Must-Know Chair: The Artek Stool 60
This exceptionally versatile stool is proof of designer Alvar Aalto's motto, 'One chair is enough'
Alvar Aalto designed the Stool 60 in 1933, and it has proven to be the epitome of versatile furniture design. Traditionally made of birch and composed of three L-shaped legs and a circular seat, the chair is characterised by its distinctive and revolutionary curved legs – which make the chair stackable and the design timeless.
The Stool 60 combined mass production with a high level of craftsmanship, becoming one of the first large-scale productions of modern high-end furniture built to last. “We’ll make thousands of these one day,” said Aalto after producing the prototype. How wrong he was. More than 80 years on, millions have been produced and sold. Here’s what you need to know about the history, style and use of this adaptable stool.
The Stool 60 combined mass production with a high level of craftsmanship, becoming one of the first large-scale productions of modern high-end furniture built to last. “We’ll make thousands of these one day,” said Aalto after producing the prototype. How wrong he was. More than 80 years on, millions have been produced and sold. Here’s what you need to know about the history, style and use of this adaptable stool.
Aalto founded Artek in 1935 with his wife Aino Aalto, visual arts promoter Maire Gullichsen and art historian Nils-Gustav Hahl, to advocate a more beautiful home environment for everyday life. The group also worked to promote the growing production and sales of Aalto furniture.
THE CHAIR
The L-shaped leg of the Stool 60 is a result of Aalto’s wood-bending experimentation in the 1930s. Aalto sawed open the end of a piece of straight, solid Finnish birch to form the shape of a fan. He glued thin pieces of plywood into the grooves, which made it possible to heat or steam the wood in order to bend it to the desired corner or angle. Once dried, it was glued to the seat of the stool. And proving just how revolutionary this technique was, despite modern advances in technology, Artek still uses this method to produce the Stool 60.
The L-shaped leg of the Stool 60 is a result of Aalto’s wood-bending experimentation in the 1930s. Aalto sawed open the end of a piece of straight, solid Finnish birch to form the shape of a fan. He glued thin pieces of plywood into the grooves, which made it possible to heat or steam the wood in order to bend it to the desired corner or angle. Once dried, it was glued to the seat of the stool. And proving just how revolutionary this technique was, despite modern advances in technology, Artek still uses this method to produce the Stool 60.
The Stool 60 is 44 centimetres high and 38 centimetres wide. It was first made with three legs before an extra leg was added for the four-legged version (E60). When stacked, the birch legs of the Stool 60 cascade to create a sculptural design element.
THE TREND
Aalto successfully debuted the Stool 60 at the Wood Only exhibition in London in November 1933. Although it predates the Scandinavian design movement of the 1950s, it perfectly characterises the style. It is simple, minimalist and organic, and succinctly captures the notion that beautiful and functional everyday objects should be affordable and accessible.
Aalto successfully debuted the Stool 60 at the Wood Only exhibition in London in November 1933. Although it predates the Scandinavian design movement of the 1950s, it perfectly characterises the style. It is simple, minimalist and organic, and succinctly captures the notion that beautiful and functional everyday objects should be affordable and accessible.
HOW TO USE IT
You would be hard-pressed to find a more versatile piece of furniture than the Artek Stool 60. Here’s a selection of ways it can be used.
As a bedside table
As a neat and compact bedside table, the Stool 60 can handle your nightstand essentials.
Bedside tables with a difference
You would be hard-pressed to find a more versatile piece of furniture than the Artek Stool 60. Here’s a selection of ways it can be used.
As a bedside table
As a neat and compact bedside table, the Stool 60 can handle your nightstand essentials.
Bedside tables with a difference
As a footstool
Placed adjacent to a bench seat or sofa, the Stool 60 makes a great footstool. Put your feet up, lay back and relax.
Placed adjacent to a bench seat or sofa, the Stool 60 makes a great footstool. Put your feet up, lay back and relax.
As stackable seating
Lightweight and stackable, the Stool 60 is supremely functional. Keep a stack of them handy for when guests come to visit.
Lightweight and stackable, the Stool 60 is supremely functional. Keep a stack of them handy for when guests come to visit.
As a coffee table
The stool makes a neat and tidy coffee table large enough to hold a cup of tea or coffee; or a book or iPad.
The stool makes a neat and tidy coffee table large enough to hold a cup of tea or coffee; or a book or iPad.
As a living room chair
In a small or minimalist living room, the Stool 60 is a great option for providing extra seating without obstructing space or affecting the overall style of the room.
In a small or minimalist living room, the Stool 60 is a great option for providing extra seating without obstructing space or affecting the overall style of the room.
As a bathroom stool
A Stool 60 in the bathroom is great for throwing your towel or clothes on, as a surface for extra toiletries or as a seat for you to use as you mind your child when they bathe.
Add a side table or stool to the bathroom
A Stool 60 in the bathroom is great for throwing your towel or clothes on, as a surface for extra toiletries or as a seat for you to use as you mind your child when they bathe.
Add a side table or stool to the bathroom
As a dining stool
A set of Stool 60s can be stored compactly under a dining table so as not to take up space around the table.
A set of Stool 60s can be stored compactly under a dining table so as not to take up space around the table.
As an outside seat
A cool and casual option on the patio or porch, the Stool 60 can easily be brought outside as needed.
A cool and casual option on the patio or porch, the Stool 60 can easily be brought outside as needed.
As a piano or desk stool
Pull up a Stool 60 to a keyboard, piano or desk. However, keeping ergonomics in mind, when it comes to prolonged sitting, the seat should be about knee level at a desk and around 50 centimetres high at a piano.
Pull up a Stool 60 to a keyboard, piano or desk. However, keeping ergonomics in mind, when it comes to prolonged sitting, the seat should be about knee level at a desk and around 50 centimetres high at a piano.
THE STYLE
The simple, clean lines and pared-back design of the Stool 60 make it best suited to minimalist, modern, Scandinavian and contemporary interiors, as many of these examples attest.
The simple, clean lines and pared-back design of the Stool 60 make it best suited to minimalist, modern, Scandinavian and contemporary interiors, as many of these examples attest.
WHERE TO BUY
As with many of the masterpieces of Scandinavian design, the Artek Stool 60 can be bought new or as a vintage piece.
As with many of the masterpieces of Scandinavian design, the Artek Stool 60 can be bought new or as a vintage piece.
- Search online auctions or speak to a vintage furniture importer for a secondhand Artek stool that will have history. Be sure to buy from a reputable source if you want an original and genuine Artek.
- For a new chair, go direct to Artek or an Artek reseller.
- Replicas and stools that look similar to the Artek Stool 60 can be bought for a reduced price, however, be aware that these are not made to the same design specifications as the original, and quality, construction, proportions, and materials (among other elements) may differ. These legally will be labelled ‘replica’ or marketed under a different name.
YOUR TURN
Do you have an Artek Stool 60? How do you use it? Upload photos of it to the Comments section.
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Finnish architect and designer Alvar Aalto transformed the furniture industry in the early 1930s, when he paired mass production with quality craftsmanship. Like many Scandinavian designers of the era, he believed furniture should be well designed and affordable, and he experimented with industrial processes to achieve this. The result was user-friendly and functional design that incorporated organic forms and natural materials.