20th Century Ilmari Tapiovaara Set of 8 Chairs in Ashwood for Fratelli Montina
About the Item
- Creator:Montina (Manufacturer),Ilmari Tapiovaara (Author)
- Dimensions:Height: 28.35 in (72 cm)Width: 18.12 in (46 cm)Depth: 16.93 in (43 cm)Seat Height: 16.93 in (43 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 8
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1970
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Turin, IT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU5450228400922
Ilmari Tapiovaara
During the mid-20th century, Finnish furniture designer Ilmari Tapiovaara worked with pine, teak and his country’s native birch to create sleek and sculptural chairs, dining room tables and bookcases in the Scandinavian modern style. Tapiovaara’s areas of expertise expanded beyond furniture to include interior architecture, wooden sculptures, film posters and cutlery.
After completing his studies at the Central School of Applied Arts in Helsinki, Tapiovaara embarked on a design career that would envelop his entire life. As a young man, Tapiovaara idolized revered architect and furniture designer Alvar Aalto — whom, with his wife, Aino Aalto, cofounded Artek, the company that would eventually manufacture the majority of Tapiovaara’s creations. The budding designer had one of Aalto’s chairs in his apartment while he was a student. After graduating, he worked as an assistant in an office at Le Corbusier, then as a designer and artistic director at Asko.
By 1951, Tapiovaara and his wife, Annikki, had established their own studio. A few years previous, the pair had designed the now-legendary Domus chair while creating interiors and furnishings for a new student housing complex in Helsinki. Made of molded plywood and easily stackable, the ergonomic Domus chair, with its slender form, featured a modest silhouette — its lightweight structure allowed for easy exporting, and iconic mid-century modern furniture manufacturer Knoll added a low-backed version to its offerings in the early 1950s. (It was marketed as the Finn chair in the United States.)
Tapiovaara went on to design pieces for Pihlgren ja Ritola and Santa and Cole. His experience earned him teaching positions at the Institute of Applied Arts, the Helsinki University of Technology and the Illinois Institute of Technology. While in Chicago for the latter, he worked in the office of Mies van der Rohe.
Tapiovaara centered his passion for design on social responsibility. He wanted his creations to be accessible to everyone, which was the concept behind his democratic approach. In Finland’s postwar era, the goal was exemplary, affordable designs. With this in mind, he created products such as stackable chairs and “knock-down” pieces packed flat, so they shipped efficiently and cost less.
An influential champion of his profession, he spent two decades as a United Nations ambassador, working to improve design’s contribution to society. His lasting, collectible furniture is a testament to the designer’s goal to create humane, radiant and intimate spaces. The United Nations project included traveling to Paraguay to create much-needed furniture. A similar project followed in Mauritius.
Tapiovaara’s success as an industrial and mass producer of everyday furniture was widely recognized and awarded. He received six gold medals for his chairs alone at the Milan Triennials. He also accepted a Good Design award, the Finnish State Design Award, a prize from the Finnish Culture Foundation and the Furniture Prize of the SIO Interior Architects’ Association of Finland.
Find vintage Ilmari Tapiovaara seating, tables and lighting on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Torino, Italy
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
- 20th Century Piero Fornasetti Set of 4 Chairs in Black Lacquered Wood '90sBy FornasettiLocated in Turin, TurinSet of 4 chairs (4 pieces in total) designed by Atelier Fornasetti in '50s and produced in '90s. The chairs have the structure entirely in lacquered wood, the 4 feet are linked to the seating through metal plates. The chairs have been entirely restored so this set could be considered ready for use. Very good condition, ready to be shipped. For shipping the legs can be dismantled and get a smaller...Category
1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- 20th Century Carlo Scarpa Set of Six Chairs mod. KentuckyBy Bernini, Carlo ScarpaLocated in Turin, TurinCarlo Scarpa (1906- 1978) was an Italian architect and designer heavily influenced by the history of Venetian culture, materials and landscape. in 1926 obtained his diploma of Profes...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsFaux Leather, Wood
- 20th Century Gae Aulenti Set of Four Chairs mod. Locus SolusBy Gae Aulenti, PoltronovaLocated in Turin, TurinGae Aulenti was an Italian designer and architect who was active in furniture design, graphic design, lighting design and interior design. She was known for her contribution to the d...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- 20th Century Gavina Studio Pair of Leather Chairs mod. TripolinaBy GavinaLocated in Turin, TurinDino Gavina began his activity as early as the 1940s with objects for theater sets, his great passion. Convinced of the need for design that was modern but also rich in poetry, he gr...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- 20th Century Gaetano Pesce Umbrella Chair Folding and Transportable YellowBy Zerodisegno, Gaetano PesceLocated in Turin, TurinGaetano Pesce's works are generally eccentric, modern and carry a concept of "happening", which is the transformation of the object. Experimenter of different forms and materials, his ideas seem to carry with them the concept of error, of defect, this comes from Pesce's poetics: we are all full of defects, which we should enhance in order to become original. In 1995 for Zero Disegno...Category
1990s Italian Modern Chairs
MaterialsAluminum
- 20th Century Gaetano Pesce Umbrella Chair Folding and Transportable GreenBy Gaetano Pesce, ZerodisegnoLocated in Turin, TurinGaetano Pesce's works are generally eccentric, modern and carry a concept of "happening", which is the transformation of the object. Experimenter of different forms and materials, his ideas seem to carry with them the concept of error, of defect, this comes from Pesce's poetics: we are all full of defects, which we should enhance in order to become original. In 1995 for Zero Disegno...Category
1990s Italian Modern Chairs
MaterialsAluminum
- Tapiolina Chairs in Ash Wood by Ilmari Tapiovaara for Fratelli MontinaBy Ilmari TapiovaaraLocated in London, EnglandIlmari Tapiovaara (1914-1999) was a renowned Finnish designer and architect known for his significant contributions to the fields of furniture and industrial design. He played a crucial role in shaping the modern design landscape in Finland and gained international recognition for his work. Early in his career, Tapiovaara worked alongside the celebrated Finnish architect and designer Alvar Aalto. This collaboration greatly influenced his design sensibilities and helped him establish a strong foundation in modernist design principles. Tapiovaara is often associated with the "Finnish Modern" design movement, which aimed to create functional and aesthetically pleasing everyday objects for the Finnish population. He believed that good design should be accessible to everyone. His designs often incorporated natural materials, simplicity, and functionality. Tapiolina chairs in ash wood by Ilmari Tapiovaara for Fratelli Montina...Category
Vintage 1970s Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- "Tapiolina" Chair by Ilmari Tapiovaara for Fratelli MontinaBy Ilmari TapiovaaraLocated in Conversano, IT"Tapiolina" chair by Ilmari Tapiovaara for Fratelli Montina Superb chair in solid ash wood model "Tapiolina" designed by Ilmari Tapiovaara for Fratelli Montina in 1974, Italy. I...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Scandinavian Modern Chairs
MaterialsWood
- Italian Dining Set Tapiolina by Ilmari Tapiovaara for Fratelli Montina, 70sBy Ilmari Tapiovaara, MontinaLocated in Lucija, SIDining room set ‘’Tapiolina’’ designed by the Finish designer Ilmari Tapiovaara for Fratelli Montina. Italy, 1970s. Ilmari Tapiovaara’s work is characterized by the most radical fun...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Living Room Sets
MaterialsWood
- Ilmari Tapiovaara for Laukaan Puu Set of Four 'Pirkka' ChairsBy Laukaan Puu, Ilmari TapiovaaraLocated in Waalwijk, NLIlmari Tapiovaara for Laukaan Puu, set of four 'Pirkka' dining chairs, beech, pine, Finland, design 1955 This set of ‘Pirkka’ chairs by Finish designer I...Category
Vintage 1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsBeech, Pine
- Silvio Coppola for Fratelli Montina Pine Dining Room Chairs Set/6 , Italy 1970sBy Montina, Silvio CoppolaLocated in Almelo, NLSilvio Coppola for Fratelli Montina dining chairs, Italy 1970s A fantastic set of 6 dining room chairs in blond pine wood. Designed by Silvio Coppola for Fratelli Montina Italy. Con...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Brutalist Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsPine
- Ilmari Tapiovaara for La Permanente Mobili Cantù Set of Six Dining ChairsBy La Permanente Mobili Cantù, Ilmari TapiovaaraLocated in Waalwijk, NLIlmari Tapiovaara for La Permanente Mobili Cantù, darkened beech, cognac leather, Italy, 1950s These robust chairs by Ilmari Tapiovaara feature a geometric frame for the patinated c...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Beech