Herman Miller to market Artek's Aalto line in U.S.
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, February 18, 2002
ZEELAND, Mich. — Office furniture producer Herman Miller has allied with Finnish furniture manufacturer Artek to market the latter's Aalto line of modern furnishings in the United States.
Herman Miller will be the exclusive U.S. distributor of Aalto furnishings through its Herman Miller for the Home division.
Created by modernist designer and architect Alvar Aalto (1898-1976) and his wife, Aino, the line includes such signature pieces as a tea trolley, 3-leg and 4-leg stools, and the Aalto easy chair or "tank chair," ranked among the landmarks of 20th century design.
Many products incorporate molded birch, an approach Alvar Aalto originated in the 1920s, similar to the molded plywood furniture created for Herman Miller by Charles and Ray Eames following World War II.
Like the Eameses, the Aaltos' design principles stressed flexibility and practicality.
"The Aaltos' furniture conveys a clear message: Aesthetics and functionality belong to everyone," said Kelli Gierz, product manager for Herman Miller for the Home. "We share that philosophy, and recognize a great synergy between Alvar Aalto's work and our existing product offering."
| Artek's Aalto easy chair, or "tank chair," is a landmark of 20th century design. |
