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.
Alvar Aalto Red Drop Leaf Dining Table for Artek, 1950s
By Alvar Aalto
Located in London, GB
Aalto dining table made by Artek in the 1950s. It features a red linoleum top paired with a birch frame and the classic “L‑leg” construction. The table includes a foldable extension,...
Birch
Alvar Aalto stools for finmar, 1930s
By Alvar Aalto
Located in London, GB
A characterful set of Aalto stools with notable provenance, originating from the penthouse flat of architect F.R.S. Yorke, author of The Modern House (1936), above the offices of Yor...
Birch
A set of four Alvar Aalto Model 611 chairs, by Oy Huonekalu-ja Rakennustyötehdas
By Alvar Aalto
Located in London, GB
One of Aalto's earliest furniture designs, developed in collaboration with Otto Korhonen, the Model 611 introduced the simple, functional approach that would define much of his later...
Birch
George Nelson 'Home' desk for Herman Miller, 1960s
By George Nelson
Located in London, GB
Designed in 1958 by George Nelson for Herman Miller, this elegant desks refined proportions and understated materials lend it a light, decorative presence while remaining highly prac...
Formica, Oak
Alvar Aalto model 296 chest of drawers, by Artek, 1940s
By Alvar Aalto
Located in London, GB
An early Alvar Aalto chest of drawers, model 296, produced by Artek in the 1940s. Crafted in birch and set on its original wooden castors, a practical piece with clean proportions....
Birch
Pair of Alvar Aalto 'Hallway Chairs' Model 403, Artek c.1950
By Alvar Aalto
Located in London, GB
A classic and quietly sculptural design, formed from bent birch plywood with solid birch armrests, reflecting Aalto’s approach to natural materials and organic form. Originally made ...
Birch
Mid-Century Model 82 Table with Yellow Linoleum by Alvar Aalto, Artek, Finland
By Alvar Aalto, Oy Huonekalu-ja Rakennustyötehdas Ab
Located in Karis, Nyland
A Mid-Century Model 82 table designed by Alvar Aalto and produced by Artek in Finland, showcasing the designer’s signature bentwood construction and thoughtful use of natural materia...
Formica, Birch
Alvar Aalto Dining Table for Artek
By Artek, Alvar Aalto
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Dining table designed by Alvar Aalto, for Artek. The table features a rectangular blue laminate top that sits atop bent birch wood legs. This design features Aalto’s signature metho...
Laminate, Birch, Bentwood
1970's alvar aalto 82A table with ash top manufactured by artek
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Tomi, Nagano
A vintage Alvar Aalto table ash top. we updated to great condition.
Birch, Ash
Alvar Aalto Table 83
By Alvar Aalto
Located in London, GB
Designed by Finnish architect and modernist pioneer Alvar Aalto, the Model 83 table is a timeless example of functionalist design infused with natural warmth. Originally conceived in...
Birch
Table 81A by Alvar Aalto for Artek
By Artek, Alvar Aalto
Located in Vlimmeren, BE
Alvar Aalto designed Table 81A for Artek in the 1950s. Artek is a Finnish furniture manufacturer that Aalto co-founded in 1935. The table is made of solid birch wood, which is maste...
Birch
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.
