Alvar Aalto Early Model 401 Bentwood Lounge Chair, 1940s
About the Item
- Creator:Alvar Aalto (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 34 in (86.36 cm)Width: 24.5 in (62.23 cm)Depth: 32 in (81.28 cm)Seat Height: 15 in (38.1 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1940s
- Condition:Reupholstered. Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Coronado, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU8105237443572
Alvar Aalto
An architect and designer, Alvar Aalto deserves an immense share of the credit for bringing Scandinavian modernism to a prominent place in the global arena. In both his buildings and in his vintage furniture — which ranges from chairs, 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 in 1930 as part of his overall design of a Finnish tuberculosis sanatorium. Comfortable, yet light enough to be easily moved by patients, the 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 at the headrest and beneath the knees, creating a sort of pillow effect. Aalto’s use of plywood had 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 his wife, Aino Aalto, 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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: San Diego, CA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
- George Nelson Early Model '4688' Wingback Lounge Chairs for Herman Miller, 1940sBy George NelsonLocated in Coronado, CAA stunning and exceptionally uncommon pair of George Nelson model '4688' wingback lounge chairs designed for Herman Miller in the 1940s. These petite lounge chairs embody understated...Category
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLinen, Wood
- Greta Grossman Rare Velvet Lounge Chair for Barker Brothers, 1940sBy Greta Magnusson GrossmanLocated in Coronado, CAThis utterly rare lounge chair was designed by Greta Grossman for the Barker Brothers in the 1940s in seriously limited numbers. In fact, this is the first example of this chair to e...Category
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsVelvet, Wood
- Michael van Beuren Mexican Modernist Pine and Woven Palm Lounge Chair, 1940sBy Michael van BeurenLocated in Coronado, CAAn uncommon and stunning lounge chair designed by American Bauhaus designer Michael van Beuren in Mexico in the 1940s. Warm pine frame with original handwoven palm fiber seat and bac...Category
Vintage 1940s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsCane, Pine
- Mexican Modern Lounge Chair by Michael van Beuren for MueblesBy Michael van BeurenLocated in Coronado, CAThis absolutely stunning and super uncommon lounge chair was designed by Bauhaus trained designer Michael van Beuren for Muebles, Mexico in the 1940s. The chair is constructed of solid pine, with the seat and back beautifully wrapped in woven palm...Category
Vintage 1940s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsNatural Fiber, Pine
- Erik Ole Jørgensen Model 'BO631' Suede Easy Chairs for Bovirke, 1953By Erik Ole JørgensenLocated in Coronado, CAA fabulous pair of easy chairs designed by Erik Ole Jørgensen and produced by Bovirke in the 1950s. Original suede sling seats with visible rope detailing on underside. Blackened ste...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- French Fireside Lounge Chair in Elm Attributed to Maison Regain, 1970sBy Maison RegainLocated in Coronado, CAA stunning French fireside lounge chair produced in the 1970s, attributed to Maison Regain. Simplistic angular form with sophisticated wood joinery and amazing inset leather detailin...Category
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Elm
- Early Alvar Aalto Armchair Model 401 in Sheepskin, 1940sBy Huonekalu-Ja Rakennustyötedas Oy, Alvar AaltoLocated in Helsinki, FIA beautiful and early version of the iconic Aalto arm chair model 401 that was first designed in 1933. The 401 chair was part of the iconic Paimio Sana...Category
Vintage 1940s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsBirch, Sheepskin
- Alvar Aalto Model 406 Lounge ChairsBy Alvar AaltoLocated in Highland, INAalto's 1936 design, the model 406 lounge chair is a perfect example of understated Finnish design. The bent wood cantelivered frame of laminated birch and n...Category
Vintage 1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsBirch
- Alvar Aalto Model 31 Cantilevered Lounge ChairBy Alvar AaltoLocated in Ferndale, MII believe this to be an early production chair in original somewhat worn finish. One of several designed by the Finnish architect Alvar Aalto during time he was building a tuberculos...Category
Mid-20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsBirch
- Alvar Aalto Lounge ChairBy ICF Group, Alvar AaltoLocated in Philadelphia, PAAlvar Aalto Linen and Beech Lounge Chair in very good original condition! 2nd one available with more wear showing on the seat area of the linen. Later photos are showing the 2nd c...Category
1990s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsCotton, Beech
- Finnish Design Classic Lounge Chair No 401 by Alvar Aalto, 1930sBy Huonekalu-Ja Rakennustyötedas Oy, Alvar AaltoLocated in Renens, CHEarly edition of the 401 cantilever lounge chair designed by Alvar Aalto and produced by Huonekalu Ja Rakennustyötehdas (Turku, Finland) during the late 1930s. Our version was re-u...Category
Vintage 1930s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Birch
- Early Alvar Aalto 'Model 2' Arm Chair, 1930By Alvar Aalto, O.Y.HuonekaluLocated in Los Angeles, CAOriginal early Alvar Aalto 'Model 2' armchair for O.Y. Huonekalu- ja Rakennustyötehdas A.B., in molded plywood and solid birch. Unrestored condition with partly significant wear. Lat...Category
Vintage 1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
MaterialsPlywood
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
The Very Modern Love Story of Mid-Century Design Duo Alvar and Aino Aalto
A power couple before the term existed, the influential pair made work that still resonates today.
What Makes Scandinavian Modernism and Nordic Design So Irresistible?
Andrew Duncanson, founder of the Stockholm- and London-based gallery Modernity, weighs in on the masters of mid-century furniture and decorative arts.