Pair of Nordic Modern Teak Drawer Chests, Ilmari Tapiovaara for Asko, 1950s

A very elegant and distinct pair of teak drawer units designed by Ilmari Tapiovaara and manufactured by Asko in Finland in the 1950s. Among Tapiovaara’s most popular designs, admired for their clean lines, balanced proportions and practicality. One of the drawer chests still retains the original Asko label. Both pieces are in good condition with a beautiful warm patina.

Ilmari Tapiovaara (1914–1999) was one of the key figures of Finnish modern design. He studied furniture design at the Central School of Applied Arts in Helsinki and gained early recognition in the 1939 Home Exhibition, where Asko presented his furniture that was created for small and medium-sized homes. Throughout his career, Tapiovaara emphasized simplicity, functionality and attention to detail.

He often described the designer as a socially responsible actor — a ‘physician’ of our daily surroundings — whose work should improve everyday life. In his writings, Tapiovaara noted that a piece of furniture must not only fulfil its function but also harmonize with the other objects around it, forming a coherent and humane whole.