Domus Chair by Ilmari Tapiovaara for Artek
View Similar Items
Domus Chair by Ilmari Tapiovaara for Artek
About the Item
- Creator:Ilmari Tapiovaara (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 31.25 in (79.38 cm)Width: 22.75 in (57.79 cm)Depth: 21.25 in (53.98 cm)Seat Height: 17.25 in (43.82 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1960
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Centreville, VA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU8365233579692
Ilmari Tapiovaara
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.
- Artek Armchair 406 by Alvar Aalto for ArtekBy Alvar AaltoLocated in Centreville, VAArmchair 406 combines simple elegance with comfort. Since wood changes over time, the armrests are formed from a single piece that is then split in half, ensuring that as the chair ...Category
Vintage 1930s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsBentwood
$2,000 / item - La Fonda Arm Chair by Eames for Herman MillerBy Charles and Ray EamesLocated in Centreville, VAThis arm chair is one of two new fiberglass chairs Charles and Ray Eames designed in 1961, inspired by request from Alexander Girard, who needed seating for his new Manhattan restaurant, La Fonda Del Sol. Some collectors call these “La Fonda” chairs after the restaurant where they were first installed. Because Girard wanted chairs with seat backs no higher than dining table tops, Charles and Ray Eames designed the Eames La Fonda Arm Chair...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsSteel
- La Fonda Arm Chair by Eames for Herman MillerBy Charles and Ray EamesLocated in Centreville, VAThis arm chair is one of two new fiberglass chairs Charles and Ray Eames designed in 1961, inspired by request from Alexander Girard, who needed seating for his new Manhattan restaurant, La Fonda Del Sol. Some collectors call these “La Fonda” chairs after the restaurant where they were first installed. Because Girard wanted chairs with seat backs no higher than dining table tops, Charles and Ray Eames designed the Eames La Fonda Arm Chair...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsSteel
- Chair 65 by Alvar Aalto for Artek (White laminate)By Alvar AaltoLocated in Centreville, VAClean lines and a simple structure define the design of Chair 65. A low, rectangular backrest is formed from a single piece of birch plywood and has a slight curve that forms natur...Category
Vintage 1930s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsBentwood
- First Chair by Michele De Lucchi for Memphis MilanoLocated in Centreville, VAMichele de Lucchi was one of the cofounders of the Milano Design Group Memphis, which emerged at the end of 1980 around the central figure of Ettore Sottsass. “First” by Michele d...Category
Late 20th Century Armchairs
MaterialsSteel
- Fauteuil Direction by Jean Prouvé for VITRABy Jean ProuvéLocated in Centreville, VAThe chair was intended for offices, but also for classrooms, which earned it the sobriquet of “teacher’s chair”. Fauteuil Direction is especially suited for dining room seating or a...Category
Vintage 1950s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsSteel
$2,500 / item
- Ilmari Tapiovaara for Artek Lounge Chair 'Domus Lux' in BirchBy Ilmari Tapiovaara, ArtekLocated in Waalwijk, NLIlmari Tapiovaara for Artek, lounge chair model 'Domus Lux', lacquered wood, birch, Finland, designed in 1948, recent production. This wonderfully sculpted lounge chair is characte...Category
Vintage 1940s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsWood, Birch
- Ilmari Tapiovaara Domus ArmchairBy Keravan Puuteollisuus Oy, Ilmari TapiovaaraLocated in Highland, INA wonderful 1946 design by Ilmari Tapiovaara, the Domus chair was offered entirely of wood, with an upholstered seat, or an upholstered seat and back. This nice example, has beautifu...Category
Vintage 1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
MaterialsLeather, Beech
- Set of Three Domus Armchairs by Ilmari Tapiovaara, FinlandBy Ilmari TapiovaaraLocated in Antwerp, BESet of three wooden chairs designed by Ilmari Tapiovaara, produced in 1953 by Keravan Puuteollisuus of Finland for U.S. distribution by Knoll. The seat is re-upholstered in camel...Category
Vintage 1950s Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
MaterialsLeather, Wood
$765 Sale Price / item30% Off - Ilmari Tapiovaara Set of Four ‘Domus’ Dining Chairs in Black Stained TeakBy Ilmari TapiovaaraLocated in Waalwijk, NLIlmari Tapiovaara, set of four armchairs, stained teak, metal, Finland, 1953 This is a wonderful set of early ‘Domus’ armchairs by Finnish designer Ilmari Tapiovaara. Executed in a ...Category
Vintage 1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Ilmari Tapiovaara Set of Six ‘Domus’ Dining Chairs in Black Stained TeakBy Ilmari TapiovaaraLocated in Waalwijk, NLIlmari Tapiovaara, set of six armchairs, stained teak, metal, Finland, 1953 This is a wonderful set of early ‘Domus’ armchairs by Finnish designer Ilmari Tapiovaara. Executed in a b...Category
Vintage 1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Ilmari Tapiovaara Crinolette Lounge ChairBy Ilmari TapiovaaraLocated in Toronto, OntarioAn 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...Category
Vintage 1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
MaterialsWood