Mademoiselle Rocking Chair

Overview

The 1956 Mademoiselle Rocking Chair adapts Ilmari Tapiovaara’s domestic chair concept to long curved runners. Artek identifies traditional Finnish chairs as the source that Tapiovaara approached with modern design.

Construction

The entire chair is specified in solid birch. Its spoke back is made with an age-old method, while the seat edge follows the smooth modernist curve described by Artek. White lacquer and black stain are the published finishes.

Specifications

Artek’s drawing gives W 55 × D 91 × H 97 cm and a 45 cm seat height.

Rocking version

Mademoiselle was created in 1956 for domestic use, and Artek maintains this rocking model separately from the fixed lounge chair. Its extended 91 cm depth records the presence of the runners in the official dimensions.

Old method, new expression

Tapiovaara used the familiar spoke-back construction as a foundation, then set it against a rounded seat profile. Artek characterises the result as a modern approach to traditional design.