During the mid-20th century, Finnish furniture designer Ilmari Tapiovaara worked with pine, teak and his country’s native birch to create sleek and sculptural chairs, dining room tables and bookcases in the Scandinavian modern style. Tapiovaara’s areas of expertise expanded beyond furniture to include interior architecture, wooden sculptures, film posters and cutlery.
After completing his studies at the Central School of Applied Arts in Helsinki, Tapiovaara embarked on a design career that would envelop his entire life. As a young man, Tapiovaara idolized revered architect and furniture designer Alvar Aalto — whom, with his wife, Aino Aalto, cofounded Artek, the company that would eventually manufacture the majority of Tapiovaara’s creations. The budding designer had one of Aalto’s chairs in his apartment while he was a student. After graduating, he worked as an assistant in an office at Le Corbusier, then as a designer and artistic director at Asko.
By 1951, Tapiovaara and his wife, Annikki, had established their own studio. A few years previous, the pair had designed the now-legendary Domus chair while creating interiors and furnishings for a new student housing complex in Helsinki. Made of molded plywood and easily stackable, the ergonomic Domus chair, with its slender form, featured a modest silhouette — its lightweight structure allowed for easy exporting, and iconic mid-century modern furniture manufacturer Knoll added a low-backed version to its offerings in the early 1950s. (It was marketed as the Finn chair in the United States.)
Tapiovaara went on to design pieces for Pihlgren ja Ritola and Santa and Cole. His experience earned him teaching positions at the Institute of Applied Arts, the Helsinki University of Technology and the Illinois Institute of Technology. While in Chicago for the latter, he worked in the office of Mies van der Rohe.
Tapiovaara centered his passion for design on social responsibility. He wanted his creations to be accessible to everyone, which was the concept behind his democratic approach. In Finland’s postwar era, the goal was exemplary, affordable designs. With this in mind, he created products such as stackable chairs and “knock-down” pieces packed flat, so they shipped efficiently and cost less.
An influential champion of his profession, he spent two decades as a United Nations ambassador, working to improve design’s contribution to society. His lasting, collectible furniture is a testament to the designer’s goal to create humane, radiant and intimate spaces. The United Nations project included traveling to Paraguay to create much-needed furniture. A similar project followed in Mauritius.
Tapiovaara’s success as an industrial and mass producer of everyday furniture was widely recognized and awarded. He received six gold medals for his chairs alone at the Milan Triennials. He also accepted a Good Design award, the Finnish State Design Award, a prize from the Finnish Culture Foundation and the Furniture Prize of the SIO Interior Architects’ Association of Finland.
Find vintage Ilmari Tapiovaara seating, tables and lighting on 1stDibs.
Set of 6 Scandinavian Solid Beechwood Chairs from the 60's Ilmari Tapiovaara, G
By Ilmari Tapiovaara
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Set of 6 Scandinavian vintage chairs by Finnish designer Ilmari Tapiovaara dating from the 60s. Beechwood structure, backs and seats have been painted black (original paint). Very ni...
Beech
Maija Table Lamp by Ilmari Tapiovaraa for Santa & Cole
By Ilmari Tapiovaara, Santa & Cole
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Maija table lamp originally designed in 1955 by Ilmari Tapiovaraa in Finland. Current re-edition manufactured by Santa & Cole in Spain. 4-8 weeks lead time. Metallic lampshade...
Brass, Metal
$4,900 / set
Ilmari Tapiovaara Cast Iron and Oak Stools
By Ilmari Tapiovaara
Located in Toronto, Ontario
A really special set of four solid cast iron and oak stools by the Scandinavian master Ilmari Tapiovaara ca. 1965. These stools are incredibly well built and heavy. Thick oak sol...
Iron
$7,500 / set
Pair of Ilmari Tapiovaara Colette Chairs
By Ilmari Tapiovaara, Asko
Located in Cambridge, US
Finland, ca. 1950s. A rare pair of Colette lounge chairs by Ilmari Tapiovaara for Asko. Each features a streamlined birch frame with cantilevered arms and flared legs. Back and seat ...
Nylon, Birch
Ilmari Tapiovaara "Maija the Bee" Floor Lamp by Hienoteras in Finland
By Ilmari Tapiovaara
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare and early floor lamp “Maija the bee” / Maija Mehiläinen designed by Ilmari Tapiovaara. Produced by Hienoteras in Finland.
Brass, Steel
ASKO Dining Chair Scandinavian Pine Ilmari Tapiovaara, Set of 4
By Ilmari Tapiovaara, Asko
Located in Munich, Bavaria
ASKO Dining Chair design by Ilmari Tapiovaara. Scandinavian pine wood. Great dining chairs in a solid wood frame - Clear dfinnish design. Height 78 cm Width 45 cm Depth 44 cm Seat ...
Pine
C. 1949 Set of Four Knoll Domus Dining Chairs by Ilmari Tapiovaara with Fabric
By Keravan Puuteollisuus Oy, Ilmari Tapiovaara
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a set of four Domus Chairs, Model 141, initially designed by Ilmari Tapiovaara in 1946. These chairs were manufactured in Finland by Keravan Puuteollisuus, and distributed in...
Fabric, Birch, Oak
Pair of Crinolette Chair by Ilmari Tapiovaara for Asko, 1962
By Ilmari Tapiovaara, Asko
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A pair of black painted birch 'Crinolette' lounge chairs with bent wood spokes tenon-joined to the solid bent back rest, maintaining original 'Asko Export' stickers.
Birch
Finnish Design Pirrka Stools by Ilmari Tapiovaara for Artek, Finland
By Artek, Ilmari Tapiovaara
Located in Renens, CH
Pirrka Series stool in pine produced by Artek, Finland. Ilmari Tapiovaara (1914) was a Finnish interior and design furniture, during his long career that started with designing furniture at Asko for the Finnish Army, he has worked together with several of the known designers of his age such as Alvar Alto and Le Corbusier. Tapiovaara is considered one of the Nordic countries’ most influential designers, on par with Hans Wegner, Finn Juhl, Arne Jacobsen and Alvar Aalto. Materials: Pine Origination: Finland, 2000s. Most stools are labelled "Artek". Condition: Good, note that all stools...
Pine
Tapiolina Chairs in Ash Wood by Ilmari Tapiovaara for Fratelli Montina
By Ilmari Tapiovaara
Located in London, England
Ilmari Tapiovaara (1914-1999) was a renowned Finnish designer and architect known for his significant contributions to the fields of furniture and industrial design. He played a crucial role in shaping the modern design landscape in Finland and gained international recognition for his work. Early in his career, Tapiovaara worked alongside the celebrated Finnish architect and designer Alvar Aalto. This collaboration greatly influenced his design sensibilities and helped him establish a strong foundation in modernist design principles. Tapiovaara is often associated with the "Finnish Modern" design movement, which aimed to create functional and aesthetically pleasing everyday objects for the Finnish population. He believed that good design should be accessible to everyone. His designs often incorporated natural materials, simplicity, and functionality. Tapiolina chairs in ash wood by Ilmari Tapiovaara for Fratelli Montina...
Metal
1950's, Set of Table Red Brown Table Top and Four Pirkka Chairs by Tapiovaara
By Laukaan Puu, Ilmari Tapiovaara
Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL
Pirkka table. The table has a beautiful wooden top. The table shows some traces of wear like a slightly lighter spot, a tiny damage of 5 mm and some loss of black paint of the legs. ...
Wood
$2,708 / set
1950S, Set of Four Prikka Chairs by Tapiovaara
By Laukaan Puu, Ilmari Tapiovaara
Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL
Four Pirkka chairs with seats of birch wood. The chairs show some traces of use and they diver slightly in dimensions. The chair on the first five pictures has a spot of white pai...
Wood
Ilmari Tapiovaara, `Pirkka` Stools 4 Pieces, 1970s
By Ilmari Tapiovaara
Located in Stockholm, SE
Four stools, model Pirkka designed by Imari Tapiovaara, Finland, 1970s. Dining set also available, 4 pieces. See last two pictures.
Wood
“Domino” coffee table by Ilmari Tapiovaara for Asko, 1950s Finland.
By Ilmari Tapiovaara, Asko
Located in Landgraaf, NL
“Domino” coffee table by Ilmari Tapiovaara for Asko, 1950s Finland. Designed in 1954. Birch wood Black cross-legged base and teak rectangular top. One honist repair at a corner. Beau...
Birch, Teak