The iconic three-legged Artek Stool 60 was designed by Alvar Aalto in 1933. Stool 60 is aesthetically simple and pleasing to the eye, it is also one of the most recognised pieces of Scandinavian modernism. Often copied but never equalled, the stool is superbly constructed and only requires three legs due to their strength. Three legs also have the advantage of finding balance on an uneven floor, where four-legged stools would wobble.
Alvar Aalto was granted a patent for the method of bending wood in 1933. Aalto's invention for the 'L-leg' has made the Stool 60 famous. The L-bend legs are mounted directly to the underside of the round seat without the need for complicated connecting elements. Thanks to its geometry, the three-legged stool can be stacked to save space in a spiralling towel sculpture.
Manufactured in Finland's 'A-Factory', the Stool 60 requires 45 different stages of production, 25 of these for the bent L-leg. It is entirely made from high-quality solid birch from Finland. The carefully selected trees are cut during the winter at 60-80 years old. They are dried in the factory lumberyard for a period of one year for the next steps. Such a considered process makes the stool more durable and sturdy. The Stool 60 is handmade and it is a great example of Alvar Aalto's love of birch, demonstrating his ability to create a refined curved wooden surface.
The Artek Stool 60 fits perfectly into a variety of interior spaces. It is a timeless classic and versatile furniture that can be used as a seat, a table, storage unit, or display surface, representing the quintessence of functionalist furniture design.