A rare original three-piece Alvar Aalto Paimio seating suite, comprising a pair of Model 44 Club Chairs and a Model 544 Sofa, designed in the early 1930s and produced in Finland by Huonekalu-ja Rakennustyötehdas Oy, Turku.

The suite was imported and distributed in Britain by Finmar and all three pieces retain their original Finmar labels. The chairs and sofa have remained together as a set and are early pre-war examples, with closely matched colour and patina to the laminated birch frames.

Each piece is rare in its own right, but the Model 544 Sofa is especially unusual. This is the first example of the Model 544 that we have handled, and it has an additional central laminated-birch leg beneath the seat. During our research we have been unable to find photographs of another Model 544 documenting this three-legged construction.

The additional central support may relate to the sofa's original institutional use, providing greater support to the long seat and allowing it to withstand heavier and more prolonged use. Variations of Aalto's furniture are known to have been produced for institutional and public interiors, and the adaptability of his furniture designs is well documented. Without further documentation we cannot say with certainty why the additional support was incorporated into this example, but its construction appears integral to the original manufacture of the sofa. 

The construction follows the same principle across all three pieces. Continuous laminated-birch frames form the arms before sweeping down around the sides and continuing along the floor, enclosing the upholstered seat and back within the wooden structure. The Model 544 repeats this construction on a larger scale, with the unusual central support providing additional strength beneath the long upholstered seat.

The suite has been fully reupholstered in new honey-coloured sheepskin sourced from Scandilock. We have used Scandilock sheepskins on a number of pieces and, although they are considerably more expensive than many alternatives, we have found the quality of their sheepskin panels to be exceptional. The colour and texture work especially well here against the warm, aged birch.

As part of the restoration, the strapping, springs and padding have all been replaced, allowing the suite to be comfortably used while preserving the original wooden frames. No structural restoration has been required. The birch has simply been carefully cleaned and waxed, retaining the surface and patina developed over more than ninety years.

For us, the contrast between the honey sheepskin and the patinated birch is one of the most successful aspects of the restoration. The wooden frames have mellowed to a rich golden-brown, with subtle differences in tone and wear that sit particularly well against the texture and colour of the new upholstery.

The wooden frames are in good vintage condition with no major structural damage. There are small dings, dents, scratches, areas of wear and variations in colour throughout, all of which we would expect from early pre-war pieces of this age. These have deliberately been retained rather than over-restored.

We have dealt in Alvar Aalto furniture for many years and have also collected his work ourselves. Individually the Model 44 chairs and Model 544 Sofa are rare pieces, but finding all three together as an original suite, each retaining its Finmar label and with such well-preserved wooden surfaces, is something we do not often encounter.

Viewing is warmly welcomed at our West London showroom.

High-resolution photographs, detailed condition reports and video inspections are available upon request.

We offer local, national and international shipping.

Please contact us for further information or to arrange a private viewing.