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.
Sideboard in Teak, Black Lacquered, Mirrored Glass and Glass, 1957-1958
By Ilmari Tapiovaara
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Sideboard in Teak, Black Lacquered, Mirrored Glass and Glass by Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1957-1958 Additional Information: Material: Teak, black lacquered, ...
Brass
$3,534Sale Price|20% Off
Ilmari Tapiovaara Teak Sideboard with Fabric and Brass Details
By La Permanente Mobili Cantù, Ilmari Tapiovaara
Located in Madrid, ES
Sideboard made of teak wood with brass details. Sliding doors, one of them decorated with fabric. Produced by La Permanente Mobili Cantù and designed by Finnish interior architect Il...
Brass
$10,382
H 31.89 in W 88.19 in D 19.69 in
Contemporary Architectural Lacquered Sideboard/Antique Brass Base
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Sideboard with 4 doors, inside shelf and metal base. Cabinet is lacquered with top veneer walnut, metal base in epoxy powder. Custom sizes and finishes upon request. Top is also of...
Metal
Rosewood Sideboard from Palazzi dell'Arte Cantù, 1950s
By La Permanente Mobili Cantù
Located in Montelabbate, PU
Living room furniture with drawers, open-top compartment doors and 2 door display case with decorated glass, spiked legs with brass tips. Inside...
Rosewood
$8,955
H 39.77 in W 92.52 in D 20.48 in
Belgian Late Art Deco Sideboard in Solid Oak and Brass Details
Located in Meulebeke, BE
Belgium / 1940 / sideboard / oak, brass / Art Deco Robust and decorative sideboard in oak with black lacquered details and brass handles. This cabinet features two square doors with...
Brass
$2,800
H 43.31 in W 59.45 in D 16.93 in
Mid-Century Cabinet / Sideboard in Teak & Oak, Danish Cabinetmaker, 1960s
Located in Odense, DK
Lovely rare cabinet in teak & oak. Made by a Danish Cabinetmaker in 1960s. Highlighted details and plenty of shelves featured in this beautiful cabinet. A fine vintage object that will complement many interior styles. A modern, classic, art deco or Scandinavian home deco. With a heavy focus on functionality, this design style leans toward modernism, while incorporating coziness. The Scandinavian design style aims to provide a way for people to live more sustainably and in harmony with one another. Honorable mentions with similar designs; Jakob Kjær...
Oak, Teak
Arne Vodder Style Danish Teak Sideboard
By Arne Vodder
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This exquisite vintage teak sideboard features elegant sculpted pulls, tapered legs and shapely leg stretcher for addition support. Spacious interior cabinet offers adjustable shelf ...
Teak
Mid-century Italian Modernist Teak Sideboard, 1960s
Located in Antwerp, Antwerp
A beautiful Italian midcentury teak sideboard with four drawers and three sliding doors. The colored teak wood brings a warm feel to the design. The cabinet stands on a wooden struct...
Teak
$4,050
H 32.63 in W 62 in D 20.25 in
Karpen of California Black Lacquered Sideboard or Bar Cabinet, Newly Refinished
By Karpen of California
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Mid-Century Modern Hollywood Regency sideboard, credenza, or bar cabinet By Karpen of California USA, 1950s Black lacquered walnut, with unique original brass...
Brass
Danish Teak Sideboard with Metal Base, 1960s
Located in Lejre, DK
Elegant Danish modern sideboard in teak, designed and manufactured in Denmark during the 1960s. The cabinet features two sliding doors with circular recessed handles and rests on a m...
Metal
$4,265 / item
H 27.56 in W 55.12 in D 15.75 in
Contemporary Mexican Sideboard in Parota Wood with Handmade Embroidery Detail
By Laura Noriega
Located in Guadalajara, Jal.
Inspired by the Sierra Madre Oriental in Mexico. "Secrets" credenza with its beautiful embroidery detail "Tenango" symbolic reflection of its colorful and generous land. The flora an...
Cotton, Wood
Guillerme & Chambron Cabinet 'Thierry' in Black Lacquered Oak
By Votre Maison, Guillerme et Chambron
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Guillerme et Chambron for Votre Maison, cabinet, model 'Thierry', lacquered oak, ceramic, France, 1960s. This elegant sideboard evokes the European Gothic Revival period of the nine...
Oak
$8,596Sale Price|40% Off
H 31.11 in W 55.12 in D 19.69 in
J.C. Mahey Brass Black Lacquered Sideboard Bar Cabinet 1970s
By Roche Bobois, Jean Claude Mahey
Located in Paris, IDF
A timeless vintage piece, this mid-century cabinet bar sideboard feels imposing and glamourous, with thick, straight lines of brass adorning its exterior of reflective black lacquer. Glossy black lacquer, paired with bright brass accents, feels crisp and luxe. Its boxy, simple style, featuring four doors and one drawers, is typical of both the 1970s and designer Jean Claude Mahey for Roche Bobois design. The two external doors...
Brass
$14,908 / item
H 35.44 in W 94.49 in D 19.69 in
Hand Carved Sideboard in Cedar Wood with Brass and Marble Details
By Laura Noriega, Mauricio Lara
Located in Guadalajara, Jal.
This credenza is a piece to touch, the ideal accent for a space with a lot of personality. Its fronts carved by hand in solid cedar wood with a black finish, generate a sensory exper...
Marble, Brass
Sold
H 33.86 in W 64.97 in D 18.12 in
Sideboard by Ilmari Taapiovaara for La Permanente Mobili Cantum, Italy 1960s
By La Permanente Mobili Cantù, Ilmari Tapiovaara
Located in Hellouw, NL
Ilmari Tapiovaara’s designs are defined by their functional clarity and refined craftsmanship. This rare teak sideboard, produced by La Permanente Mobili Cantù, embodies his approach...
Fabric, Teak
Sold
H 45.48 in W 110.44 in D 21.26 in
Ilmari Tapiovaara Vanity in Wood and Green Lacquer, Italy, 1960s
By La Permanente Mobili Cantù, Ilmari Tapiovaara
Located in Milan, IT
A Rare Ilmari Tapiovaara Vanity with Mirror and Drawers in Wood and Green Lacquer, Italy 1960s A wooden Chair with a leather seat is also included. Manufactured by La Permanente Mo...
Brass
Sold
H 37.01 in W 86.62 in D 18.12 in
Amazing Sideboard by Ilmari Tapiovaara for La Permanente Mobili Cantù
By Ilmari Tapiovaara
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Awesome sideboard designed in 1957 by Imari Tapiovara for La Permanente Mobili Cantù. Part of wonderful living room with sideboard, dining table, sofa, armchair with ottoman and lar...
Wood
1960s Teak Wood Sideboard Ilmari Tapiovaara Produced in Italy
By Ilmari Tapiovaara
Located in Milano, IT
A sideboard with two front doors and five drawers designed by the Finnish designer Ilmari Tapiovaara. Teak wood, brass details, fabric. Produced in Italy by 'La Permanente Mobili Can...
Brass