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Märta Blomstedt Armchairs

Finnish, 1899-1982

Designed in partnership with architect Matti Lampén, the strikingly modernist Hotel Aulanko in Hämeenlinna — as well as the impossibly plush, sheepskin-upholstered Aulanko armchairs for the project —  is just one of the many examples of architect and furniture designer Märta Blomstedt’s contributions to the functionalist movement in Finland during the 20th century. 

Born in the city of Turku, Blomstedt studied architecture and graduated from the Helsinki University of Technology in 1922. She married fellow student Pauli Blomstedt and together they established an architectural firm. They completed the Finnish Savings Bank in Helsinki and began work on the Hotel Pohjanhovi in Kannonkoski and the small Kannonkoski Church when Pauli died in 1935. 

Matti Lampén, another architect who worked on the bank, aided Blomstedt in completing much of her husband’s unfinished work including the Yaskelyaynena Cottage — a Russian heritage building — and the Pohjanhovi Hotel. In 1938, the pair opened a firm together, Blomstedt & Lampén, and designed the Hotel Aulanko and took on a number of WWII restorations, builds and renovations including the Lindström and Sörnäisten Factory and the Pajarin Church.

Not unlike the well-known SAS Royal Hotel designed decades later in Denmark by Arne Jacobsen, Hotel Aulanko was intended to be a complete work of art, wherein the textiles and furnishings — produced by the likes of Paavo Tynell, Taito and Alvar Aalto for Artek, the company he cofounded with his wife, Aino — made up part of the whole. 

Prior to Lampén’s death, Blomstedt & Lampén initiated work on a large city plan for the Oravikoski Mining Community which included housing units, apartment buildings, row houses and detached homes as well as community buildings like a cinema, nursery school and sauna. Blomstedt brought in architect Olli Penttilä to help complete the project. Blomstedt and Penttilä went on to design the Vuorimiehentie II building on Blomstedt’s old university campus as well as apartments in Oulu, Finland.

Today, Blomstedt’s 1930s-era Aulanko sheepskin lounge chairs — which may have been inspired by Danish designer Fleming Lassen's Tired Man armchair — remain highly sought after for their historical significance and quality. As an active member of the Finnish Association of Architects and founding member of the 1943 Association of Women Architects, Märta Blomstedt leaves behind a legacy of important milestones for female designers, Finnish architecture and Scandinavian modernism.

On 1stDibs, find a collection of vintage Märta Blomstedt seating and other furniture.

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Creator: Märta Blomstedt
"Aulanko" Armchair by Märta Blomstedt for Hotel Aulanko, Finland, 1930s
By Märta Blomstedt
Located in Utrecht, NL
The Finnish architect and designer, Märta Blomstedt, was one of the driving forces of the Finnish functionalism movement. Her first works were noted for their functional, rather than decorative appearance, which clearly changed as evidence by these famous “Aulanko” armchairs. Blomstedt designed all aspects of her buildings including the furnishings, demonstrated in one of her most noted designs of the Hotel Aulanko. The hotel was conceived as a single work of art and the furnishings, dishes and textiles were part of the project. This model – designed in 1939 - got its name after this architectural project and was specifically designed for the lobby of the hotel in Hämeenlinna, Finland. While it has been stated before that this model was heavily inspired by Danish designer, Fleming Lassen's genre-defining 'Tired Man' wing chair from 1935, the “Aulanko” became world-famous in its own right. Most notable is the voluminous body that stands on four bun shaped feet. While this model originally had tubular steel legs, various iterations were produced for the hotel over the subsequent decades. This version with spherical wooden bun feet is one of the earliest examples created and until the late 1940s, Artek marketed this version of the armchair. The flowing, round lines are beautifully accentuated by the light sheepskin. Furthermore, the warm brown colour of the wooden feet nicely contrasts to the soft, light colour of the upholstery, creating a cosy look, not to mention that wooden bun feet make a long-lasting, rock solid foundation for any chair. The large curves and rounded edges of the body and feet are very inviting, asking the user to be embraced by the soft sheepskin. The Aulanko Hotel in Hämeenlinna (the city of Jean Sibelius) was in its time a luxury hotel of international relevance. In this “Aulanko” chair...
Category

1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Märta Blomstedt Armchairs

Materials

Sheepskin, Wood

Pair of Marta Blomstedt 1930s Sheepskin Wing Chairs for the Hotel Aulanko
By Märta Blomstedt
Located in London, GB
Marta Blomstedt Hotel Aulanko Wing Chair, 1939. This iconic wing chair was designed by Finnish architect Marta Blomstedt for the foyer of the Hotel Aulanko in Hameenlinna, Finland. Around 20 chairs were made for the Hotel itself with tubular steel runner legs. This version of the chair with the spherical, stained elm wood feet is an early production and was subsequently produced for local retailers. It draws inspiration by Danish designer Flemming Lassen's genre-defining 'Tired Man' chair from 1935. This is the larger of the 2 Hotel Aulanko versions that were made and is slightly taller and wider than the other version. This example has been reupholstered in New Zealand sheepskin at our workshop in London. --- Märta Blomstedt (1899-1982) was an architect and one of the driving forces of the Finnish functionalism...
Category

1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Märta Blomstedt Armchairs

Materials

Sheepskin, Elm

Marta Blomstedt 1930s Sheepskin Wing Chair for the Hotel Aulanko
By Märta Blomstedt
Located in London, GB
Marta Blomstedt Hotel Aulanko Wing chair, 1939. This iconic wing chair was designed by Finnish architect Marta Blomstedt fo...
Category

1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Märta Blomstedt Armchairs

Materials

Sheepskin, Elm

Pair of Marta Blomstedt 1930s Sheepskin Wing Chairs for the Hotel Aulanko
By Märta Blomstedt
Located in London, GB
Marta Blomstedt Hotel Aulanko Wing Chair, 1939. This iconic wing chair was designed by Finnish architect Marta Blomstedt for the foyer of the Hotel Aulanko in Hameenlinna, Finland. Around 20 chairs were made for the Hotel itself with tubular steel runner legs. This version of the chair with the spherical, stained elm wood feet is an early production and was subsequently produced for local retailers. It draws inspiration by Danish designer Flemming Lassen's genre-defining 'Tired Man' chair from 1935. This is the larger of the 2 Hotel Aulanko versions that were made and is slightly taller and wider than the other version. This example has been reupholstered in New Zealand sheepskin at our workshop in London. _________________ Märta Blomstedt (1899-1982) was an architect and one of the driving forces of the Finnish functionalism...
Category

1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Märta Blomstedt Armchairs

Materials

Sheepskin, Elm

Marta Blomstedt 1930s Sheepskin Wing Chair for The Hotel Aulanko
By Märta Blomstedt
Located in London, GB
Marta Blomstedt Hotel Aulanko Wing Chair, 1939. This iconic wing chair was designed by Finnish architect Marta Blomstedt for the foyer of the Hotel Aulanko in Hameenlinna, Finland....
Category

1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Märta Blomstedt Armchairs

Materials

Sheepskin, Elm

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1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Märta Blomstedt Armchairs

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Sheepskin, Elm

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By Märta Blomstedt
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Marta Blomstedt Hotel Aulanko wing chair, 1939. This iconic wing chair was designed by Finnish architect Marta Blomstedt for the foyer of the Hotel Aulanko in Hameenlinna, Fin...
Category

1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Märta Blomstedt Armchairs

Materials

Sheepskin, Elm

Pair of Marta Blomstedt 1930s Sheepskin Wing Chairs for The Hotel Aulanko
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Marta Blomstedt Hotel Aulanko wing chair, 1939. This iconic wing chair was designed by Finnish architect Marta Blomstedt for the foyer of the Hotel Aulanko in Hameenlinna, Finl...
Category

1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Märta Blomstedt Armchairs

Materials

Sheepskin, Elm

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1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Märta Blomstedt Armchairs

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Sheepskin, Elm

Marta Blomstedt 1930s Wing Chair for Hotel Aulanko
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Marta Blomstedt Hotel Aulanko wing chair, 1939. This iconic wing chair was designed by Finnish architect Marta Blomstedt for the foyer of the Hotel Aulanko in Hameenlinna, Fin...
Category

1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Märta Blomstedt Armchairs

Materials

Sheepskin, Elm

Marta Blomstedt 1930s Wing Chair for Hotel Aulanko
By Märta Blomstedt
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Marta Blomstedt Hotel Aulanko wing chair, 1939. This iconic wing chair was designed by Finnish architect Marta Blomstedt for the foyer of the Hotel Aulanko in Hameenlinna, Fin...
Category

1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Märta Blomstedt Armchairs

Materials

Sheepskin, Elm

Marta Blomstedt 1930s Pair of Wing Chairs for Hotel Aulanko
By Märta Blomstedt
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Marta Blomstedt Hotel Aulanko armchairs, 1939. Rarely seen armchairs designed by Finnish architect Marta Blomstedt for the Hotel Aulanko, Hameenlinna, Finland in 1939. Various...
Category

1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Märta Blomstedt Armchairs

Materials

Sheepskin, Elm

Marta Blomstedt 1930s Wing Chair for Hotel Aulanko
By Märta Blomstedt
Located in London, GB
Marta Blomstedt Hotel Aulanko wing chair, 1939 Rare designed by Finnish architect Marta Blomstedt for the Hotel Aulanko, Hameenlinna, Finland. Various iterations were produced...
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1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Märta Blomstedt Armchairs

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Sheepskin, Elm

Märta Blomstedt Armchair in Mohair Designed for Hotel Aulanko, Finland, 1939
By Märta Blomstedt
Located in The Hague, NL
This rare armchair was designed by Märta Blomstedt and produced in Finland in 1939. The generous dimensions and seat depth make this a very comfortable lounge chair. The four round...
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1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Märta Blomstedt Armchairs

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Mohair, Upholstery, Birch

Märta Blomstedt armchairs for sale on 1stDibs.

Märta Blomstedt armchairs are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Märta Blomstedt armchairs, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original armchairs by Märta Blomstedt were created in the Scandinavian Modern style in finland during the 1930s. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider armchairs by Ilmari Lappalainen, Haimi, and Jouko Järvisalo. Prices for Märta Blomstedt armchairs can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $25,000 and can go as high as $63,677, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $31,853.

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