Aalto, Alvar

Aalto, Alvar
Thanks to his original style and unique talents, Finnish designer Alvar Aalto is one of the greatest names in modern design. A consummate visionary, Aalto focused his attention on even the smallest of details, as exemplified by his iconic Stool E60 for Artek in 1933. Aalto invented and refined the technique to bend solid wood, painstakingly creating the patented L-legged construction that makes the stool so iconic.

With over 1 million sold worldwide, this ubiquitous stool has undeniable structure, an exquisite minimalist appearance, and a timeless appeal, seamlessly assimilating into any setting.

Aalto also created the Aalto vase for iittala and the 1937World Fair in Paris. No one knows for sure where the shape's inspiration came from, but as is typical with a great art, it has been reinterpreted ever since. Aalto wanted the user to decide how his glass objects should be used. It is this freedom to interpret both the origins and function of the piece has helped keep the Aalto collection fresh and timeless.

Throughout his life, Aalto maintained strong ties to his Finnish roots. Born at Kuortane in 1898, he studied at Jyväskylä Classical Lyceum and earned his degree in architecture at the Institute of Technology, Helsinki. His first wife, Aino Aalto, was a renowned designer in her own right, and the pair collaborated on many architectural projects. A member of the Association of Finnish Architects SAFA and the Finnish Academy, Aalto also taught at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge. He died in Helsinki in 1976.