Image source: Artek — L-leg Collection
© Artek and the respective rights holders. Quoted to accompany INTEBEE's independent design commentary and research.
Collection Story
Origin
The L-leg Collection is the family of Artek pieces built on the bent leg that Alvar Aalto developed in the late 1920s with furniture manufacturer Otto Korhonen. Aalto patented the technique in 1933, the year of Stool 60, and Artek dates the 18 products it lists in the collection between 1933 and 1956.
Design Language
Aalto called the L-leg "the little sister of the architectural column". One standard component, produced in different sizes and angles, carries stools, chairs, benches, a day bed and tables, which Artek says made more than 50 products possible. The collection comes in many finishes and colours, and the rectangular, square and round tables can be made stackable. Artek places the production of its bentwood furniture at the a-factory in Turku.
Key Pieces
- Stool 60 (1933), Stool E60 (1934) and Children's Stool NE60 (1934)
- Chair 65 (1935), Chair 66 (1935), Chair 68 (1935), Chair 69 (1935), Children's Chair N65 (1935) and High Chair K65 (1935)
- Bar Stool 64 (1935)
- Bench 153A (1945) and Day Bed 710 (1933)
- Aalto Table rectangular, square, round and half-round (1933), Aalto Table extendable (1956) and Table 90D (1933)
Pieces in this collection
Chair 65
Alvar Aalto's low-backed birch chair with a round seat, dated 1935
Stool 60
Alvar Aalto's three-legged, stackable birch stool, in continuous production since 1933
Table 90D
Alvar Aalto's low round birch table for use beside a sofa or as a side table, dated 1933
Children's Chair N65
Alvar Aalto's Children's Chair N65: a circular seat and a low, curved birch-plywood backrest, 1935
High Chair K65
Alvar Aalto's High Chair K65: long birch legs, a low back and a curved footrest, 1935
Bar Stool 64
Alvar Aalto's symmetrical birch bar stool with a foot ring, in 65 and 75 cm, 1935
Chair 66
Alvar Aalto's universal birch chair with a handle-like back, dated 1935
Chair 68
Alvar Aalto's stackable birch chair with a three-piece back, dated 1935
Chair 69
Alvar Aalto's 1935 birch chair, one of Artek's most popular, with an L-leg frame and curved backrest
Stool E60
Alvar Aalto's four-legged, stackable birch stool for Artek, dated 1934
Day Bed 710
Alvar Aalto's Day Bed 710: a solid-birch slatted frame on bentwood legs, dated 1933
Children's Stool NE60
Alvar Aalto's Children's Stool NE60: four solid birch legs under a round seat, stackable, 1934
Aalto Children's Table round
A round children's table by Alvar Aalto, dated 1933, with adaptable L-legs
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