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.
Jacques Adnet Art Deco Side Table Stand Frame Metal and Glass Table Top
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Hamburg, DE
Jacques Adnet Art Deco side table with stand base in metal nickel-plated and glass tabletop with etched frame detail, tabletop has on 3 corners small marks, as documented on images, ...
Metal, Nickel
Square Coffee Table Burl Olive Wood in the Style of Milo Baughman
By Milo Baughman
Located in Hamburg, DE
Square coffee table, Lacquered Burl Olive Wood, size: 90 x 90 x 35 cm, Chrome feed, modern 1970 style.
Burl
Kimono Rack Provenience Charlotte Horstmann and Gerald Godfrey, Hong Kong
Located in Hamburg, DE
Kimono rail, black lacker embellished with gold leaves hand-painted, all parts are dismountable, base need a bit of Restauration in order to have to item ...
Wood
Table Vase By Richard Uhlemeyer Color Terracotta Red and Green 1940s Style
By Richard Uhlemeyer
Located in Hamburg, DE
Table vase by Richard Uhlemeyer, German pottery, handcrafted, 1940s style, glazed and colored in terracotta red and green, size 12 cm on the bottom x 33 cm height, Stamp at the bottom.
Pottery
Chinese Art Deco Chairs Carved And Hand-Painted Set Of Four
Located in Hamburg, DE
Four decorative chairs, each chair has a different motif, base color black, accent color Chinese red, turquoise, green, ivory, faded gold, The chairs need a bit of restoration in or...
Wood
Chinoiserie Screen Art Deco Style in Colour China Red and Black Lacquer
Located in Hamburg, DE
Chinese Paravent, Art Deco style, China red lacker, main frame in black lacquer, base material wood, can be used as room divider as back side as a dec...
Wood
Alvar Aalto Writing Table Model K81 in Birch & Red Linoleum, Artek 1950s
By Artek, Huonekalu-Ja Rakennustyötedas Oy, Alvar Aalto
Located in Helsinki, FI
A rare Mid-Century Modern writing desk in full birch and red linoleum model K81 manufactured by Huonekalu- ja Rakennustyötehdas for Artek. The minimalist design of this table which w...
Birch
1950's Alvar Aalto's Dropleaf Table Model DLC81 Red Linoleum Top
By Oy Huonekalu-ja Rakennustyötehdas Ab, Alvar Aalto
Located in Kangasala, FI
Dropleaf table designed by Alvar Aalto in the 1933. This table is manufactured in the 1950's by Artek. Red linoleum top and beautiful yellow color on the birch parts of the table. ...
Birch
Aino & Alvar Aalto Fodlable Table Model DL82, Birch & Red Linoleum, Artek 1960s
By Huonekalu-Ja Rakennustyötedas Oy, Alvar Aalto
Located in Helsinki, FI
A petit foldable table model DL82 by Artek in birch with a beautiful red linoleum surface, designed by Aino Aalto and manufactured by Huonekalu-Ja Rakennus työtehdas Oy in the 1930s....
Birch
Table, Alvar Aalto, Oy Huonekalu- ja Rakennustyötehdas Ab, 1950s
By Alvar Aalto, Oy Huonekalu-ja Rakennustyötehdas Ab
Located in Helsinki, Uusimaa
Table, designed by Alvar Aalto, manufactured by Oy Huonekalu- ja Rakennustyötehdas Ab, 1950s. Birch frame, linoleum table top. Good vintage condition, patina and minor wear consisten...
Birch
PK 40 - Dining table with red leather by Poul Kjærholm
By Fritz Hansen, Poul Kjærholm
Located in Copenhagen, DK
PK 40 - Square dining table with red leather top on steel frame. Marked from manufacturer Fritz Hansen and designed by Poul Kjærholm.
Steel
Scandinavian Modern Model 81C Table, Alvar Aalto, Artek, 1960s
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Helsinki, Uusimaa
Scandinavian Modern model 81C table, design Alvar Aalto, manufactured by Artek, 1960s. Birch frame, blue linoleum table top. Good vintage condition, patina consistent with age and us...
Birch
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.
