Märta Blomstedt Aulanko Armchair in Sheepskin, 1940s

One of the 20 original chairs made for the iconic Aulanko Hotel in Hämeenlinna by Märta Blomstedt. To emphasize, this chair was acquired from the son of a previous employee of the hotel and has the tubular steel legs that were only made for the hotel chairs. The chair had the fabric used in the hotel in the 1990s, under which the chair partially had the original blue upholstery from the 1930s. This chair was reupholstered with matching high quality fabric as the original one on the original pine structure. The tubular legs were only cleaned and retain original patina. The chair was made by cabinetmaker Arvo Laine. Of the Hotel furniture, the "Aulanko chairs" were the only ones designed for the hotel and specifically for the cigar room. The reason why Blomstedt took it upon herself to only design the drawing room chair is unclear, but if anything, it shows the importance she gave the space and the thought of bringing people together for memorable moments in a cozy atmosphere beside the fireplace. One legend has it, that she designed the chair with the steel tubular legs as a tribute to her late husband and one of the driving forces behind the functionalism movement Architect Pauli Blomstedt...

A 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...

A beautiful and sizable pair of 1940s armchairs. These are heavy weight yet unbelievably comfortable pair of chairs. So comfortable that the decision to put them on sale wasn't an ea...

One of the few lamps Paavo Tynell designed and made for the cigar room in the famous Aulanko Hotel. These lamps along with the Märta Blomstedt "Aulanko Chair" were designed for the h...

One of the few lamps Paavo Tynell designed and made for the cigar room in the famous Aulanko Hotel. These lamps along with the Märta Blomstedt "Aulanko Chair" were designed for the h...

An iconic red model 60 stool in birch and beautiful patina. Designed by Alvar Aalto for Artek in the 1940s, this design has definitely stood the test of time, as it is still in produ...

Pair of Marta Blomstedt Sheepskin Armchairs for the Hotel Aulanko, Finland, 1930s. In 1936, architects Matti Lampen and Märta Blomstedt were commissioned to design the Aulanko Hotel in Hämeenlinna, Finland. This hotel was in its time a luxury hotel of international relevance. Here Finnish functionalist elegance was conveyed at its best. The armchairs in the hotel's entrance hall are today the subject of varying questions among design experts. There are claims that the prototype of the model made for the Aulanko Hotel was Fleming Lassen's "Tired Man" armchair from 1935. "Aulanko" itself became known all over the world. Most notable is the voluminous body that stands on four bun-shaped feet. While this model originally had tubular steel legs,today there are many variations of this chair, such as a 1941 model with wooden legs. Available in abundance in Finland, wood was used by many furniture makers as a substitute for metal, which was banned for furniture during the war. Until the late 1940s, Artek marketed a version of the armchair with round wooden legs. In the 1950s, similar but smaller models were produced by different manufacturers, including Kantosen Puutyö. This craze explains the appearance of many variations with slight differences. Armchairs are very comfortable and impressive. Through their streamlined and round shapes, they literally invite the user to sit in them and check if they are as comfortable and cozy as they look. For upholstery, we used the highest quality, premium sheepskin, which, apart from being very pleasant to the touch and cozy, is also durable. Furthermore, the warm brown colour of the wooden feet nicely contrasts to the soft, light color of the upholstery, creating a cosy look, not to mention that wooden bun feet make a long-lasting, rock solid foundation for any chair. * Price per piece, Euro 35 000 per set of 2 Condition: In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. The armchairs are newly refinished and reupholstered in premium sheepskin. At the customer's special request, AMS Gallery offers a re-upholstery service in a fabric of choice. We guarantee the originality and authenticity of each of our items. The process of renovation and reupholstering is performed by experienced craftsmen with great attention to originality. Our team makes sure that each element retains its value and is ready for many years. Dimensions: Width 100 cm / 39.37 in. Depth 95 cm / 37.4 in. Height 90 cm / 35.4 in. Seat Height 40 cm / 15.7 in. About the Designer: Märta Blomstedt (1899–1982) was an architect and one of the driving forces of the Finnish functionalism...

Pair of lounge chairs in the manner of Märta Blomstedt. Designed and produced in Denmark by Danish cabinetmaker. Legs in oak and off white sheepskin upholstery. Upholstery is new and...

Very rare pair model Aulanko easy chairs by Märta Blomstedt. Produced by Häämenlinna in Finland. Designed in 1939 for Hotel Aulanko’s lounge area.

Very rare easy chair model Aulanko designed by Märta Blomstedt. Produced by Häämenlinna in Finland. Designed in 1939 for Hotel Aulanko’s lounge area.  

The Finnish architect and designer, Märta Blomstedt, was one of the driving forces of the Finnish functionalism movement. Her first works were noted for their functional, rather than decorative appearance, which clearly changed as evidence by these famous “Aulanko” armchairs. Blomstedt designed all aspects of her buildings including the furnishings, demonstrated in one of her most noted designs of the Hotel Aulanko. The hotel was conceived as a single work of art and the furnishings, dishes and textiles were part of the project. This model – designed in 1939 - got its name after this architectural project and was specifically designed for the lobby of the hotel in Hämeenlinna, Finland. While it has been stated before that this model was heavily inspired by Danish designer, Fleming Lassen's genre-defining 'Tired Man' wing chair from 1935, the “Aulanko” became world-famous in its own right. Most notable is the voluminous body that stands on four bun shaped feet. While this model originally had tubular steel legs, various iterations were produced for the hotel over the subsequent decades. This version with spherical wooden bun feet is one of the earliest examples created and until the late 1940s, Artek marketed this version of the armchair. The flowing, round lines are beautifully accentuated by the light sheepskin. Furthermore, the warm brown colour of the wooden feet nicely contrasts to the soft, light colour of the upholstery, creating a cosy look, not to mention that wooden bun feet make a long-lasting, rock solid foundation for any chair. The large curves and rounded edges of the body and feet are very inviting, asking the user to be embraced by the soft sheepskin. The Aulanko Hotel in Hämeenlinna (the city of Jean Sibelius) was in its time a luxury hotel of international relevance. In this “Aulanko” chair...

Pair of Märta Blomstedt easy chairs. Legs in stained ash and upholstered in sheepskin. Model designed for Hotel Aulanko, Finland, 1939. The chairs are newly refinished an upholstere...