A rare and very early Alvar Aalto Umbrella Stand, Model 115, dating from 1936.

Produced in Finland by Huonekalu-ja Rakennustyötehdas Oy, Turku, this example comes from the earliest period of production and combines Aalto’s characteristic use of bent birch with a removable brass drip tray.

The construction is beautifully simple. Three vertical birch supports connect the upper and lower bent-wood loops, while the brass tray sits within the base to collect rainwater from wet umbrellas. The contrast between the pale birch and brass gives what is essentially a highly functional object a sculptural quality.

The Model 115 is a particularly good example of Aalto’s ability to take an ordinary domestic object and reduce it to a small number of carefully considered elements. The bent birch construction, developed through Aalto’s experiments with wood during the 1930s, gives the stand its distinctive soft, organic form while remaining entirely practical.

This example has developed a wonderful patina over the past ninety years. The birch shows the colour, surface variation and signs of use expected from an early piece, while the brass tray has similarly aged. We have lightly cleaned and waxed the wood. The brass has been carefully cleaned and treated with metal wax, preserving its original patina while bringing the surface back to life. We have deliberately retained the aged character rather than having the piece over-restored.

Model 115 has remained in production, making an original example from the first year of the design increasingly difficult to find. For us, it is the combination of its early date, honest condition and beautifully simple construction that makes this example particularly special.

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.