Pair of Mid-Century Modern Ulla Chairs Model 706, Ola Kettunen, Merivaara 1950s

A beautiful pair of one the most iconic Merivaara and Finnish design chairs from the 1950s nicknamed Ulla and designed by Ola Kettunen. This model no. 706 is the lightest model and the most popular of this series along with the stool version. Even though light, it offers a comfortable sit and works beautifully as a side chair, desk, or working chair.

As mentioned, Ola designed this chair in the 1950s amongst a series of light furniture meant for hotels and public spaces. The two most famous of the series was this and the bowl chair / stool, which highly resembles this one but is a much larger paded version. We have a pair listed separately at the moment.

Both chairs are in good condition with slight wear consistent with age and use.

The bigger version, the Kulho chair, gained international recognition and was eventually the reason why Ola moved to Canada where he received spectacular recognition and was awarded an honorary certificate from the National Industrial Design Council for high-quality design. The leading Finnish newspaper reported about this chair: “The stylish design of the Kulho armchair series has attracted attention even outside the borders of our country. It was on the basis of this work that the designer and interior artist Ola Kettunen was invited to Canada to become a designer for a prominent furniture factory there,” – Helsingin Sanomat in 1956. From Montreal, Ola moved to New York in 1958 to join the American investment bank Irving Trust (later Bank of New York) as their interior designer. This was the reason why his name does not appear in Finnish design works presenting the designs of the era, even though a brilliant designer. Ola Kettunen was responsible for the construction and decoration of the bank’s premises both in the United States and internationally. – Design work often took him to Japan, Singapore, whose urban planning he greatly appreciated, and South America.