Vintage Dining Room Table in Wood by Laukaan Puu for Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1950s

An original and early Ilmari Tapiovaara ”Pirkka” dining Table made from ebonised beech and pine by Laukaan Puu in Finland. Designed in 1955, The ”Pirkka” series was produced between 1955-1962. Here, Tapiovaara combines his experience with inexpensive knock-down furniture with ideas from the Finnish vernacular tradition. The first item he designed in the range was a stool, and then he extended the ‘Pirkka’ series with chairs, a table, benches, cabinets and shelves. The ‘Pirkka’ dining table and chairs consist of solid wood. The slender legs with pointy feet lift up the seat that is made out of two pieces. Two slim rods hold a horizontal orientated backrest. All vertical parts are coloured black and form a lovely contrast with the seat and backrest, which is stained pine wood. Ilmari Tapiovaara (1914-1999) was trained as an interior designer and graduated in 1937. He would call Alvar Aalto one of his strongest influences. At the beginning of his career, during World War Two, Tapiovaara designed gear for the Finnish army, meaning that he became proficient at working with very common everyday materials such as local woods in Finland and the challenge was also to work with very few tools and without nails or screws. Whilst working at the Domus Academica from 1946 -1947 he gained attention for a chair he designed, that was named “The Domus Chair”. Shortly after his wife and him then went on to establish their own practise in 1951. In the following year he taught design at the Illinois Institute of Technology. After this he would work in Paraguay and Mauritius on behalf of a United Nations development programme. In 1959 he received the Order of the Lion of Finland”s “Pro-Finlandia medal”,and in 1964 a gold medal at the Milan Triennial XIII for his Polar cutlery. He did much of his work for universities, schools, and also designed the “Root Table” for the Finnish army. Our example of the Pirkka table has been professionally and sympathetically restored and is in good condition, preparing it for the next 70 years of it’s life. We invite you to follow us and look at our Storefront for further 20th Century Design pieces.