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.
$1,054Sale Price|30% Off
Alvar Aalto Sculptural Aluminium Door Handles
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Turku, Finland
Sculptural Door Handles designed by Alvar Aaltos. Made in Finland. Material: Alumininum Includes two handles and spacer. No connecting screws / rose screws.
Metal, Aluminum
$16,000Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 9.63 in W 2 in D 3.25 in
Alvar Aalto Bronze Door Hardware / Pulls, Set of 4
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Round Top, TX
Alvar Aalto originally designed this door handle for the National Pensions Institute in Helsinki (1948-57) and, because it was such a successful form, reused in on many of his subseq...
Bronze
Brass Palais Door Handle by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass Palais Door Handle by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 13 x D 8 x H 2 cm Materials: Brass Palais lever handle in high tensile brass or aluminium. Each ha...
Brass
Architectural Bronze Push Pull Door Handle Wave Relief
Located in London, GB
Artistic bronze cast door handle with a textural relief like a wave, suitable for push and pull doors.
Bronze
$7,171Sale Price|20% Off
H 77.56 in W 37.41 in D 2.76 in
Brutalist Aluminium Door Panel with Antique Bronze Finish
By Billy Joe Mccarroll and David Gillespe
Located in London, GB
A Brutalist aluminium door panel with integrated handle and bronzed patina. Second half 20th century, found in Belgium. A sculptural piece, unsigned, reminiscent of the style of Bil...
Aluminum
1970s Brutalist Solid Bronze Door Handle Keyhole Germany
By Paul Evans
Located in Chula Vista, CA
AMBIANIC presents Bronze Abstract Door Handle and Keyhole Plate Germany Bronze door handle 5.75 tall x 6.75 w x 2.5 stamped by maker Keyhole 1.88 x 1.88 x .25 Original preowned vinta...
Bronze
Large Clear Glass Door Handles Pair, Round Push & Pull
Located in London, GB
Pairs of round double door 1960's push and pull handles in clear glass with subtile wave relief, cast glass (2cm thick) with aluminum fittings. They are designed for a glass doors bu...
Aluminum
Modernist ceramic door handle on aluminum support, 1950s
Located in Marinha Grande, PT
Magnificent ceramic door handle on aluminum support. From the 50s, modernist style. Beautiful colors and superb iridescence. The ceramic tile is square with dimensions: 15.5 cm x 15....
Aluminum
Lalique Crystal "Faunes" Door Handles
By Marc Lalique
Located in Bridgewater, CT
Exquisite and grand decorative door handles with gilt brass mounts, dating from the early 1980s. Featuring two stunning clear crystal faunes sculpted in relief, set against an intric...
Crystal
Antique Surrealist Sculpture Door Handle Brass Belgium
Located in Munich, DE
This extraordinary sculpture of the lower part of a face with a neck is a solid bronze cast with a beautiful patina. It is mounted as a door handle. The sculpture was found in Brusse...
Bronze
Sculptural Bronze Door Handle with Abstract Design
Located in London, GB
A sculptural bronze push or pull door handle with abstract relief. Germany, second half 20th century (probably 1970s). A heavy piece, made of cast metal, with very nice changing ton...
Bronze
Lalique door handles "Fauns"
By Marc Lalique
Located in Bridgewater, CT
Created by Marc Lalique in 1962, the Faunes door handles show two crystal fauns sculpted in relief, set amongst a motif of vine leaves and bunches of grapes. Handcrafted in France ...
Crystal
Finnish Copper and Pine Door Handles, 1930s
Located in Helsinki, Uusimaa
Finnish copper and pine door handles from the 1930s. Reminiscent of Alvar Aalto's design. Good vintage condition, patina and wear consistent with age and use. The handles are sold as...
Copper
Sold
H 3.94 in W 1.97 in D 9.85 in
Alvar Aalto Sculptural Door Handles/Pulls in Cast Bronze, Valaistustyö 1950s
By Alvar Aalto, Valaistustyö
Located in Helsinki, FI
Two sleek, heavy and elegant mid-century door handles in full bronze. Manufactured by valaistustyö and designed by Alvar Aalto himself. Very practical yet stand out as sculptural pie...
Bronze
Door Handle in Bronze by Alvar Aalto for Valaistustyö
By Valaistustyö, Alvar Aalto
Located in Espoo, FI
Alvar Aalto's door handle, material bronze, manufactured by Valaistustyö. In great used condition with beautiful bronze colour.
Bronze
Door Handles in Bronze by Alvar Aalto for Valaistustyö
By Valaistustyö, Alvar Aalto
Located in Espoo, FI
Pair of Alvar Aalto's door handles, material bronze, manufactured by Valaistustyö. In great used condition with beautiful bronze colour.
Bronze
Sold
H 9.45 in W 1.97 in D 3.75 in
Alvar Aalto Sculptural Door Handles / Pulls in Cast Bronze, Valaistustyö 1950s
By Alvar Aalto, Valaistustyö
Located in Helsinki, FI
Two sleek, heavy and elegant mid-century door handles in full bronze. Manufactured by valaistustyö and designed by Alvar Aalto himself. Very practical yet stand out as sculptural pie...
Bronze
Alvar Aalto Bronze Door Handles By Valaistustyö
By Valaistustyö, Alvar Aalto
Located in Helsinki, FI
Two very distinct and elegant mid-century door handles in full bronze. Manufactured by valaistustyö and designed by Alvar Aalto himself. Very practical yet stand out pieces with guar...
Bronze
Alvar Aalto Sculptural Door Handles, 1950s, Nickel Plated Brass
By Alvar Aalto, Valaistustyö
Located in Turku, Finland
Sculptural Door Handles designed by Alvar Aalto in 1950s. Made in Finland. Materials: Nickel-plated Brass. Includes two handles and spacer. No screws. Rarely for sale.
Metal, Brass, Nickel
Alvar Aalto Sculptural Door Handles, 1950s, Nickel Plated Brass
By Alvar Aalto, Valaistustyö
Located in Turku, Finland
Sculptural Door Handles designed by Alvar Aalto in 1950s. Made in Finland. Materials: Nickel-plated Brass. Includes two handles and spacer. No screws. Rarely for sale.
Metal, Brass, Nickel
Alvar Aalto Sculptural Door Handles, 1950s, Nickel Plated Brass
By Valaistustyö, Alvar Aalto
Located in Turku, Finland
Sculptural Door Handles designed by Alvar Aalto in 1950s. Made in Finland. Materials: Nickel-plated Brass. Includes two handles and spacer. No screws. Rarely for sale.
Metal, Brass, Nickel
Alvar Aalto Sculptural Door Handles, 1950s, Nickel Plated Brass
By Alvar Aalto, Valaistustyö
Located in Turku, Finland
Sculptural Door Handles designed by Alvar Aalto in 1950s. Made in Finland. Materials: Nickel-plated Brass. Includes two handles and spacer. No screws. Rarely for sale.
Brass, Metal, Nickel
Alvar Aalto Sculptural Door Handles, 1950s, Chrome Plated Brass
By Valaistustyö, Alvar Aalto
Located in Turku, Finland
Sculptural Door Handles designed by Alvar Aalto in 1950s. Made in Finland. Materials: Chrome-plated Brass. Includes two handles and spacer. No screws. Rarely for sale. (Most...
Brass, Chrome
Sold
H 1.78 in W 5.12 in D 6.3 in
Alvar Aalto Sculptural Door Handles, Early Version, Nickel-Plated Bronze
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Turku, Finland
Sculptural Door Handles designed by Alvar Aalto in 1950s. Made in Finland. Materials: Nickel-plated Bronze. Includes two handles and space...
Metal, Bronze, Nickel
Sold
H 1.19 in W 5.12 in D 2.37 in
Alvar Aalto Set of Four Architectural Door Handles, Finland, Circa 1960
By Alvar Aalto
Located in La Teste-de-Buch, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Set of 4 architectural door handles by Alvar Aalto Black lacquered aluminum Made in Finland, circa 1960 From a housing complex in Helsi...
Aluminum