Six 1950s Finnish Armchairs by Ilmari Tapiovaara
View Similar Items
Six 1950s Finnish Armchairs by Ilmari Tapiovaara
About the Item
- Creator:Ilmari Tapiovaara (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 34.7 in (88.14 cm)Width: 27.2 in (69.09 cm)Depth: 18.5 in (46.99 cm)Seat Height: 18.5 in (46.99 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 6
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950-1960
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Paris, FR
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU939417051781
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.
- 1950s Italian Lounge SetLocated in Paris, FRNice lounge set consisting of a sofa and two armchairs, Italy, 1950. Good original condition. The feet are in brass. Dimensions of the sofa Height: 3...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Canapes
MaterialsBrass
$5,717 / set - Pair of Armchairs, France, 1950Located in Paris, FRElegant pair of armchairs, entirely redone and covered with Aspen fabric by Bisson Bruneel. The bases are in black lacquered steel tubing.Category
Vintage 1950s French Armchairs
MaterialsSteel
$7,146 / set - Two 1960s Armchairs by Etienne Henri MartinBy Etienne-Henri MartinLocated in Paris, FRTwo 1960s armchairs by Etienne Henri Martin, re-upholstered and covered with a "Divina" fabric by Kuadrant.Category
Vintage 1960s French Armchairs
MaterialsWood, Fabric
$5,277 / set - Pair of SK660 Armchairs by Pierre Guariche, Steiner Edition, 1953By Steiner, Pierre GuaricheLocated in Paris, FRPierre Guariche (1926-1995) Pair of SK660 armchairs. Upholstered in Panama wool fabric by Bisson Bruneel. Seat entirely redone (straps, foams, fabric), black lacquered metal bas...Category
Vintage 1950s French Armchairs
MaterialsMetal
- Chesterfield Style "Carrosse" ArmchairLocated in Paris, FRRare Chesterfield style "en carrosse" armchair, in padded leather. The lower part opens with two doors. England around 1950.Category
Vintage 1950s British Chesterfield Armchairs
MaterialsLeather, Upholstery, Wood
- Transat armchair by Robert Mallet-Stevens, Ed. Pierre Dariel, France circa 1926By Pierre Dariel, Robert Mallet-StevensLocated in Paris, FRLarge transat armchair, model by Robert Mallet-Stevens (1886-1945) edited by Pierre Dariel, circa 1926. In yellow-painted wood, side jambs with openwork squares, armrests with overha...Category
Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Armchairs
MaterialsFabric, Wood
- 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 Domus ArmchairBy Ilmari Tapiovaara, Keravan Puuteollisuus OyLocated 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
- Ilmari Tapiovaara Set of 4 Dining Chairs, Finland, 1950sBy Ilmari TapiovaaraLocated in Lambertville, NJIlmari Tapiovaara for La Permanente Mobili Cantù, darkened beech and patinated cognac leather, Finland, 1950s. These robust chairs by Ilmari Tapiovaara feature a geometric frame for ...Category
Vintage 1950s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Beech
- Ilmari Tapiovaara “Pirkka” Bench for Laukaan Puu, Finland, 1950sBy Ilmari Tapiovaara, Laukaan PuuLocated in Amsterdam, NLA wonderful bench from the “Pirkka” series, designed by Ilmari Tapiovaara and manufactured by Laukaan Puu, circa 1950. The narrow rectangular top / seat of the bench are made of d...Category
Mid-20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Benches
MaterialsMetal
- Pirkka Stool by Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1950sBy Ilmari TapiovaaraLocated in Helsinki, FIPirkka stool by Ilmari Tapiovaara from the 1950s. Pinewood. Good vintage condition, minor wear consistent with age and use. Marked on the bottom. Iconic I...Category
Vintage 1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Stools
MaterialsPine
- Set of Three "Pirkka" Stools by Ilmari Tapiovaara, Artek, Finland, 1950sBy Ilmari Tapiovaara, ArtekLocated in Stockholm, SESet of three stools by Ilmari Tapiovaara, from the furniture line “Pirkka”. Cool, rounded design with pine seats and black lacquered legs.Category
Vintage 1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Stools
MaterialsPine