Ilmari Tapiovaara Prototype Congo Folding Chair Finland 1954
About the Item
- Creator:Ilmari Tapiovaara (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 24.5 in (62.23 cm)Width: 38 in (96.52 cm)Depth: 19 in (48.26 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1954
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading.
- Seller Location:Camden, ME
- Reference Number:
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: Camden, ME
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
- Pair of Aluminum Warren McArthur Sling Chaises / Lounge Chairs, 1938By Warren McArthur, Warren McArthur CorporationLocated in Camden, MEPair of lounge chairs by Warren McArthur manufactured at his factory in Connecticut in the late 1930s. The designs that Warren introduced in the very beginning of his furniture making he referred to as "suspension chairs...Category
Mid-20th Century American Bauhaus Chaise Longues
MaterialsAluminum
- T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, 1954 for Widdicomb lounge chairsBy T.H. Robsjohn-GibbingsLocated in Camden, MEA pair of Classic and comfortable, deep seated club chairs by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb originally purchased in 1954. Elegant midcentury lounge chairs with espresso lacquered...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Walnut
- Wrought Iron Jerry Johnson Leather Sling Lounge Chair (3) Leathercraft 1954By Jerry JohnsonLocated in Camden, MEWrought iron and leather sling lounge chairs designed by Jerry Johnson for Leathercraft, circa 1954. Three available, two as pictured the 3rd can be custom fitted to your choice of c...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsWrought Iron
- Classic Italian Folding Campaign Chair in Black Leather, C. 1965Located in Camden, MEA classic Italian design, with an ebonized folding wood frame carved to appear as bamboo, cast brass caps, immaculate leather seat and back with brass nailhead trim, and newly re-done leather arm...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Campaign Lounge Chairs
MaterialsBrass
- Robert Lewis Rolling Chaise Lounge Studio Crafted Santa Barbara, CA. 1930sBy Robert LewisLocated in Camden, MEA rare Robert Lewis chaise lounge hand crafted at his studio below the Old Mission Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, California. He and his assistan...Category
Vintage 1930s American Mid-Century Modern Chaise Longues
MaterialsSteel
- Rare Robert Lewis Adjustable Chaise Studio Crafted Santa Barbara, CA. 1940sBy Robert LewisLocated in Camden, MEA Robert Lewis adjustable steel tube chaise lounge for outdoor and patio use hand crafted at his studio in Santa Barbara, CA. in the 1940s. The asymmetric ...Category
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Chaise Longues
MaterialsSteel
- Rare Ilmari Tapiovaara Congo Lounge ChairBy Hagafors Stolfabrik 1, Ilmari TapiovaaraLocated in Los Angeles, CADesigned by Ilmari Tapiovaara, manufactured by Hagafors, Sweden. Solid wood construction with black lacquer. Newley upholstered in blue leather. Two part knock down construction. Ne...Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsWood
- Congo Chair in Birch by Ilmari Tapiovaara for Asko, Finland, 1960sBy Ilmari TapiovaaraLocated in Hellouw, NLNice Congo chair in Birch by Ilmari Tapiovaara for Asko 1960s. This smart construction consists of two parts that are put together without any screws and can be easily shipped or sto...Category
Vintage 1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsBirch
- Ilmari Tapiovaara, "Domus" Lounge Chair, Plywood, Finland, 1940sBy Ilmari TapiovaaraLocated in High Point, NCA moulded plywood "Domus" lounge chair designed by Ilmari Tapiovaara and produced by Keravan Puuteollisuus, Finland, 1940s. 12” seat heightCategory
Vintage 1940s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsPlywood
- Blue Birch Vintage Chaise Longue Lounge Chair Ilmari Lappalainen, 1963, FinlandBy Ilmari LappalainenLocated in Vienna, ATBlue Scandinavian Modern vintage chaise longue or lounge chair model Pulkka from birch by Ilmari Lappalainen, 1963, Finland for Asko Finland. T...Category
Mid-20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Chaise Longues
MaterialsBirch
- Pair of Red Midcentury Lounge Chairs Model “2468” Ilmari Tapiovaara, FinlandBy Laukaan Puu, Ilmari TapiovaaraLocated in Barcelona, ESIlmari Tapiovaara (1914-1999) Pair of lounge chairs model “2468” Manufactured by Laukaan Puu Finland, 1959 Black lacquered wood and red woolen upholstery Measurements: 70 c...Category
Mid-20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsWood, Wool
- Ilmari Tapiovaara Crinolette Lounge ChairBy Ilmari TapiovaaraLocated in Toronto, OntarioAn exceptional iconic chair designed by Finnish Master Ilmari Tapiovaara. A rare example of Scandinavian design. Less than 5000 of these chairs were ever created. Winner of the Ame...Category
Vintage 1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
MaterialsWood