Set of Six "Nana" Chairs, Ilmari Tapiovaara for Merivaara, 1957
View Similar Items
Set of Six "Nana" Chairs, Ilmari Tapiovaara for Merivaara, 1957
About the Item
- Creator:Ilmari Tapiovaara (Designer),J.Merivaara (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 28.75 in (73 cm)Width: 20.48 in (52 cm)Depth: 16.54 in (42 cm)Seat Height: 16.15 in (41 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 6
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1950s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Minor structural damages. Minor fading. Patina, marks and some veneer losses and repairs. Veneer has been repainted at some point.
- Seller Location:Helsinki, FI
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU3154313523952
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.
- Pair of Pine Side Chairs by Göran Malmvall for Karl Andersson & Söner, 1970sBy Goran MalmvallLocated in Helsinki, FISet of two '528' Swedish pine dining chairs by Göran Malmwall manufactured by Karl Andersson & Söner, Husqvarna, Sweden.Category
Vintage 1970s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Side Chairs
MaterialsPine
- Pair of Mid-Century Easy Chairs, Finland, 1950sLocated in Helsinki, FIPair of easy chairs from Finland, 1950s.Category
Vintage 1950s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Wood
$8,795 / set - Scandinavian Mid-Century Pine & Rattan Bedside Tables, Set of 2Located in Helsinki, FIGood original condition. Minor signs of age and use.Category
Vintage 1970s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
MaterialsRattan, Pine
- Mid-Century Oak & Leather Lounge Chair by Yngve Ekström for Swedese, 1960sBy Swedese, Yngve EkströmLocated in Helsinki, FILounge chair designed by Yngve Ekström and manufactured by Swedese in the 1960s. Structure in oak wood and cognaq leather uphostery. The chair is marked by the maker. Good vintage c...Category
Vintage 1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Oak
- Scandinavian Mid-Century Teak & Oak Bedside Tables, 1950s, Set of 2Located in Helsinki, FIThis set of two teak veneer bedside tables was made in Sweden during the 1950s. They have a drawer and a handy shelf. The legs are made of solid oak wood. This set is perfect match t...Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Side Tables
MaterialsOak, Teak
- Teak & Birch Stacking Side Tables by Bodafors, Sweden, 1950s, Set of 3By BodaforsLocated in Helsinki, FIThree midcentury teak & birch stacking side tables, made in Sweden by Bodafors. Compact set of multiuse nesting tables, perfect for living room side or end tables, nightstands, or...Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Nesting Tables and Stacking Ta...
MaterialsBirch, Teak
- Ilmari Tapiovaara for La Permanente Mobili Cantù Set of Six Dining ChairsBy Ilmari Tapiovaara, La Permanente Mobili CantùLocated in Waalwijk, NLIlmari Tapiovaara for La Permanente Mobili Cantù, darkened beech, cognac leather, Italy, 1950s These robust chairs by Ilmari Tapiovaara feature a geometric frame for the patinated c...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Beech
- Set of 6 "Pirkka" Chairs by Ilmari TapiovaaraBy Ilmari TapiovaaraLocated in San Francisco, CAA set of 6 "Pirkka" chairs by Ilmari Tapiovaara A set of Ilmari Tapiovaara design dining chairs, from the series "Pirkka". The sculptural design, is made in pine and black lacquered...Category
Vintage 1950s Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsPine
$15,000 / set - Ilmari Tapiovaara for Laukaan Puu Set of Four 'Pirkka' ChairsBy Ilmari Tapiovaara, Laukaan PuuLocated in Waalwijk, NLIlmari Tapiovaara for Laukaan Puu, set of four 'Pirkka' dining chairs, beech, pine, Finland, design 1955 This set of ‘Pirkka’ chairs by Finish designer I...Category
Vintage 1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsBeech, Pine
- 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 Dining Chairs by La Permanente Cantù, 1950s, Set of SixBy Ilmari Tapiovaara, La Permanente Mobili CantùLocated in Brescia , BresciaStep into the timeless elegance of mid-century Italian craftsmanship with this impeccable set of six Ilmari Tapiovaara dining chairs, meticulously crafted by La Permanente Cantù circ...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Beech
- 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