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a wooden desk with drawers and a black topan image of a wooden desk with a black top and drawersan image of a wooden desk with a black top and drawers
Ader

43 - Alvar AALTO (1898–1976) ARCHITECT-DESIGNER & ARTEK PUBLISHER…
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Estimate €2,000 - €3,000
Sale commission
Description
Alvar AALTO (1898–1976) ARCHITECT-DESIGNER & ARTEK PUBLISHER & O.Y. HUONEKALU – JA RAKENNUSTYOTEHDAS A.B & GALERIE MAI IN PARIS DISTRIBUTOR A96/3, model designed circa [1927] & 896/38, model designed circa [1930], our pieces invoiced on 25 July 1956 by Galerie Mai A very rare model of a rectangular birch wood desk. The legs are square in cross-section; the edge of the top is finished with a flat edge. The top was originally covered with black linoleum. H. 72 cm – W. 115 cm – D. 72 cm A mobile, castor-fitted cabinet in birch wood. The front features 5 drawers with cut-out handles; the visitor-facing side has 5 recesses. H. 66 cm - W. 38 cm - D. 70 cm Important: A copy of the original invoice issued on 25 July 1956 by Galerie Mai in Paris will be provided to the purchaser. Exhibitions: - Alvar Aalto, The City of Turku 700th Anniversary Exhibition and Trade Fair – Turku (Finland), 1929. An identical desk model was exhibited at this event. - Minimum Apartment Exhibition (The Rationalisation of the Small Dwelling) – Helsinki, 1930. Identical desk and storage unit models were exhibited at this event, organised by Alvar and Aino Aalto. Bibliography: - Alvar Aalto: Architecture and Furniture – Catalogue of the exhibition held at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York (15 March – 18 April 1938), published by the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, 1938. Identical models reproduced on p. 46 (ill. 32). - Museum of Finnish Architecture, Finnish Society of Crafts & Design and Artek – Alvar Aalto Furniture – Published by the Museum of Finnish Architecture, Helsinki, 1984. An identical filing cabinet model reproduced on p. 93; drawings of the desk and filing cabinet models reproduced on p. 125. - Louna Lahti – Alvar Aalto, 1898–1976: paradise for the man in the street – Taschen, Cologne, 2004. Identical filing cabinet models reproduced on pp. 46 and 51. - Thomas Kellein – Alvar & Aino Aalto. Design – Bischofberger Collection – Catalogue published to accompany the exhibition held at the Kunsthalle in Bielefeld (28 November 2004 – 27 February 2005), Hatje Cantz, Ostfildern-Ruit, 2005. A slight variation of the desk is reproduced on p. 18.
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About the sale At Simone Jaoul and René Drouin’s
Auction location
Auction time 10/27/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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