FINNISH SHEEPSKIN LOUNGE CHAIR DESIGNED BY MÄRTA BLOMSTEDT

In 1936, architects Matti Lampen and Märta Blomstedt were commissioned to design the Aulanko Hotel in Hämeenlinna, Finland. The hotel was designed using furniture and lighting from all of Finland’s top manufacturers with the exception of the large lounge chair which we know now as the Aulanko chair in the lobby.

In 1935, at the ‘Copenhagen Cabinetmakers’ Guild’ fair, cabinetmaker AJ Iversen presented an armchair designed by Flemming Lassen. In the fair’s next edition, in 1936, he returned and exhibited at his stand a seat similar to the previous year’s one but slightly larger, covered in lambswool and fitted with chrome tubular legs and which he labeled ‘The Tired Man’. The resemblance between the prototypes presented in Copenhagen and the models of the Aulanko hotel is striking. The design and dates of the Aulanko Lounge and Tired Man Chairs are close but nothing indicates the designs are linked.

Both drawings for the original design had identical dimensions but varied by the design of the foot. Both had tubular legs as opposed to the bun or small castor feet.

The first drawings of the Finnish hotel model are dated 20 July 1938. No specific designer is credited, only the mention of ‘Architects office Blomstedt / Lampen’ and the stamp of Artek, the company to which they appealed to obtain the model. Artek began producing models of this chair after 1941 with wood bun feet as opposed to metal. Until the late 1940s, Artek marketed a version of the armchair with round wooden legs. In the 1950s, similar but smaller models were produced by different manufacturers, including Kantosen Puutyö. This craze explains the appearance of many variations with slight differences.

Newly restored and upholstered in sheepskin.

New bun feet.

Designed in 1939

Likely produced circa 1941 by Arktek

Made in Finland

Dimensions: H: 33″ W: 40″ D: 42″

*History courtesy of Barnebys

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