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 Highback Tank Arm Chair Model A 38 in Sheepskin, Artek 1940s
By Alvar Aalto, Huonekalu-Ja Rakennustyötedas Oy, Artek
Located in Helsinki, FI
A beautiful early version of the A38 “high back” Tank chair by Alvar Aalto. A substantial and commanding piece, this is among the rarer chair models in Aalto’s oeuvre and remains sel...
Sheepskin, Birch
1960 Alvar Aalto Cantilever Chair Model 406 by Artek in Birch and Cane Webbing
By Artek, Alvar Aalto
Located in Chicago, IL
Alvar Aalto, cantilevered chair model 406. Laminated birch, cane. circa 1960 The model 406 chair was originally designed in 1938-39. Measures: 35"H x...
Cane, Birch
Alvar Aalto Tank Arm Chair Model 400 in Sheepskin, Artek 1950s
By Artek, Huonekalu-Ja Rakennustyötedas Oy, Alvar Aalto
Located in Helsinki, FI
A mid century Alvar Aalto “Tank” chair, model 400, produced by Artek in the 1950s. This example has been fully renovated and newly upholstered in first grade sheepskin that beautiful...
Sheepskin, Birch
alvar aalto PAIR OF ARMCHAIRS, MODEL NO. 44 (padded paimio)
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Tomi, Nagano
Pair of mid‑century armchairs, model no. 44, designed by Alvar Aalto. Each chair features Aalto’s characteristic continuous bent‑plywood side frames, where the armrests flow seamles...
Wool, Birch
Alvar Aalto Highback Cantilever Chair Model 36/401 Birch & Rusty Red Wool, 1930s
By Artek, Alvar Aalto
Located in Odense, DK
A beautiful pair of vintage birch highback lounge chairs model 36/401 by Alvar Aalto. Upholstered with original rusty red wool and with an amazing honey coloured patina to the bent birchwood. Designed 1933 and manufactured in the 1950s by Artek, Finland. The high-back cantilever Armchair 401...
Wool, Birch
$5,844Sale Price|20% Off
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 Lounge Chair in Beech and Cotton, Mid-Century Modern
By ICF Group, Alvar Aalto
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Alvar Aalto Linen and Beech Lounge Chair in very good original condition! 2nd one available with more wear showing on the seat area of the linen. Later photos are showing the 2nd c...
Cotton, Beech
1960 Alvar Aalto Cantilever Chair Model 406 by Artek in Birch and Cane Webbing
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Chicago, IL
Alvar Aalto, cantilevered chair model 406. Laminated birch, cane. circa 1960 The model 406 chair was originally designed in 1938-39. 35"H x 24"W x 27...
Cane, Birch
$3,200 / set
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
Alvar Aalto, Paimio 41 Lounge Chair in Black and Birch, Artek 1960s
By Artek, Huonekalu-Ja Rakennustyötedas Oy, Alvar Aalto
Located in Helsinki, FI
The famous Paimio lounge chair model 41, designed by Alvar Aalto for the Paimion Parantola. Manufactured by Artek in the 1960s, stamped "Artek, Aal...
Birch, Plywood
Alvar Aalto Armchair with Special Height, Artek, "Enso-Gutzeit", 1962
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Odense, DK
A very rare Alvar Aalto armchair made for the Enso-Gutzeit ("Stora Enso") Headquarters in 1962. Birch, green fabric and leather. Great original condition with age related wear. Stamp...
Leather, Beech
Pair of Alvar Aalto Cantilever Chairs Model 406 by Artek in Birch Cane Webbing
By Artek, Alvar Aalto
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of Alvar Aalto, cantilevered chairs model 406. Laminated birch, cane. circa 1960 The model 406 chair was originally designed in 1938-39. 35"H x ...
Cane, Birch
Alvar Aalto Model 31 Cantilever Chair, Birch Plywood, 1930s
By Alvar Aalto
Located in San Francisco, CA
Alvar Aalto cantilever chair, model 31. A very rare 1st edition model 31 lounge chair by Alvar Aalto in birch plywood with a floating bac...
Birch
Alvar Aalto Zebra Hide Lounge Chairs Danish Modern Midcentury Design for Artek
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Atlanta, GA
Tall back cantilevered lounge chairs in zebra hide, designed by Alvar Aalto for Artek, Finland, originally designed circa 1930s, these examples are circa 1950s. They are a near pair ...
Zebra Hide, Wood, Birch
Alvar Aalto Easy Chair Nr 31 Produced by O.y Huonekalu-ja Rakennustyötehdas
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare easy chair model nr 31 designed by Alvar Aalto. Produced by O.y Huonekalu-ja Rakennustyötehdas in Finland.
Birch
Rare 1930s Alvar Aalto for Stylclair in Plywood and Braided Straw
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Alvar Aalto for Stylclair, lounge chair, beech plywood, braided straw, France, 1930s We present a rare lounge chair designed by Alvar Aalto, produced by Stylclair under the license...
Straw, Beech
Wingback Lounge Chair by Alvar Aalto for Artek, 1940s
By Artek, Alvar Aalto
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A rare and sculptural wingback lounge chair having a cantilevered laminated birch frame and retaining its original handstitched textured linen upholstery.
Upholstery, Birch
Alvar Aalto Paimio Chair 41
By Artek, Alvar Aalto
Located in Los Angeles, CA
wonderful Paimio armchair 41 by Alvar Aalto for Artek, Finland, in natural birch wood with black bentwood seat with venting slots. The laminated birch frame is bent into a closed cur...
Birch
Rare Alvar Aalto Webbed Lounge Chair, Birch Frame, Scandinavian Modern
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in San Francisco, CA
A rare low slung lounge chair designed by Alvar Aalto in 1938 for the Villa Mairea, manufactured in 1946 for Artek. Lightly restored birch frame with a rich natural wood tone and new...
Birch
Lounge Chairs, Early Aalto Production for Stylclair, France, 1930s
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Boom, Vlaams Gewest
These exceptional lounge chairs belong to the early period of Alvar Aalto’s bentwood production in France. In the early 1930s, Aalto’s curved plywood designs began circulating across...
Rope, Wood, Bentwood
1970s Aino and Alvar Aalto for Artek Paimio Lounge Chair
By Aino Aalto, Alvar Aalto
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Paimio Lounge Chair, originally designed by Aino and Alvar Aalto for the Paimio Sanatorium in Finland in 1932. This particular example was produced by Artek and dates to th...
Birch
1970s Alvar & Aino Aalto for Artek / ICF 406 Lounge Chairs in Beech w/ Webbing
By Aino Aalto, Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Philadelphia, PA
These are 406 Arm Chairs, originally designed by Aino and Alvar Aalto in 1939. These particular examples were produced by Artek in Finland in the 1970s. Their frames are made from bi...
Birch, Fabric
Alvar Aalto Model 402 Lounge Chair, Bent Birch & Blue Vinyl, Early Model 1930s
By Artek, Alvar Aalto
Located in Detroit, MI
The Model 402 lounge chair or ‘Atelje’ chair was designed by Alvar and Aino Aalto in 1933 and is considered a masterpiece of modernist furniture design. The classic, well-balanced de...
Fabric, Birch, Bentwood
Rare Variant Model 41 Paimio Sanatorium Armchair Chair by Alvar Aatlo c. 1960s
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Oakland, CA
Model No 41 Paimio armchair in molded birch plywood designed by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. With a black lacquered molded plywood seat and natural finish molded arms creating a ve...
Birch, Lacquer
Alvar Aalto Cantilevered Leather Lounge Chair for Artek
By Artek, Alvar Aalto
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Artek’s Model 406 lounge chair designed by Alvar Aalto. The cantilevered frame is a bent birch wood that gives the seat a floating effect. The chair's seat and seatback is finished i...
Birch, Leather
Model 402 Lounge Chair by Alvar Aalto for Artek, 1950´s
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Kangasala, FI
Lounge chair model 402 designed by Alvar Aalto, manufactured in the 1950's by Artek. This chair is extremely light, as almost every design piece of Alvar Aalto's work are. This ch...
Wool, Birch
$3,500Sale Price|30% Off
All Original Vintage Alvar Aalto Wingback Armchair 401 by Artek Finland
By Artek, Alvar Aalto
Located in Brooklyn, NY
All Original Vintage Alvar Aalto Armchair # 401 by Artek made in Finland. Great wingback lounge chair model 401 designed by Alvar Aalto for Artek, Finland, 1933. This chair was purch...
Upholstery, Birch, Rattan
Early Alvar Aalto 'Model 2' Arm Chair, 1930
By Alvar Aalto, O.Y.Huonekalu
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Original early Alvar Aalto 'Model 2' armchair for O.Y. Huonekalu- ja Rakennustyötehdas A.B., in molded plywood and solid birch. Unrestored condition with partly significant wear. Lat...
Plywood
Rare, Early Alvar Aalto Model 31/42 Cantilevered Armchairs, Finland, 1930s
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
Rare, early Alvar Aalto model 31/42 cantilevered armchairs, Finland, 1930s, designed and produced in the 1930s. Painted birch-veneered bent plywoo...
Birch, Plywood
Alvar Aalto 402 Series Armchair for Artek, circa 1960, lambskin
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Lounge chair designed by Alvar Aalto manufactured, circa 1960. New upholstered with lambskin Curved birch plywood and braided vegetable fiber. Measures: 74 x 61 x 69 cm.
Sheepskin, Birch
Alvar Aalto Armchair model 46 by Artek in 1950s
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Kangasala, FI
Alvar Aalto's chair model number 46, manufactured by Artek in the 1950's. The chair has been reupholstered at some point of it's life. Reupholstery has been done with red woolen fab...
Fabric, Wool, Rattan, Birch
Alvar Aalto Pair of Bentwood Modern Lounge Chairs Danish Modern Mid Century
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of Bentwood Modern Lounge Chairs designed by Alvar Aalto, designed circa 1930s, these examples are circa 1970s. They have been reupholstered in an ivory color boucle upholstery.
Bouclé, Canvas, Rattan, Birch
Early Alvar Aalto nr. 31 Laminated Plywood Chair
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Toronto, Ontario
An exceptionally early example of the cantilever chair nr.31. Also manufactured by the Huonekalu-ha Rakennustyotehdas oy , Turku Finland. Ca. 1939. This example from the original own...
Plywood
Alvar Aalto Armchair 400 Tank Mid Century Bentwood Lounge Chairs - Pair
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
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 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 Armchair 400 Tank Mid Century Bentwood Lounge Chairs - Pair
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
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 Armchair Model 36, Finland 1933
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Chicago, IL
Alvar Alto Armchair Model 36, Finmar/P.E. Gana 1st production, 1933. Original Measures 30.5” deep 28.5” tall 24.5” wide seat height 16” seat depth 21”
Upholstery, Birch
$4,200 / item
Alvar Aalto Model 406 Lounge Chairs
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Highland, IN
Aalto's 1936 design, the model 406 lounge chair is a perfect example of understated Finnish design. The bent wood cantelivered frame of laminated birch and n...
Birch
1932 Artek No. 42 Small Paimio Lounge Chair in Birch by Alvar & Aino Aalto
By Alvar Aalto, Aino Aalto, Artek
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a very special and unusual chair. It is an original Armchair 42, Small Paimio, designed by Alvar Aalto and Aino Aalto for the Paimio Sanatorium in 1932. This particular piece...
Birch, Plywood
2000s Pair of Model 402 Lounge Chairs by Aino & Alvar Aalto for Artek
By Alvar Aalto, Aino Aalto, Artek
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a pair of model 402 lounge ‘Ateljé’ chairs, designed by Aino and Alvar Aalto for Artek in 1933. This particular pair was born in the mid 2000s. These classic cantilever loung...
Fabric, Birch
Finnish Design Classic Lounge Chair No 401 by Alvar Aalto, 1930s
By Huonekalu-Ja Rakennustyötedas Oy, Alvar Aalto
Located in Renens, CH
Early edition of the 401 cantilever lounge chair designed by Alvar Aalto and produced by Huonekalu Ja Rakennustyötehdas (Turku, Finland) during the late 1930s. Our version was re-u...
Fabric, Birch
1934 Alvar Aalto Model 406 Made by O.Y. Huonekalu-ja Rakennustyötehdas. Original
By O.Y.Huonekalu, Alvar Aalto
Located in Grand Cayman, KY
Alvar Aalto's ubiquitously successful and iconic Model 406 cantilever lounge chair started here. This early piece was made by Huonekalu-ja Rakennustyötehdas Oy Turku, circa 1934-1935...
Canvas, Birch