Skip to main content
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 19

A Pair of Balck & Grey Kulho "Bowl" Chairs by Ola Kettunen, Merivaara 1950s

About the Item

A beautiful pair of one the most iconic Merivaara and Finnish design chairs from the 1950s designed by Ola Kettunen. This chair, model no. TU 611, was called the Kulho chair, meaning bowl chair, for obvious reasons. The chair is light yet offers an extremely comfortable sit. Ola designed this chair in the 1950s amongst a series of light furniture meant for hotels and public spaces. The two most famous of the series was this and the Ulla chair / stool, which highly resembles this one but is a much smaller and un-paded version. Both chairs are stamped and are in very good condition. This Kulho chair gained international recognition and was eventually the reason why Ola moved to Canada where he received a spectacular recognition and was awarded an honorary certificate from the National Industrial Design Council for high-quality design. The leading Finnish newspaper reported about this chair: "The stylish design of the Kulho armchair series has attracted attention even outside the borders of our country. It was on the basis of this work that the designer and interior artist Ola Kettunen was invited to Canada to become a designer for a prominent furniture factory there," - Helsingin Sanomat in 1956. From Montreal, Ola moved to New York in 1958 to join the American investment bank Irving Trust (later Bank of New York) as their interior designer. This was the reason why his name does not appear in Finnish design works presenting the designs of the era, even though a brilliant designer. Ola Kettunen was responsible for the construction and decoration of the bank's premises both in the United States and internationally. - Design work often took him to Japan, Singapore, whose urban planning he greatly appreciated, and South America.
  • Creator:
    J.Merivaara (Manufacturer),Ola Kettunen (Designer)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 28.35 in (72 cm)Width: 26.38 in (67 cm)Depth: 26.78 in (68 cm)Seat Height: 17.33 in (44 cm)
  • Sold As:
    Set of 2
  • Style:
    Scandinavian Modern (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1950s
  • Condition:
    Reupholstered. Wear consistent with age and use. The chairs have been professionally reupholstered recently.
  • Seller Location:
    Helsinki, FI
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU6346240201322

More From This Seller

View All
Pair of Commissioned Ilmari Tapiovaara Lounge Chairs, Sheepskin, Merivaara 1950s
By Ilmari Tapiovaara
Located in Helsinki, FI
A pair of chairs by Tapiovaara that are quite rare and were designed for a private residence. Tapiovaara had quite a lot of those commisions through his interior design office. The chairs are of a metal frame with brass details and cushons upholstered in natural sheepskin. Included is a picture of 2 similar chairs at the Design Museom exhibition in Helsinki in 2014, which marked the 100 anniversary (he was born in 1914) of Tapiovaara´s birth. We highly recommend shipping through 1stdibs on these items, for they do have affordable rates due to the huge volumes that go through them yearly. Yrjö Ilmari Tapiovaara...
Category

Vintage 1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs

Materials

Metal, Brass

Pair of Marke Niskala-Luostarinen Dismantable Stools, Oy Stockmann Ab, 1950s
By Oy Stockmann AB, Marke Niskala, Keravan Puuteollisuus Oy
Located in Helsinki, FI
A truely brilliant Finnish designed stool with no screws, bolts or nails. The stool is only made up of three pieces that simply slide into place to create a stool. The stools are i...
Category

Vintage 1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Birch

Pair of Impressive & Large Paavo Tynell Commissioned Wall Lamps, Taito c. 1950s
By Paavo Tynell, Taito Oy
Located in Helsinki, FI
When you think you've seen it all, Tynell still manages to surprise you and impresss with his endless line of majestic designs. Here we have an astonishing pair of wall lamps that ar...
Category

Vintage 1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass, Metal

Alvar Aalto Pair of Black Paded Cantilever Armchairs Model 402, Artek 1950s
By Artek, Huonekalu-Ja Rakennustyötedas Oy, Alvar Aalto
Located in Helsinki, FI
A beautiful pair of mid-century Alvar Aalto cantilever 'spring' chairs model 402, also known as Pikkupaimio (small paimio) associated with the legendary Paimio Sanatorium designed by Aalto. The chairs are light-weight and can be situated practically in any room or interior, and are easily moved around due to their lightness, both in weight and in appearance. The chairs have beautiful patina and are reupholstered in black premium fabric. Both chairs are stamped "Artek Aalto design Made in Finland...
Category

Vintage 1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs

Materials

Metal

Alvar Aalto Pair of Cantilever Armchairs M. 401 Green Buffalo Check, Artek 1950s
By Artek, Huonekalu-Ja Rakennustyötedas Oy, Alvar Aalto
Located in Helsinki, FI
A beautiful pair of mid-century Alvar Aalto cantilever 'spring' chairs model 401. This chair is similar to the iconic one known as Pikkupaimio (small paimio) but with a higher back a...
Category

Vintage 1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs

Materials

Metal

A Pair of Bass & Teak Floor Lamps Attributed to Maria Lindeman, Idman 1950s
By Maria Lindeman, Idman
Located in Helsinki, FI
A beautiful pair of rare floor lamps by Idman from the 1950s. This model is attributed to Maria Lindeman, who was one of the head designers at the leading light manufacturer Idman, a...
Category

Vintage 1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Floor Lamps

Materials

Brass

You May Also Like

Ola "Olof" Kettunen, 1950s teak Stool for Merva, Merivaara, Finland
By Olof Kettunen, Merva Merivaara.
Located in Turku, Varsinais-Suomi
Introducing the Ola "Olof" Kettunen 1950s stool, a classic piece of mid-century design from Finland. Made by renowned Finnish manufacturer Merivaara, this vintage stool boasts a time...
Category

Mid-20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Metal

Olof Kettunen for J. Merivaara Red Lacquered Plywood % Steel Stool Stendig 1950s
By J.Merivaara, Stendig Co., Olof Kettunen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed in the 1950s by Olof Kettunen, this example is one of the few imported into the US by Stendig. Stendig wasn't around for a very long time, and no longer has any active showr...
Category

Vintage 1950s Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Steel

Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Stool by Olof Kettunen to J. Merivaara Oy, 1950
By J.Merivaara, Olof Kettunen
Located in Courbevoie, FR
Scandinavian stool of Olof Kettunen to J. Merivaara Oy, circa 1950. Red lacquered plywood seat. Black lacquered steel foot. Original paint. Has its labels.
Category

Vintage 1950s Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Plywood

Pair of Olof Kettunen Stools in Walnut for Merivaara, Finland, 1950s
By Olof Kettunen, Merva Merivaara.
Located in Berlin, DE
The stools are made of four white metal legs and a walnut plywood seat which curves upwards. A simple and elegant design, labelled by J. Merivaara. Authentic patina.
Category

Vintage 1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Olof Kettunen Chair and Stool for Merivaara, Finland, 1950s
By Olof Kettunen, Merva Merivaara.
Located in Berlin, DE
Olof Kettunen chair and stool for Merivaara, Finland 1950s. The measurements given apply to the chair. The stool measures D30cm/W53cm/H53cm.    
Category

Vintage 1950s Finnish Chairs

Materials

Metal

Ola Chair by Doimo Brasil
Located in Geneve, CH
Ola Chair by Doimo Brasil Dimensions: W 55 x D 57 x H 83 cm Materials: Metal, upholstered seat. With the intention of providing good taste and persona...
Category

2010s Brazilian Post-Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Recently Viewed

View All