Bertel Gardberg Chairs

Decorative Scandinavian stool with organic shape in solid pine. Hand carved by a Swedish cabinetmaker in 1950s. This wabi sabi stool will fit in many types of home decors. Modern, S...

Refined pair of midcentury Italian bar stools with structure in wood and brass, coming from an important villa on como lake. The brass ...

A highly decorative primitive tripod stool in solid pine. Made by a Swedish cabinetmaker in 1960s. This modern stool will fit in many types of home decors. Perfectly suited for a C...

Set of two stools with three legs entirely realized in black stained wood, designed in the style of Charlotte Perriand and manufactured in the 1950s. Charlotte Perriand (1903-1999) is one of the most important female furniture designers of the mid 20th century. As early as 1927 Perriand produced a number of critically acclaimed innovative pieces of metal furniture, which drew the attention of Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret. The result was the beginning of a work relationship that lasted many years. At Le Corbusier’s studio Charlotte Perriand developed a series of tubular steel chairs, among them the famous adaptable chaise longue, which was produced by Thonet two years later. Perriand’s work continued to evolve and in the mid 1930s, she started to experiment with natural materials such as wood and cane. She traveled to Japan in 1940 as an official advisor on industrial design to the Ministry for Trade and Industry to advise the government on how to raise standards of design in order to develop products for export to the West. Perriand adapted local techniques of woodwork and weaving - straw, bamboo and twigs becoming her materials of choice. It was especially after World War II, when Charlotte Perriand developed a new concept for the way of living by increasingly integrating the human dimension into her productions. Through flexible use of materials she achieved recognition with her pure and powerful style – as exemplified in her free form massive wood table models. Conscious of economic and social realities, she decided to opted upon large-scale production, and finding a new synthesis between tradition and industry. “Always concerned with innovation rather than trying to affirm a formula for renovation”, she designed various housing developments such as the Unité d’Habitation in Marseilles, with Le Corbusier in 1949, as well as rooms at the International Students’ Residence in Paris in 1953. Included was a library built in...

A traditional Finnish sauna stool / bench from the mid-20th century, crafted entirely from solid pine. Made by an unknown maker, the piece reflects the functional vernacular of Finni...

Rare stool designed by Bertel Gardberg for Villa Joukhi, Finland, during the 1950s. Beautiful patina.

A design classic from the Finnish manufacturer Artek, based on a 1950s design by silversmith and designer Bertel Gardberg. The stool was created for Villa Jouhki. A rare collectible...

A wood "Sauna" stool designed by Bertel Gardberg and produced by Normark Finnmade, Finland, 1960s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 15"H x 16.75" Diameter Seat Height (inches): 13.5" ...

Sauna stools have been in use for centuries, predominantly in Japan and in Finland. While this form of furniture is mostly a utilitarian object, vintage sauna stools - like this set of four - from these countries are artisanal, beautiful pieces. From Antti Nurmesniemi’s sauna stool (which is part of the MoMA’s collection) to the Japanese Hinoki stools, these vintage wooden pieces are perhaps even more treasured today than in the 50s. Sauna stools are traditionally used as a perch while washing up in the bathhouse before entering the soaking tub. They also make good shower stools or bath-side caddies also because the woods used - pine in this case - are naturally bacteria- and mildew-resistant and withstand humidity well. Stools traditionally have a simple, functional construction, however, these Finnish stools have elaborately carved tops that move beyond the strictly functional role. The tops are composed of four interconnecting parts in a shape that resembles a Celtic knot. These individual parts are connected by two dowel pins to each other leaving the design airy and functional as water has an easy way to flow through. The legs are in a simple, slightly tapered form to support the sitter with similar dowel pins connecting them to the seats. These mid-century sauna stools were made for Finnsauna Lagerholm...

A dark-stained pine stool attributed to Lisa Johansson-Pape, Finland, c. 1950s.

Finnish 'Sauna' stool, designed by Bertel Gardberg. Produced by Normark Finnmade in Finland, 1950s. Made entirely from solid pine. Dimensions: Height: 44 cm / 17.32 in Diameter: 36 ...

Rare set of 4 ‘Sauna’ stools designed by Antti Nurmesniemi. Produced in Finland.