Modernist Alvar Aalto Round Coffee Table Model 72 in Birch for Artek, 1950s

Mid-Century Modern round coffee table model 72 by Architect Alvar Aalto for Artek from The 1950s. The table is in full birch with the iconic bent legs. This medium sized and light table can be used as a coffee table or in any room, and for a variety of purposes. The vintage honey like colour patina is absolutely stunning. The table is in good condition with wear that is consistent with age and use. The table carries the Helsinki city stamp which indicates that it was part of the interior of a public building in Helsinki.

Alvar Aalto (1898-1976) is a world famous architect and designer. He was well known for designing his own line of furniture and lighting for the numerous buildings that he designed worldwide. His work includes architecture, furniture, textiles, glassware, sculptures and paintings. He never regarded himself as an artist, seeing painting and sculpture as branches of a tree that stem from architecture.

Aalto’s career from the 1920s-1970s is reflected in the styles of his work, ranging from Classicism to Modernism and to an organic style from the 1940s onwards. Aalto and his wife Aino were famous for not only designing the buildings, but the interior surfaces, furniture, lamps and even the glassware for those buildings. Aalto’s furniture designs are Scandinavian Modernism at its best, especially his technical innovations on the bent plywood furniture, which in turn had a great impact on Mid-Century Modernist furniture.

Aalto’s works are highly sought after and some fetch record prices in auctions and the design world. Of course his works are also widely collected and can be found in numerous private collections and famous museums.