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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: Obsolete
Alvar Aalto Lounge from the Paimio Santorium, France circa 1930
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Culver City, CA
Alvar Aalto lounge from the Paimio Santorium France Circa 1930 A metal foldable bed in original condition with wooden armrests and reclining back.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Alvar Aalto Furniture

Materials

Metal

Pair Alvar Aalto Armchairs, Finland, circa 1930
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Culver City, CA
Pair Alvar Aalto armchairs, Finland, circa 1930 Designed by Alvar Aalto for the Stora Enso Headquarters in Finland. Original light blue upholstery, wi...
Category

Mid-20th Century Finnish Modern Alvar Aalto Furniture

Materials

Leather, Upholstery

Related Items
Pair of Alvar Aalto Tank Chairs, Rare High-Back Version, Artek Finland
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Little Paimio Cantilevered Chair by Alvar Aalto, Model 31/42
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"Little Paimio" chair 31/42 was originally created for the interior of a tuberculosis sanatorium in the Finnish city of Paimio, this is considered one of Aalto’s masterpieces. Thi...
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Mid-20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Alvar Aalto Furniture

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Early Model 402 Armchair by Alvar Aalto, Made in Finland, 1930s
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The Model 402 lounge chair or ‘Atelje’ chair was designed by Alvar and Aino Aalto in 1933 for and is considered a masterpiece of modernist furniture design. The Classic, well-balance...
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Pair Alvar Aalto Paimio 41 Armchairs Chairs
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Pair of Alvar Aalto "Paimio 41" armchairs / lounge chairs. The chairs are lacquered birch and bentwood.
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Alvar Aalto Rare Set of Early Armchairs, 1939
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Helsinki, FI
Exceptionally rare set of early Alvar Aalto armchairs for O.Y Wilhelm Schauman A.B Jyväskylä, Finland, 1939. Custom ordered for NY World's Fair Res...
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Mid-20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Alvar Aalto Furniture

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  • Alvar Aalto Rare Set of Early Armchairs, 1939
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H 31.5 in. W 24.22 in. D 20.48 in.
Alvar Aalto, a Pair of Lounge Chairs, Model 'RB 511' for Artek, 1960s
By Artek, Alvar Aalto
Located in Odense, DK
A refined pair of lounge chairs, legs made in solid birch and fabric upholstered in a turquoise alcantara. Designed by Alvar Aalto for Artek in Finland. Model "RB 511". This rare col...
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Mid-20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Alvar Aalto Furniture

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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...
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Mid-20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Alvar Aalto Furniture

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Mid century Scandinavian modern blonde bentwood daybed style of Alvar Aalto
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Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Mid century Scandinavian Modern daybed in the manner of Alvar Aalto or Westnofa with bent beech bentwood legs and blue woven upholstery. unsigned, c. 1970. Good vintage condition eas...
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Alvar Aalto 402 Series Armchair for Artek, circa 1960
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Armchair designed by Alvar Aalto manufactured, circa 1960. Curved birch plywood and braided vegetable fiber. Measures: 74 x 61 x 69 cm In good original condition with minor w...
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1960s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture

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Alvar Aalto Paimio Chair, Artek
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Paimio Chair in bentwood frame with white laminate seat. Iconic design by Alvar Aalto in 1929 this version was produced by Artek in 2002 and retains it...
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Early 20th Century Finnish Modern Alvar Aalto Furniture

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H 26 in. W 24 in. D 35 in.
Alvar Aalto Lounge Chair in Birch Plywood Model 31/41, 1935 Finland
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Hellouw, NL
Alvar Aalto lounge chair Model 31/41, 1935 Finland. This cantilever chair is made of shaped birch plywood and stained dark. It has a stamp with illegible numbers underneath. This chair is designed for the Paimio Sanatorium...
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Alvar Aalto 402 Series pair of Armchair for Artek, circa 1960, lambskin
By Artek, Alvar Aalto
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Lounge chairs designed by Alvar Aalto manufactured, circa 1960. New upholstered with lambskin Curved birch plywood and braided vegetable fiber. Measures: 74 x 61 x 69 cm.  
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1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture

Materials

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Previously Available Items
Alvar Aalto Cantilevered Armchairs, Finland, Circa 1930
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Culver City, CA
Alvar Aalto Cantilevered armchairs Finland Circa 1930 A pre-Artek 401 padded armchair, designed by Alvar Aalto for the Paimio Sanatorium. Newly uph...
Category

20th Century Finnish Modern Alvar Aalto Furniture

Materials

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Alvar Aalto Lounge Chair Model 31/42, Finland, Circa 1935
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Culver City, CA
Alvar Aalto lounge chair model 31/42, Finland, Circa 1935. Deformed birch plywood, partly painted black. Marked with punch 924 under the runners with Finmark LTD plastic badge on ...
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1930s Finnish Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture

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Pair of Alvar Aalto Armchairs, Finland, circa 1930
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Culver City, CA
Pair of Alvar Aalto armchairs, Finland circa 1930. Designed by Alvar Aalto for the Stora Enso Headquarters in Finland. Original light blue upholstery, with leather armrests and br...
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Pair of Alvar Aalto Armchairs
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Culver City, CA
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20th Century Finnish Alvar Aalto Furniture

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  • Pair of Alvar Aalto Armchairs
  • Pair of Alvar Aalto Armchairs
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Alvar Aalto Bentwood Stools, Finland, circa 1950
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Culver City, CA
Alvar Aalto bentwood stools, Finland, circa 1950. Model K65 teak barstools in original condition. Measures: 13" W x 14" D x 28" H x 23.5" seat.
Category

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Model 44 Lounge Chair by Alvar Aalto, circa 1930
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Culver City, CA
Model 44 lounge chair by Alvar Aalto, made in Finland, circa 1930. Low profile sculptural armchair with bentwood frame in original tw...
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1930s Finnish Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture

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Pair of Model 31 Armchairs by Alvar Aalto
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Culver City, CA
Pair of model 31 armchairs by Alvar Aalto. Birch plywood laminate on a cantilever structure. Designed for the Paimio Sanitarium.
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1930s Finnish Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto Furniture

Materials

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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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