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Aalto stool: Is thi...
 

Aalto stool: Is this genuine? (pics)  

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peter osullivan
(@petewosullivanaol-com)
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27/01/2008 11:01 pm  

I was given this Aalto stool last night at a party in London

There are no manufacturers markings on it I have checked the Artek site and there is nothing similar listed

the top measures 340mm in diameter and it is 300mm in height

The closest listed is the NE60 which measures 380mm in height and 380mm in diameter

Although its pretty beat up its still very sturdy, it does look like a genuine ply construction however the veneer is missing and damaged in several places

Could this be a genuine piece or the more likely reproduction?

<img class="wpforo-default-image-attach


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peter osullivan
(@petewosullivanaol-com)
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27/01/2008 11:03 pm  

My camera isn't so hot so...
My camera isn't so hot so apologies for the poor pics


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barrympls
(@barrympls)
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27/01/2008 11:30 pm  

I think it is
Either by Artek or Thonet


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peter osullivan
(@petewosullivanaol-com)
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28/01/2008 12:39 pm  

Thanks Barry I have heard of...
Thanks Barry I have heard of Artek but never Thonet, would i be right in thinking they manufactured Aalto designs in the past?
I found a small article on the web about the stool 60
"You can spot an original from the striped pattern on the profile of the legs, which is veneer inserted into a solid piece of beech so it can be bent"
My one does appear to have this striped pattern on the legs


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Annette
(@annette)
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28/01/2008 1:47 pm  

Artek
Pete, I've got 8 Aalto Artek stools (all 3 legged) bought with in the last 10 years and they all look just like yours, except for the height. The measurements are 346 diameter of the top and 440 height from top to floor.
Looks like someone cut yours down. The ends of the legs on mine are slightly faceted on all 4 sides.
If you like it, and want more try Scandium. I know we are supposed to like vintage best but I really like these stools, (which are very useful) and think they look better not too beaten up looking


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barrympls
(@barrympls)
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28/01/2008 4:09 pm  

Thonet
There's scads of history available about Thonet's early history, but little about their recent past.
Aalto designed for O.U. Huonekalu-ja Rakennustyotehdas (I owe you an oomlot) in the early 1930's.
I have a pair of tables with an orange-red plastic top. It clearly is marked Thonet, yet I can find nothing about at the Thonet website.
They sure like Aalto to me!


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NULL NULL
(@paulannapaulanna-homechoice-co-uk)
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28/01/2008 5:49 pm  

Definitely Aalto - judging...
Definitely Aalto - judging by the finish and crosshead screws probably 70s onwards. If the bottom of the legs are nicely bevelled its a child sized stool, if cut off square its been trimmed. Aalto stool legs are not actually plywood (whereas the Thonet stools pictured are)Aalto achieved his leg bend with kerf joints i.e. the leg is solid birch which has slots cut into the top to accomodate strips of veneer which form the knee bend. The banding around the seat is also an Aalto giveaway - copies usually have visible laminations around the edge.


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NULL NULL
(@paulannapaulanna-homechoice-co-uk)
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28/01/2008 5:56 pm  

As an aside as far as I'm...
As an aside as far as I'm aware Aalto's dealings with Thonet only extended to a furniture competition Thonet held in 1929 to which Aalto submitted several designs - unsuccessfully! The fools!!


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peter osullivan
(@petewosullivanaol-com)
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28/01/2008 7:19 pm  

That?s great thanks for all...
That?s great thanks for all the help everyone 🙂
Annette I can definitely see what you mean it?s a real multipurpose item, I haven?t decided where to put it but yet but I?ve come up with several different ideas of how to use it already, I have a look on the Skandium site from time they have some great stuff
I found this pic of some old stools which are part of the artek 2nd cycle collection there pretty cool
paulanna, have you got any tips for cleaning it up?, I?ll try and get some better pictures of the worst areas this evening, its pretty grubby all over, the worst part is that dirt has got into the wood were the veneer has been lost, ideally I just want to get these areas a little cleaner and maybe get the top in better shape
The legs are pretty flat at the bottom although there pretty rough it looks like the stool has been used on a rough surface, I?ll get some pics of them also


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barrympls
(@barrympls)
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28/01/2008 7:41 pm  

Isn't it cool that
items designed in the 1930's still look so modern and crisp?
I'm just amazed at how timelessly modern these Aalto are.
To refresh, here's my beautiful and comfortable 400 Zebra "tank" lounge chair:
1936 was when it first appeared...that's 72 years ago!


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NULL NULL
(@paulannapaulanna-homechoice-co-uk)
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28/01/2008 8:40 pm  

To clean it up I'd probably...
To clean it up I'd probably just use some burnishing cream - I do tend to feel that the modern Artek finish lets down Aalto pieces as it doesn't mature into that fabulous golden orange that you get on early pieces. I've been collecting Aalto (him and Gerald Summers were my first design heroes!) for about 15 years - the only modern AA piece I have is my dining table matched up with some 30s 611 (Jyvaskyla) chairs. The modern finish on the table is very practical (especially with an 8 year old in the house!) but I hate the way it looks compared with the other, older stuff. When the ankle biter's grown up I'll either change it for an old one or strip it and repolish it.
Barry - your tank chair looks marvellous. I did out my 34 chair in the same fabric (zebra being very very bold for me!)and its the one chair that everybody who visits comments on.
There's a nice story about Aalto,Otto Korhonen and some of the employees throwing one of the first stools around the factory and Aalto saying "We'll sell a million!!"


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NULL NULL
(@paulannapaulanna-homechoice-co-uk)
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28/01/2008 8:51 pm  

.
.


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barrympls
(@barrympls)
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28/01/2008 10:59 pm  

Paulanna, where did you get the fabric?
I would love to get 1 yrd of the this fabric so my upholstery friend could make a nice 15" square throw pillow for it.
I emailed Artek, and surprise!, they never replied. I guess they're not supportive of their customers, even though they make such great products.


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NULL NULL
(@paulannapaulanna-homechoice-co-uk)
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29/01/2008 3:04 am  

I got the fabric straight...
I got the fabric straight off the roll from Skandium in London - do Artek have any retailers in the US at the moment - you may get better service from them? Apparently Aalto used to infuriate his distributors back in the 30s becuase he never replied to letters - sounds like Artek are keeping up a long tradition...
Robert - if the finish is very poor it may be easier to strip it all off (Nitromors is perfect and it won't hurt the veneers) and varnish (or similar) it. Its easier if you take the legs off but make sure you number the legs and base so you can put them back in the right holes


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peter osullivan
(@petewosullivanaol-com)
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29/01/2008 4:01 pm  

thanks paulanna
I...
thanks paulanna
I ordered some burnishing cream this morning so I'll have a bash with that at the weekend,


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