Finnish Sheepskin Wing Chairs by Marta Blomstedt, 1930s, Set of 2

Description

Pair of Marta Blomstedt Sheepskin Armchairs for the Hotel Aulanko, Finland, 1930s.

In 1936, architects Matti Lampen and Märta Blomstedt … more Pair of Marta Blomstedt Sheepskin Armchairs for the Hotel Aulanko, Finland, 1930s.

In 1936, architects Matti Lampen and Märta Blomstedt were commissioned to design the Aulanko Hotel in Hämeenlinna, Finland. This hotel was in its time a luxury hotel of international relevance. Here Finnish functionalist elegance was conveyed at its best. The armchairs in the hotel's entrance hall are today the subject of varying questions among design experts.
There are claims that the prototype of the model made for the Aulanko Hotel was Fleming Lassen's "Tired Man" armchair from 1935.
"Aulanko" itself became known all over the world. Most notable is the voluminous body that stands on four bun-shaped feet.
While this model originally had tubular steel legs, today there are many variations of this chair, such as a 1941 model with wooden legs.
Available in abundance in Finland, wood was used by many furniture makers as a substitute for metal, which was banned for furniture during the war.
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.
Armchairs are very comfortable and impressive. Through their streamlined and round shapes, they literally invite the user to sit in them and check if they are as comfortable and cozy as they look. For upholstery, we used the highest quality, premium sheepskin, which, apart from being very pleasant to the touch and cozy, is also durable. Furthermore, the warm brown colour of the wooden feet nicely contrasts to the soft, light color of the upholstery, creating a cosy look, not to mention that wooden bun feet make a long-lasting, rock solid foundation for any chair.

Condition:
In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. The armchairs are newly refinished and reupholstered in premium sheepskin.

Dimensions:
Width 100 cm / 39.37 in.
Depth 95 cm / 37.4 in.
Height 90 cm / 35.4 in.
Seat Height 40 cm / 15.7 in.

About the Designer:
Märta Blomstedt (1899–1982) was an architect and one of the driving forces of the Finnish functionalism movement. Partnering with her husband, Pauli E. Blomstedt, her first works were noted for their functional, rather than decorative appearance and settings in park-like environments. After her husband's death, initially she formed a firm with Matti Lampén to complete projects her husband and she had begun. Later, she and Lampén formed a firm designing their own creations. She designed all aspects of her buildings including the furnishings, demonstrated in one of Blomstedt & Lampén's most noted designs of the Hotel Aulanko. During the war, Blomstedt & Lampén mostly worked on renovation and restoration projects of existing buildings, but at the war's end, they returned to their own designs. In addition to buildings, they were responsible for the city plans for Kuusjärvi and the Oravikoski Mining Community and created both public and private buildings in each city as well. When Lampén died, Blomstedt formed a partnership with Olli Penttilä and continued to work into the 1970s.

Literature:
"Hotel Aulanko bei Tavastehus (Hämeenlinna): Architekten Märta Blomstedt und Matti Lampén", Das Werk: Architektur und Kunst = L'oeuvre: architecture and art, no. 27, 1940, p. 95 for a similar example I have official proof of authenticity such as vintage catalogs,
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