Armchair 42 ‘Small Paimio’ designed by Alvar Aalto
Finland, 1931
Bent birch and lacquered plywood.Stamped.
Private Finnish collection.
Armchair 42 – or “Small Paimio” – was designed by Alvar Aalto for the Paimio Sanatorium in 1931. The frame is made from laminated birch shaped to produce a cantilevered chair; the seat and back are created from one piece of form-pressed plywood. The fluidity of the design creates a soft, comfortable place to sit. The result is an armchair without straight lines, an armchair of exceptional aesthetic appeal. Since wood changes over time, the armrests are formed from a single piece that is then split in half, ensuring that as the chair ages, it remains perfectly balanced. This is considered one of Aalto’s masterpieces.
Alvar Aalto was a Finnish architect and designer. His work includes architecture, furniture, lighting, and glassware, as well as sculptures and paintings. He never regarded himself as an artist, seeing painting and sculpture as "branches of the tree whose trunk is architecture." The pure Functionalist phase in Aalto’s work lasted for several years. It enabled him to make an international breakthrough, largely because of Paimio Sanatorium (1929-1933), an important Functionalist milestone. Aalto had adopted the principles of user-friendly, functional design in his architecture, and it was characteristic of Aalto to treat each building as a complete work of art – right down to the furniture and light fittings. The design of his furniture combined practicality and aesthetics with series production, encouraging a more beautiful everyday life in the home.
H: 63 cm / 2' 1"
W: 60 cm / 1' 11 1/2"
D: 76 cm / 2' 6"
Price: on application
