Model 41 Paimio Lounge Chair in Bent Birch Plywood by Alvar Aalto for Artek, 1930s

Model · 41 Paimio
Designer · Alvar Aalto
Manufacturer · Artek
Origin · Finland
Period · 1930s
Style · Scandinavian Modern / Finnish Modernism
Materials · Bent birch plywood, moulded plywood
Colour · Natural birch, black

Object

Paimio seems to have been folded rather than built. A single sheet of plywood curls through the frame, becoming the seat and back in one continuous movement, while two loops of bent birch hold it almost impossibly above the floor. There is no upholstery, no conventional joinery and almost nothing to hide how the chair works.

Aalto designed it for the Paimio Sanatorium, where architecture, furniture, colour and even the angle of the body were considered part of healing. The chair's reclined position was conceived to make breathing easier for tuberculosis patients, turning an experiment in plywood into something deeply human. What emerged in 1932 was not simply hospital furniture, but one of the defining objects of modernism — a chair that still looks as though it has arrived from somewhere ahead of us.

Designer

Alvar Aalto (1898–1976) approached furniture as part of a much larger idea of living. Architecture, interiors, furniture, glass and even the smallest details of a room belonged to the same world, shaped around the people who would eventually inhabit it.

His experiments with bent wood became one of his most important contributions to modern design. Instead of following the tubular steel language emerging elsewhere in Europe, Aalto found modernity in forests, curves and the natural behaviour of materials. With Paimio, plywood became almost weightless — bending through space with a freedom that helped create an entirely new language for modern furniture.

Manufacturer

Artek was founded in Helsinki in 1935 by Alvar and Aino Aalto, Maire Gullichsen and Nils-Gustav Hahl with an unusually ambitious purpose: not simply to sell furniture, but to promote a new culture of living.

The company became the vessel through which Aalto's experiments entered everyday life. Furniture, architecture and art were allowed to exist as parts of the same idea, bringing Finnish modernism from Helsinki into homes around the world. Nearly a century later, Artek remains inseparable from the language Aalto helped create.

Condition

The moulded plywood seat has been finished in black according to the original aesthetic, while the bent birch frame retains its natural finish beneath transparent lacquer. The chair remains in excellent vintage condition, showing light traces of age and previous use while maintaining its structural integrity and visual clarity. As with any authentic vintage piece, subtle traces of time may be present, adding to its history and individual character.

Dimensions

Width · 60 cm / 23.6 in
Depth · 80 cm / 31.5 in
Height · 65 cm / 25.6 in
Seat height · 35 cm / 13.8 in

Included

The lounge chair is accompanied by a Back to the Furniture Certificate of Originality, a Back to the Furniture flyer, a Thank You card and a small gift.

Availability

The lounge chair can be ready to ship within 10-15 workdays.

Shipping

Worldwide shipping is available. Every piece is carefully prepared and packed for international transport. Shipping costs are calculated according to destination at checkout, with tracking provided after dispatch.

Enquiries

For questions about the piece, its condition, shipping, delivery or any other details, please get in touch. Additional information is always available before purchase.

© Back to the Furniture