Authentic Stool E60 in Lacquered Birch with Linoleum Seat by Alvar Aalto & Artek

Authentic stool E60 in lacquered birch with linoleum seat by Alvar Aalto & Artek. Projecting a sense of relaxed familiarity, stool E60 is equally suited to the home, public buildings, and educational facilities. The legs are mounted directly to the underside of the round seat without the need for complicated connecting elements. Thanks to its geometry, the stool can be stacked to save space in a spiraling tower sculpture.

In the late 1920s, architect and designer Alvar Aalto began experimenting with bending wood. In collaboration with furniture manufacturer Otto Korhonen, the finnish master developed a ground-breaking process that resulted in the L-leg. To create the L-leg, cuts are made in the end of a piece of wood, with the slits extending just below the level of the planned bend. Wood veneer strips are then inserted and glued. This simplifies the bending process and increases the stability of the component.

Aalto called the L-leg “the little sister of the architectural column,” and its arrival announced a break with longstanding traditions of furniture production. Patented by Aalto in 1933, this technique meant that the warm, organic qualities of wood could be used to form stabile hardwearing designs. Its system of standard components enabled the creation of more than 50 versatile products.

Alvar Aalto’s stool E60 is the most elemental of furniture pieces, equally suitable as a seat, a table, storage unit, or display surface. The legs are mounted directly to the underside of the round seat without the need for complicated connecting elements. Thanks to its geometry, the stool can be stacked to save space in a spiralling tower sculpture. Manufactured in 42 production steps at the A-Factory in Turku, Finland, stool E60 is available in a wide variety of colors and finishes.

Price is per item. Handmade to order in Finland. Current configuration shown is in birch with a linoleum seat. The stool E60 is also available in natural lacquered birch, birch with a laminate seat, or birch with black lacquer. Please specify when ordering. A three-legged version, stool 60, is also available in a separate listing.

In-stock lead time 2-3 weeks. Out of stock lead time up to an additional 8 weeks or more. Please note that inventory can change at any time. For time sensitive orders, please inquire prior to purchasing.