An architect and designer, Alvar Aalto deserves an immense share of the credit for bringing Scandinavian modernism and Nordic design to a prominent place in the global arena. In both his buildings and his vintage furniture — which ranges from chairs, stools, tables and lighting to table- and glassware — Aalto’s sensitivity to the natural world and to organic forms and materials tempered the hardness of rationalist design.
Relatively few Aalto buildings exist outside Finland. (Just four exist in the United States, and only one — the sinuous 1945 Baker House dormitory at M.I.T. — is easily visited.) International attention came to Aalto, whose surname translates to English as “wave,” primarily through his furnishings.
Instead of the tubular metal framing favored by the Bauhaus designers and Le Corbusier, Aalto insisted on wood. His aesthetic is best represented by the Paimio armchair, developed with his wife, Aino Aalto, in 1930 as part of the overall design of a Finnish tuberculosis sanatorium.
Comfortable, yet light enough to be easily moved by patients, the Paimio chair’s frame is composed of two laminated birch loops; the seat and back are formed from a single sheet of plywood that scrolls under the headrest and beneath the knees, creating a sort of pillow effect. Aalto’s use of plywood had an enormous influence on Charles and Ray Eames, Arne Jacobsen, Marcel Breuer and others who later came to the material.
Concerned with keeping up standards of quality in the production of his designs, Aalto formed the still-extant company Artek in 1935, along with Aino, whose glass designs were made by the firm. In the latter medium, in 1936 the Aaltos together created the iconic, undulating Savoy vase, so-called for the luxe Helsinki restaurant for which the piece was designed.
Artek also produced Aalto pendants and other lighting designs, many of which — such as the Angel’s Wing floor lamp and the Beehive pendant — incorporate a signature Aalto detail: shades made of concentric enameled-metal rings graduated down in diameter. The effect of the technique is essential Alvar Aalto: at once precise, simple, and somehow poetic.
Find a collection of vintage Alvar Aalto stools, vases, dining tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.
H 29.14 in W 16.93 in D 18.12 in
Alvar Aalto Artek Chair 69 Pair Finland 1950s Vintage Original
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Espoo, FI
Artek 69 chairs 2 pcs, birch. The chairs are from around the 1950s. Wear consistent with age. Designer Alvar Aalto. The chairs are sold as a pair, the price includes two chairs.
Birch
H 26 in W 13.75 in D 15.75 in
Vintage Chair 65 by Alvar Aalto for Artek, Finsven, 1940-50s
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Centreville, VA
Clean 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...
Bentwood
H 31.11 in W 15.75 in D 17.33 in
Pair of Rare E66 Chairs by Alvar Aalto for Artek, Finland
By Artek, Alvar Aalto
Located in Karis, Nyland
A rare pair of Alvar Aalto model E66 chairs, designed in 1930s. Good vintage condition, patina consistent with age and use. The chairs are sold as a set. We can dismantle the chairs...
Birch, Bentwood
H 30.32 in W 14.97 in D 17.72 in
Alvar Aalto Model 66 Chair from the 1960s
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Model 66 chair designed by Alvar Aalto in the 1960s for Artek. Thermoformed wood frame. The simple, clean lines of this model are highly representative of Scandinavian design and Alv...
Wood
H 29.14 in W 17.33 in D 17.72 in
Alvar Aalto Chair 69 by Artek 1940s-1950s
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Espoo, FI
Artek 69 chair, birch with red upholstery. The chair is from around 1940-1950. Old Artek stamp on the base. Gorgeous patina on the wooden parts. Later upholstery. Designer Alvar Aalto.
Fabric, Birch
H 30 in W 15 in D 16 in
A Pair of Alvar Aalto Side Chairs for Artek Model 66
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Dallas, TX
The Model 66 chair, designed by Alvar Aalto for Artek, epitomizes timeless Scandinavian elegance with its clean lines and functional form. Crafted from sustainable birch, this chair ...
Wool, Linen, Birch
H 31.5 in W 18 in D 19.5 in
Dining Chairs by Alvar Aalto for Artek, 1933
By Artek, Alvar Aalto
Located in Sagaponack, NY
Set of four Alvar Aalto model No.62 laminated birch dining chairs produced by Artek in the late 1940s. The model of this listing, No.62, is slightly larger in scale than a very simil...
Plywood, Upholstery, Leather
H 29.93 in W 17.33 in D 18.51 in
Pair of 69 Chairs by Alvar Aalto for Artek, Birch, Mid-Century
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Berlin, DE
Chair 69 was designed by Alvar Aalto for Artek in 1935. It is one of Aalto's most well-known dining chairs and, with its simple yet lively character, fits effortlessly into any space...
Birch
H 28.35 in W 16.93 in D 15.75 in
Pair of Alvar Aalto War Time Chairs With Finger Joints Model 69, Artek 1940s
By Artek, Huonekalu-Ja Rakennustyötedas Oy, Alvar Aalto
Located in Helsinki, FI
A rare pair of Alvar Aalto model 69 chairs, manufactured during the 2nd World War years in Finland in the 1940s. The iconic L-leg is different in these pieces compared to the normal....
Fabric, Birch
H 37.8 in W 19.3 in D 18.51 in
Scandinavian Modern Plywood Dining Chairs, 1970s
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Antwerp, BE
Crafted from durable beech plywood, these chairs epitomize solidity and style, offering a refined dining experience with a modern flair and distinctive character. Channeling the esse...
Plywood
E65 chair by Alvar Aalto for Artek, Finland, 1950s
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Bastia Umbra, IT
E65 chair by Alvar Aalto for Artek, Finland, 1950s A Scandinavian (Finland) chair by Alvar Aalto model E65 designed in the 1930s. This chair dates from the 1950s and is in ORIGINAL ...
Birch, Plywood
Set of 3 RARE Zanotta Chairs, 1970s
By Zanotta
Located in Bastia Umbra, IT
Set of 3 RARE Chairs by Zanotta Chairs, Made in Italy, 1970s. This INTROVABLE and PARTICULAR set of chairs by Zanotta dates back to the 1970s. The chairs were made in Italy and feat...
Wood
Dialogo" chairs by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for B&B Italia, 1970
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Bastia Umbra, IT
"Dialogo" chairs by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for B&B Italia, Made in Italy, 1970. Set of four "Dialogo" chairs designed by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for B&B Italia, 1973. The feature of this "D...
Plastic, Beech
Leather sling chair, 1960s
Located in Bastia Umbra, IT
Leather sling chair, Scandinavian, 1960s. Extraordinary Scandinavian sling chair in cognac color and beech wood with unique details in both arms and back. Very comfortable armchair....
Leather
Very Rare Vittorio Dassi Chair, 1960s
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Bastia Umbra, IT
Very rare Vittorio Dassi Chair, Made in Italy, 1960s. This wonderful chair designed by Vittorio Dassi in the 1960s is a wonderful example of functional elegance. This chair is a mix...
Wood, Mahogany
Bamboo folding chair attributed to Dal Vera, 1950s
By Dal Vera
Located in Bastia Umbra, IT
Dal Vera bamboo folding chair, 1950s, Made in Italy. Set of four bamboo folding chairs attributed to Dal Vera, restored and in excellent condition. Restored while maintaining the p...
Bamboo
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