintage editions of these items, while there is also a modern edition to choose from. Many of the original furniture by Alvar Aalto were created in Europe during the 20th century in the Mid-Century Modern style. If you are looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Yrjö Kukkapuro, Carl Gustav Hiort af Ornäs and Artek. The prices for Alvar Aalto furniture can vary depending on size, time period and other attributes. Price for these items starts at US$168 and tops out at US$57,817, while pieces like these can sell for US$4,200 on average.

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