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.
Ilmari Tapiovaara, Chaise Longue, Oak, Fabric, Finland, 1960s
By Ilmari Tapiovaara
Located in High Point, NC
An oak and pink floral-printed fabric chaise longue, model Dolphin, designed by Ilmari Tapiovaara and produced by Skanno, Finland, 1960s. Vintage fabric in fair condition, ideally r...
Fabric, Oak
$7,200Sale Price|20% Off
Ilmari Tapiovaara Prototype Congo Folding Chair Finland 1954
By Ilmari Tapiovaara
Located in Camden, ME
Congo folding chair designed by Ilmari Tapiovaara in 1954 manufactured by Lukkiseppo Ltd. in Finland. This prototype of the Congo chair comes from the estate of Ilmari Tapiovaara. ...
Metal, Steel
$3,308
H 24.41 in W 63 in D 24.41 in
Minimal Wicker Chaise Longue by Tito Agnoli for Bonacina, Italy, 1960s
By Bonacina, Tito Agnoli
Located in Milan, IT
Wicker chaise longue by Tito Agnoli for Bonacina.
Wicker
Dining Chairs By Ilmari Tapiovaara Circa 1960s
By Ilmari Tapiovaara
Located in Gloucester, GB
Dining Chairs By Ilmari Tapiovaara Circa 1960s - Price is for the set of 6 - Black frames with teak seats - Designed by Ilmari Tapiovaara - Produced by Asko - Finnish ~ 1960s - 43cm...
Beech, Teak
Ilmari Tapiovaara Crinolette Lounge Chair
By Ilmari Tapiovaara
Located in Toronto, Ontario
An exceptional iconic chair designed by Finnish Master Ilmari Tapiovaara. A rare example of Scandinavian design. Less than 5000 of these chairs were ever created. Winner of the Ame...
Wood
Rocking Chair by Ilmari Tapiovaara for Asko 1960s Finland
By Asko, Ilmari Tapiovaara
Located in Debrecen, HU
A beautiful Scandinavian Modern rocking chair designed by Ilmari Tapiovaara and manufactured by Asko in Finland during the 1960s. The tall spindle backrest and slender curved armrest...
Wood
Chaise Longue
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1950s chaise longue, mix of leather, sky and pony hair upholstery.
Wood
$21,524
H 26.78 in W 72.45 in D 28.75 in
Hans Wegner, Hammock Chaise Longue in Oak, designed 1967, made by Getama 1960s
By Hans J. Wegner, GETAMA
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
Hans Wegner (Danish 1914-2007) Hammock Chaise Longue designed 1967 made by Getama, 1960s oak frame with flagline seat, the rope secured with copper cleats, complete with a light lin...
Metal, Copper
Cream Leather Chaise Longue
By Contempo
Located in Nantwich, GB
In the style of Italian manufacturer Contempo, this Chaise Longue, in cream leather, was first produced in the 1960’s. Contempo is an Italian manufacturer of luxury leather seating. The company has two production sites in Italy and continues to design and create high end leather furniture to this day. This cream leather Chaise...
Stainless Steel
Wood and beige fabric chaise longue, 1970
By White Pop Design
Located in Milano, Lombardia
This iconic piece exudes the vibrant spirit of the era channeling both comfort and style. The wooden frame adds a touch of warmth and sophistication, while the fabric upholstery enha...
Textile
$4,844
H 32.68 in W 61.03 in D 33.47 in
1960s Italian Cherry Wood and Velvet Chaise Longue in Three Colors
Located in Meda, MB
Elegant Italian chaise longue from the 1960s, fully upholstered in fine velvet in shades of green, camel, and ivory. The curvy, welcoming silhouette is enhanced by the refined color ...
Velvet
Mademoiselle Lounge Chair by Ilmari Tapiovaara for ASKO 1960s
By Ilmari Tapiovaara
Located in Hannover, DE
Lounge chair by finnish star designer Ilmari Tapiovaara for the manufacturer ASKO. Model name: Mademoiselle firstly designed in 1956.
Birch
Ilmari Tapiovaara Domus Lounge Chair
By Ilmari Tapiovaara
Located in New York, NY
This classic lounge chair is crafted from molded plywood and attributed to Ilmari Tapiovaara’s iconic "Domus" design. The chair bears no maker’s marks. Please note, the seat has been...
Wood
Antique French Gothic Oak Chaise Longue, Circa 1870
Located in Dallas, TX
In the 18th and 19th centuries, it was not uncommon for skilled craftsmen to repurpose older wood carvings into their own furniture creations. A French menuisier utilized this technique (circa 1870), incorporating a previously carved chair back and arms into the construction of this Gothic style chaise lounge. Based on the faded Gothic motifs and age separations, the repurposed pieces were most likely carved in the 16th century. The Gothic period carvings seen on the top rail include a series of foliate groupings flanked by bulbous finials. Although the carvings have faded over the course of centuries, the finials might have been leaf cups, which were often seen during the Gothic period. The back rest has been adorned with arcading beneath an infilled niche that is flanked by a pair of linenfold carvings. A cream colored cushion has been affixed by small nails above an apron embellished with barb tracery and ogee brackets. The entire lounge is supported by six block legs, with the back four extending directly from the back and the arms. Relatively low to the ground, our French Gothic oak...
Textile, Oak