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.
poser of「In Berührung mit Alvar Aalto」Stadtmuseum Düsseldorf, 1992
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Tomi, Nagano
Alvar Aalto Exhibition Poster “In Berührung mit Alvar Aalto” – Stadtmuseum Düsseldorf, 1992 This original exhibition poster was produced for “In Berührung mit Alvar Aalto”, a retro...
Paper
$112
H 9.85 in W 12.21 in D 0.4 in
Original Photo of Interior, Bruno Matthson, Alvar Aalto, Stylclair, 1951
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Praha, CZ
- Czechoslovakia, 1951 - Museum of decorative Arts in Czech republic - photographed by Illek and Paul - suitable for framing jr.
Paper
Alvar Aalto, pair of shelves model 112B for Artek
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Firenze, IT
FOUR SHELVES MODEL 112B in birch Artek production, Finland, circa 1960 Bibliography for comparison T. Keinanen, P. Korvenmaa, K. Mikonranta, A. Olafsdottir, Alvar Aalto and the O...
Birch
1992 Vincent Van Gogh - Cleveland Museum of Art Original Vintage Poster
By Vincent van Gogh
Located in Winchester, GB
Beautiful poster advertising works on display by the legendary Dutch expressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh at the Cleveland Museum of Art in the USA. The piece depicted is the wonde...
Paper
Rare Wall Shelves in Birch by by Alvar Aalto, 1940s
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
These rare wall shelves, designed by Alvar Aalto and produced by Artek in Finland, exemplify the enduring appeal of Scandinavian modernism through their organic form, functional eleg...
Birch
Artek coat rack pair, Alvar Aalto, 1940s
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Espoo, FI
Two vintage Artek coat racks with peg joints, designed by Alvar Aalto. Dating from around the 1940s, they are in good, used condition. Sold as a pair; the price includes both coat ra...
Birch
Coat Rack by Alvar Aalto for Artek 1950s
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Espoo, FI
Artek coat rack, designed by Alvar Aalto. The coat rack is from around the 1950s. It has a great patina and it shows nicely traces of life from decades. The coat rack has old Artek s...
Metal
Drawing Rack by Alvar Aalto for Artek
By Artek, Alvar Aalto
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An uncommon birch bentwood drawing rack with four pairs of hooks.
Birch
Original Barcelona Olympic Poster 1992 by Eduardo Arroyo
By Eduardo Arroyo
Located in London, GB
Eduardo Arroyo Rodríguez (26 February 1937 – 14 October 2018) was a Spanish painter and graphic artist. He was also active as an author and set designer. Arroyo, who was born in M...
Paper
$968
H 46.86 in W 64.97 in D 0.08 in
Brain Antique Anatomical Plate by Lehrmittelverlag Hageman Düsseldorf 1930s
Located in Milan, IT
Anatomical didactic plate of the 1930s on canvas paper depicting the brain, the spinal column and the sense organs, mounted on two black painted wooden sticks. Signed Lehrmittelverla...
Paper
$329
H 0.04 in W 27.56 in D 19.69 in
Original Barcelona Summer Olympic Poster 1992 Designed by Addison
Located in London, GB
The 1992 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad and commonly known as Barcelona '92, were an international multi-sport even...
Paper
$112
H 9.85 in W 12.21 in D 0.4 in
Original Photo of Interior, Bruno Matthson, Alvar Aalto, Stylclair, 1951
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Praha, CZ
- Czechoslovakia, 1951 - Museum of decorative Arts in Czech republic - photographed by Illek and Paul - suitable for framing jr.
Paper
$1,490
H 30 in W 24 in D 0.1 in
1992 Annie Leibovitz- Keith Haring- Institute of Contemporary Art Boston Poster
By Annie Leibovitz
Located in Winchester, GB
Featuring her famous portrait of Keith Haring, this brilliant first release poster was created in 1992 to promote American photographer Annie Leibovitz's exhibition at the Institute ...
Paper
1992 Campari - Milton Glaser Original Vintage Poster
By Milton Glaser
Located in Winchester, GB
Iconic Italian liqueur brand Campari hired the renowned American graphic designer Milton Glaser in 1992 to create a series of artworks to promote the drink. Campari was formed in ...
Linen, Paper
Alvar Aalto Shelf for Artek 1940s Finland
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Espoo, FI
An old shelf designed by Alvar Aalto, dating from around the 1940s or 1950s and manufactured by Artek. The shelf features a dowel-jointed construction and bent side brackets. It is i...
Birch
Alvar Aalto Experimental Wood Relief by Artek Limited Edition
By Artek, Alvar Aalto
Located in Espoo, FI
Artek's experimental wood relief. Designer Alvar Aalto. The relief is from 2015, Artek's 80th anniversary model. Only 80 of these reliefs were produced. The relief is in good used co...
Birch