Stool E60, Seat lacquered black, Legs birch clear varnished

Designstory

Artek Stool E60 in a modern office environment

The Artek Stool E60 was designed in 1934 by the Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, who designed numerous important buildings, establishing a pioneering combination of organic forms and materials. The Finnish furniture manufacturer Artek presented the predecessor of the stool E60, the Stool 60, in its inaugural 1935 catalogue and the object subsequently blossomed throughout the 40s into an international bestseller. Alvar Aalto used the abundance of birch in Finland as the basis for the four-legged stool E60, instead of resorting to metal or another material. The Artek Stool E60 consists of four curved legs and a round seat and largely on account of its functional simplicity has become a popular design classic. The secret of this design lies in the curvature of the legs, a formal solution which was to become a significant feature of Alvar Aalto's furniture oeuvre. Alternatively, the three-legged Stool 60 by Artek is also available.