Alvar Aalto Stool 60 for Artek in Birch, 1950s

This three-legged Stool 60 was designed by Alvar Aalto for Artek and produced in Finland during the 1950s. Made from birch and retaining its original finish, it has a warm, heavily worn surface with the kind of irregular patina that develops only through decades of use.

Aalto introduced Stool 60 in 1933. Its compact, stackable form is built around the bent birch L-leg, a construction that became central to Aalto’s furniture for Artek. The round seat and three curved legs create a simple, balanced profile that works equally well as seating, a bedside table or an occasional stand.

This example has a finger-jointed seat edge and the legs remain attached with slotted screws. The original birch finish has softened and varied in colour over time, with darker handling marks, scratches and small areas of surface loss giving the stool a particularly expressive character.

The stool is sturdy and structurally sound. It has not been repaired and no parts have been replaced. The seat shows extensive wear, scratches, marks, discolouration and finish loss, while the legs and edges carry further age-related scuffs and patina. These signs of use are an integral part of the stool’s appearance rather than concealed defects. Please review all images for details.