Märta Blomstedt easy chairs

This rare pair of armchairs, model Aulanko, was designed in 1939 by the Finnish architect and designer Märta Blomstedt. Originally created for the lounge area of Hotel Aulanko in Hämeenlinna, the design reflects the luxurious yet modern aesthetic of Finnish interiors in the late 1930s, combining sculptural form with functional comfort. The chairs were produced in Finland by Häämenlinna and remain among the most significant examples of Blomstedt’s contribution to Scandinavian modernism and Art Deco–influenced design.

The chairs are constructed in birch and have been newly reupholstered in a textured white bouclé fabric. The fabric’s soft, looped surface highlights the rounded, organic lines of the armrests and backrest, while also creating a tactile contrast with the spherical birch feet in a warm, polished tone. The design is notable for its balance of solidity and lightness: the robust structure rests on four distinctive ball-shaped wooden legs, a feature that underscores Blomstedt’s ability to blend sculptural playfulness with refined craftsmanship.

The overall condition is excellent vintage, with only minor traces of age and use, consistent with careful preservation. The new upholstery enhances the chairs’ sculptural silhouette while staying true to the spirit of the original design. These chairs are characteristic of the late Art Deco period in Scandinavia, when designers often combined geometric simplicity with curving, organic forms. They also anticipate the evolving language of Finnish design that would later become internationally influential.

Märta Blomstedt (1899–1982) was an architect and interior designer known for her significant role in Finnish functionalism and modernism. As a designer, she often collaborated on architectural projects where furniture, interiors, and architecture were conceived as a cohesive whole. The Aulanko chairs exemplify her holistic approach, originally designed to complement the architecture and atmosphere of Hotel Aulanko, one of Finland’s leading modernist landmarks of the late 1930s.

Width 90 cm (35.4 inches), depth 92 cm (36.2 inches), height 86 cm (33.9 inches). Seat height 39 cm (15.4 inches).