In 1936, Finnish designer Alvar Aalto (1898–1976), a graduate of the Helsinki University of Technology who had just moved the practice he ran with his first wife, Aino, from the Finnish city of Turku to Helsinki, presented a new chair at the Milan Triennale. Compared to Aalto’s previous furniture designs, the Armchair 400, or Tank armchair, was robust, with a wide and sturdy shape that earned it its name.
Prior to this, Aalto had seen success in 1933 for his Stool 60, a simple wood design that remains one of the most celebrated seats in design history. Next to the Stool 60, the Tank armchair was, well, a tank.
But the cantilevered seat garnered widespread approval in Milan, even earning Aalto a prize from the fair. Like the Stool 60, though, the Tank armchair makes use of gracefully bent birchwood. Much of Aalto’s work involved native birch, which he referred to as a “form-inspiring, deeply human material.” This attitude speaks to the designer’s approach, which was always to integrate architecture and design both with its surroundings and the movements of its users.
With the Tank, Aalto created what he saw as the ideal chair: Its upholstered seat offers comfort, but the cantilevered form ensures it remains elegant, as do the sculptural, curving armrests, each cut from a single piece of birch. The shape also gives it flexibility, making it suitable for both leaning back and relaxing or sitting upright for conversation.
The continued popularity of the Tank armchair — and the increase in popularity in cantilevered seats in the years following its release — speaks to the importance of Aalto’s early experiments in bentwood, a material that would come to be a defining aspect of mid-century furniture design. Years later, for example, American designers Charles and Ray Eames would begin producing pieces in bent and molded plywood created with their famous homemade “Kazam! Machine.”
In 1939, upon seeing Aalto’s work for the Finnish Pavilion at the World’s Fair, Frank Lloyd Wright (who also had a certain love affair with wood, although the renowned architect’s species of choice was mahogany) reportedly called Aalto a “genius.”
The Tank armchair is produced by Artek, which the Aaltos helped cofound. It is available in a wide variety of upholstery and wood-stain options, including the eye-catching zebra pattern, an unexpected offering from a company whose palette tends to be more muted but a popular version of the chair since its early days.
$9,000Sale Price|40% Off
'Tank' Settee by Alvar Aalto
By Alvar Aalto
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Alvar Aalto and produced by Mouldcraft c.1950s, Canada. The Tank sofa is a rare design featuring a cantilevered frame in a bent birch wood that g...
Upholstery, Birch
Alvar Aalto Armchair 400 Tank Mid Century Bentwood Lounge Chairs - Pair
By Artek, Alvar Aalto
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Alvar Aalto Armchair 400 Tank Mid Century Bentwood Lounge Chairs - Pair Each chair measures: 30 wide x 33 deep x 26.25 high, with a seat height of 15 and arm height/chair clearance ...
Upholstery, Bentwood
alvar aalto tank sofa 3 seater 40's sweden
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Tomi, Nagano
Manufactured in the 1940s. Made in Sweden. This is a rare 3-seater tank sofa. This item has already been reupholstered and repaired. Although there are some ...
Birch, Fabric
Artek Alvar Aalto 400 Style Lounge Chair
Located in Bridgeport, CT
This supercool chair is unmarked and appears to be a reproduction of Alvar Alto's famous tank chair model 400 probably made sometime in the 1970's. The original was only made in wood...
Chrome
Alvar Aalto Y61 Stool
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Highland, IN
Designed in 1947, Alvar Aalto's Y61 stool required a special technique to create the unique Y-leg. This vintage example was sold in the US by ICF and has a rich patina attesting to y...
Canvas, Birch
Alvar Aalto Stool 60
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Miami, FL
Stool 60 designed by Alvar Aalto, strong patina with some chips. Please see picture 3 for accurate color.
Bentwood
Alvar Aalto ‘Tank’ Armchair in Honey Sheepskin, 1940s
By Artek, Alvar Aalto
Located in Prague, New Town
‘Tank’ armchair, model ’37/400′, designed by Alvar Aalto in 1936. Manufactured by Artek in Finland, 1940s. Made from laminated steam-bent birch plywood, recently reupholstered in hon...
Sheepskin, Birch
$4,709
H 40.16 in W 24.81 in D 29.93 in
Model 401 Lounge Chair by Alvar Aalto for Artek, Finland, 1970s
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Karis, Nyland
Model 401 lounge chair designed by Alvar Aalto for Artek, originally introduced in 1933. One of Aalto’s most celebrated designs, the Model 401 combines his pioneering bent laminated ...
Upholstery, Birch
$7,408
H 27.96 in W 24.02 in D 27.96 in
Scandinavian Modern Alvar Aalto lounge chair model 402, 1950's
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Uccle, BE
Original 1930's Alvar Aalto Model 402 lounge chair with reupholstered ecru cotton blend fabric. One of Aalto's notable creations is the "Model 402 Armchair...
Birch
Alvar Aalto Stool 60
By Artek, Alvar Aalto
Located in Kiiminki, FI
Alvar Aalto Stool 60 for Artek from the 1950s. Birch with rare green imitation leather seat. Good vintage condition, patina and wear consistent wi...
Leather, Birch
'Tank chair' by Alvar Aalto, Finland, 1940s
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Stockholm, SE
Alvar Aalto 'Tank' armchair. Produced in Finland, 1940s.
Birch
Italian Settee by Isa Bergamo
By ISA Bergamo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Italian Isa Bergamo mid century settee original faux leather upholstery and original mid century condition. Brass legs.
Brass
Alvar Aalto Paimio Sofa for Finmar Finland ca 1932
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Danville, CA
Rare original Alvar Aalto Paimio sofa design circuit 1932 by Finmar, Finland. Spectacular bent plywood frame, recent neutral green micro chenille upholste...
Bentwood
Model 406 Lounge Chairs by Alvar Aalto for Artek
By Artek, Alvar Aalto
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 1970s. Denmark. Price is for the set. Contact us if you’d like to purchase a single item. Previous mark where ICF label was is pictured for both chairs.
Cotton, Birch
$5,800 / item
H 37.5 in W 47 in D 21 in
Lola Settee, Bouclé & Natural Wood Settee by Christian Siriano
By Christian Siriano
Located in New York, NY
Made to order bouclé and wood settee designed by Christian Siriano. Fabric for seat/back cushion: Ivory Bouclé Base: Natural Maple.
Bouclé, Maple
Alvar and Aino Aalto A820 Wardrobe
By Alvar Aalto, Aino Aalto
Located in Tomi, Nagano
alvar and aino aalto design wardrobe. This is very rare not on the vintage market. Like museum piece.
Birch
Alvar Aalto Tank Model 400 Chairs
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Forest Row, East Sussex
A pair of 'Tank Chairs 400' by Alvar Aalto. Beech bentwood with forest green boucle re-upholstery. Designed 1936.
Bouclé, Beech
Sold
H 41.74 in W 25.01 in D 31.5 in
Alvar Aalto, Pair of armchairs mod. Wingback Artek, Finland, 1970
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Rivoli, IT
Questa coppia di poltrone modello 401 è stata disegnata da Alvar Aalto per Artek, Finlandia, 1933. La struttura è in multistrato di betulla e con tessuto vintage marrone (piccoli di...
Fabric, Birch
Sold
H 25 in W 30 in D 33 in
Alvar Aalto Model 400 "Tank" Chairs in Swans Island Company Blankets, Pair
By Alvar Aalto
Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
A beautiful pair of one of a kind Tank armchairs, masterfully restored in handwoven blankets from Swans Island Company, the Maine based textile and blanket workshop. The Armchair 40...
Wool, Birch
400 Tank Lounge Chair by Alvar Aalto for Artek
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Long Island City, NY
400 Tank Lounge Chair by Alvar Aalto for Artek, crafted in birch plywood with curved armrests. Newly reupholstered in chocolate mohair. Designed in 1936
Mohair, Bentwood
Alvar Aalto Model 400 "Tank Chair"
By Alvar Aalto
Located in San Diego, CA
A stunning, rare and early example of an Alvar Aalto Model 400 "Tank Chair" circa 1930s. The cantilevered frame is constructed of bent birch, and the body of the chair is upholstered in a green boucle (looped or curled in French). The colorful textile contrasts beautiful against the warm birch frame. The wood was refinished to see it's beautiful layers. As voluminous as it is comfortable, Armchair 400 was created by Alvar Aalto in 1936 for an exhibition at the Milan Triennale, where it was promptly awarded a prize. The chair owes its nickname “Tank” to its distinctive wide and sturdy armrests made of form-bent birch and to its robust upholstery. The springy cantilevered frame offers a flexible, comfortable seat. A favorite since the 1930s, Armchair 400 remains effortlessly modern. This is the perfect chair for any space. Whether you are looking to add a pop of color to a more neutral sitting room, or create a more moody atmosphere in your office, this classic Mid-Century Modern design is a true conversation starter. Check out it's sister chair, the Alvar Aalto Model 45...
Birch
Sold
H 35.44 in W 30.32 in D 32.68 in
Pair of Alvar Aalto Tank Chairs, Rare High-Back Version, Artek Finland
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Turku, Finland
Extremely fine, rare and showy pair of armchairs designed by Alvar Aalto. These E400-model chairs are bit heavier and bigger version of iconic Tank chair. The model has not been i...
Leather, Birch
Alvar Aalto 400 ‘Tank’ 1936 Armchair for Artek
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Tilburg, NL
Alvar Aalto 400 ‘Tank’ Armchair for Artek. Designed in 1936. New, current production. As voluminous as it is comfortable, Armchair 400 was created by Alva...
Wood, Leather, Fabric
Sold
H 25 in W 30 in D 33 in
One-of-a-Kind Pair of Alvar Aalto Model 400 "Tank" Lounge Chairs in Zebra
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
A beautiful pair of Tank armchairs, masterfully restored in zebra hide. The Armchair 400 or "Tank Chair" is one of Alvar Aalto's best known works. The sculptural cantilever design sh...
Zebra Hide
Sold
H 29.53 in W 29.53 in L 29.53 in
Early Alvar Aalto ‘Tank’ Chairs Model 400 in Mohair Velvet, Finland, 1940s
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Rotterdam, ZH
Rare early set of ‘Tank' chairs Model 400 by Alvar Aalto, Finland 1940s. This early chairs has been produced by the first producer: O.Y. Huonekalu-ja Rakennustyötehdas A.b. in Turku....
Mohair, Birch
Alvar Aalto Model 400 "Tank" Lounge Chair in Shearling
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
A beautiful Tank armchair, masterfully restored in ivory shearling. The Armchair 400 or "Tank Chair" is one of Alvar Aalto's best known works. The sculptural cantilever design showca...
Zebra Hide
Alvar Aalto Model 400 "Tank" Lounge Chair in Zebra
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
A beautiful Tank armchair, masterfully restored in zebra hide. The armchair 400 or "Tank Chair" is one of Alvar Aalto's best known works. The sculptural cantilever design showcases t...
Zebra Hide
