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.
$9,863 / set
H 17.33 in Dm 13.78 in
Set of 6 Alvar Aalto 3 Legged Stackable Stools Model 60, Artek 1960s
By Artek, Alvar Aalto
Located in Helsinki, FI
These six Alvar Aalto iconic stools from 1930s are beautiful and space saving furniture pieces of timeless design. The legs are mounted directly to the underside of the round seat wi...
Birch
Midcentury Modern Stools by Alvar Aalto, Sweden, 1940s
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Set of five stools by Alvar Aalto, made from beech. Clean design with three legs. Original condition with some chips and dents in the wood, overall nice condition. Made by Aalto Des...
Wood
$6,575 / set
H 17.33 in Dm 13.78 in
Set of 4 Alvar Aalto Stackable 3 Legged Stools Model 60 in Brich, Artek 1930s
By Artek, Alvar Aalto, Huonekalu-Ja Rakennustyötedas Oy
Located in Helsinki, FI
A set of the iconic model 60 stools designed by Alvar Aalto for Artek. Inspired by the clean lines and organic forms of nature, the Alvar Aalto Model 60 Stool is a timeless piece of ...
Birch
$1,600 / set
H 17.5 in Dm 15.5 in
Five Bentwood Stacking Tables or Stools in the Manner of Alvar Aalto
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Atlanta, GA
Five Bentwood Stacking tables or stools in the manner of Alvar Aalto, circa 1950s. These tables are currently being refinished and can be completed in your choice of color. The price...
Wood
$3,307 / set
H 28.15 in W 15.36 in D 14.77 in
Midcentury pair of stools mod. K65 by Alvar Aalto for Artek
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Model K65 Stool by Alvar Aalto for Artek Finland, 1970s Designed by Alvar Aalto between 1933 and 1935, the K65 stool exemplifies his pioneering approach to bent birch construction an...
Wood
Set of 4 mid century danish Bentwood Birch stacking stools or tables
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Set of 4 mid century danish Birch stacking stools or tables. Each table has 4 legs. Flat head screws labeled made in Denmark. Set of 4 matching stools. Original vintage condition. Al...
Bentwood, Birch, Plywood
$9,863 / set
H 17.33 in Dm 13.78 in
Set of 6 Alvar Aalto 3 Legged Stackable Birch Stools Model. 60, Artek 1930s
By Artek, Alvar Aalto
Located in Helsinki, FI
These six Alvar Aalto iconic stools from 1930s are beautiful and space saving furniture pieces of timeless design. The legs are mounted directly to the underside of the round seat wi...
Birch
$1,012 / item
H 12.6 in Dm 13.59 in
Finnish Wooden Children Low Stools in Bent Birch by Alvar Aalto & Artek Finland
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare set of four Finnish wooden four legged low children stools in bent birch by Alvar Aalto produced by Artek Finland ca 1980s. In good original and matching condition with natural ...
Birch
Alvar Aalto Model 60 Birch Stacking Stools by Artek
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Designed by Alvar Aalto in 1933 and manufactured by Artek, the Model 60 stool is built around the L-leg — a laminated birch leg bent into an L-shape that connects directly to the cir...
Birch, Bentwood
Model 66 dining chairs by Alvar Aalto for Artek, 1960s
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Mid century dining room chairs designed by Alvar Aalto for Artek. The set consists of 5 model66 dining chairs. Beautifully crafted solid birch frames. Good condition 1960s - Fin...
Birch
Set of 8 Vintage Jens Risom Teak & Leather Danish Mid Century Mod Dining Chairs
By Jens Risom
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A set of 8 vintage Jens Risom dining chairs. This beautiful set of Danish dining chairs are constructed with a lovely teak wood, the lovely grain and coloration perfectly compliment ...
Wood, Teak, Leather
Set of 3 Arne Vodder Model FD-184 Chairs for France & Daverkosen Vintage Danish
By Arne Vodder, France & Daverkosen
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A set of 3 Arne Vodder for France & Daverkosen Model FD-184 chairs. The FD-184 chair by Arne Vodder is a fantastic Danish design, (and a personal favorite of this writer), featuring ...
Teak
Set of 6 Lowenstein Blonde Wood and Black Leather Vintage Dining Chairs
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A set of 6 vintage Lowenstein dining chairs. This lovely set of vintage 20th century dining chairs feature a simple, sleek, modern design. They have a full wood construction with a b...
Leather, Wood
Set of 6 Schou Anderson Vintage Danish Teak Mid Century Modern Dining Chairs
By V. Schou Andersen
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A set of 6 Schou Andersen Danish teak dining chairs. This is a beautiful set of mid century modern dining chairs. These chairs, made in Denmark, are designed by Schou Andersen and fe...
Fabric, Teak
Set of 6 Sunpan Ajani Olive Green and Brass Contemporary Modern Dining Armchairs
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A set of 6 Sunpan "Ajani" dining armchairs. A lovely set of contemporary modern dining chairs. Each of these beautiful armchairs feature a full iron frame with a unique, textured ant...
Brass
Set of 6 Robert Haussmann for De Sede RH-320 Brown Mohair & Chrome Dining Chairs
By De Sede
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A set of 6 1970s Robert Haussmann RH-320 dining chairs for De Sede. This lovely modern set of dining chairs features a very clean, chic design and material choice. They have a chrome...
Mohair
A power couple before the term existed, the influential pair made work that still resonates today.
Andrew Duncanson, founder of the Stockholm- and London-based gallery Modernity, weighs in on the masters of mid-century furniture and decorative arts.
