Set of 4 Skaala chairs, designed by Yrjö Kukkapuro for Avarte, Finland, 1980s

Description

Set of 4 Skaala chairs, designed by Yrjö Kukkapuro for Avarte, Finland, 1980s

The set of four Skaala chairs was designed by Yrjö Kukkapuro for the Finnish manufacturer Avarte in the 1980s. Thanks to their modern appearance, they will easily find their place in the living room or study of any design enthusiast. The Skaala chair perfectly reflects Kukkapuro’s passion for ergonomic furniture. It is an innovative combination of aesthetics and functionality. The frame is made of gold-coloured chrome-plated metal. The seat and backrest are upholstered in high-quality grey fabric, while the additional armrests are made of birch plywood.

Yrjö Kukkapuro is a Finnish furniture designer and a central figure in Finnish Functionalism. Since the 1950s, he has worked primarily as an independent designer, and most of the furniture he designed at the beginning of his career is still in production. Does it make sense to design a chair that is uncomfortable to sit on? – this is one of Kukkapuro’s favourite sayings, perfectly reflecting the designer’s passion for ergonomic furniture. His designs seek a subtle balance between functionality and aesthetics – excellent examples include the Karuselli chair by Artek and other iconic designs such as the Saturnus table, the Skaala chair, the Remmi series, and the Ateljee armchair and sofa. During his career, Kukkapuro received numerous national and international awards, including the Lunning Prize in 1966, First Prize at the International Chair Design Competition in Italy in 1972, and the Kaj Franck Design Prize in 1995. His works are permanently held in museums around the world, including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, MoMA in New York, and the Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein, Germany.

Avarte was established as a continuation of the operations of the family-owned Haimi company. In 1980, Haimi’s employees purchased the company for themselves and changed its name to Avarte. Haimi was a Finnish furniture manufacturer founded in 1943, particularly known for producing Yrjö Kukkapuro’s designs. Avarte continued producing furniture until 2013, when the company ceased operations. In addition to Yrjö Kukkapuro’s designs, Avarte also produced furniture designed by Samuli Naamanka, Mikko Paakkanen, and Simo Heikkilä.

The chairs are in original vintage condition. The seat height is 45 cm.