Alvar Aalto Bench Model 153A by Artek, Birch Plywood, Finland, 1970s
View Similar Items
Alvar Aalto Bench Model 153A by Artek, Birch Plywood, Finland, 1970s
About the Item
- Creator:Alvar Aalto (Designer),Artek (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 17 in (43.18 cm)Width: 44 in (111.76 cm)Depth: 16 in (40.64 cm)Seat Height: 17 in (43.18 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1970s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Vienna, AT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU101529254423
Alvar Aalto
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.
- Beautiful Midcentury Slat Bench by Harry Bertoia for Knoll, USA, 1950sBy Knoll, Harry BertoiaLocated in Vienna, ATA beautiful modernist ashwood slat bench with an iron base from the 1950s. Designed by Harry Bertoia for Knoll. Restored, in very good condition. The bench also makes a great coffee ...Category
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Benches
MaterialsIron
- Piero Fornasetti Gilded Plate Falstaff by Guiseppe Verdi, Italy, 1970sBy FornasettiLocated in Vienna, ATA beautiful gilded porcelain plate "Falstaff by Guiseppe Verdi" by Piero Fornasetti, Milano from the 1970s. Diameter 10", stamped on its backside. In very good condition with light w...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Tableware
MaterialsPorcelain
- Orange Fiberglass Chair Ginger by Patrick Gingembre, Paulus, France, 1970sBy Patrick GingembreLocated in Vienna, ATA beautiful orange midcentury stool or chair from the 1970s, made of lacquered fibreglass, model Ginger, by Patrick Gingembre for Paulus, ...Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsFiberglass
- One Round Handblown Amber Glass Sconce by Doria, Germany, 1970sBy Doria Leuchten GermanyLocated in Vienna, ATOne round glass wall light, executed by Doria Leuchten, Germany, in the 1970s. Very beautiful, handblown of yellow amber-colored glass with nice...Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsGlass
- Midcentury Brutalist Enameled Wall Clock by Kienzle, Germany, 1970sLocated in Vienna, ATA beautiful round Midcentury Brutalist wall clock, executed by Kienzle Germany in the 1970s. The clock has a housing made of ceramic with a colorful enamel glaze in brown, green, yel...Category
Mid-20th Century German Brutalist Wall Clocks
MaterialsEnamel
- Kalmar Style Crystal Glass Flower Pendant Chandelier by Sische, Germany, 1970sBy J.T. Kalmar, Simon & Schelle 1Located in Vienna, ATA charming and decorative mid-century brass & glass chandelier / pendant light fixture from the 1970s. Designed and manufactured by Sische / Simon and Schelle in Germany. Consists of...Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsCrystal, Brass, Nickel, Chrome
- Alvar Aalto Bench Model 153B, Artek 1970sBy Artek, Alvar AaltoLocated in Helsinki, FIIconic bench model 153 designed by Alvar Aalto and manufactured by Artek in the 1960s. The bench is in very good original condition. As with a lot of Alvar Aalto's works the beauty...Category
Vintage 1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Benches
MaterialsBirch
$1,011 Sale Price20% Off - Vintage Alvar Alto Low Bench 153A of Birch by Artek in Finland 1980s.By Alvar Aalto, ArtekLocated in Aarhus C, DKFinish Alvar Aalto (1898-1976) vintage low bench. The bench is made of solid birch with lacquer in the 1980s. by Artek in Finland. Very nice vintage...Category
Mid-20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Benches
MaterialsBirch
- Alvar Aalto L-Leg Bench/ Table Model 106By Alvar Aalto, ArtekLocated in Highland, INThis exceptional example of Allto's slat bench/ table by Artek dates to circa 1948 and was sold at Chicago's landmark modern design store Baldwin Kingrey...Category
Vintage 1940s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Benches
MaterialsBirch
- Midcentury Alvar Aalto Blonde Birch Bentwood Leg Coffee Table or BenchBy Alvar Aalto, ArtekLocated in BROOKLYN, NYMidcentury coffee or cocktail table or Bench by Finnish architect and designer Alvar Allto. Stands on 4 birch bentwood legs and table top surface rectang...Category
Mid-20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsWood, Birch, Bentwood
$6,400 Sale Price20% Off - Alvar Aalto 7 Vintage L-Leg Stools Model 60 in Birch, 1970s Artek, FinlandBy Alvar Aalto, ArtekLocated in Odense, DKSet of 7 beautifully patinated L-leg stools by Alvar Aalto in laminated birch. Bought in Denmark in the 1970s at Paustian. Alvar Aalto’s Three-legged stool model 60 designed in 1934...Category
Vintage 1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Stools
MaterialsBirch
- 50's bench 153A naturalBy Alvar AaltoLocated in 東御市, JPalvar aalto design 153A bench. This condition is very nice patine and original finish.Category
Vintage 1950s Finnish Modern Benches
MaterialsBirch
$2,748
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.