Did you know that...

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Did you know that

"The outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 brought normal life to a standstill 

in Finland. Finnish industry was harnessed to manufacture armaments, and 

materials were in short supply for over a decade. Various creative substitutes 

were invented, however, such as woven paper string, which took the place of 

fabric in upholstery and various other textiles. Artek's furniture, too, was 

upholstered in woven paper, which Aino Aalto took part in designing. The glue 

required for making Aalto's L-shaped leg was unavailable, during which time the 

legs were joined manually."

From:

ALVAR AALTO

DESIGNER

Alvar Aalto Foundation, 2002

ISBN 952 5371 04 2

Small Aalto chair, 1940s. A finger joint substitutes the 'L leg',
and the seat is upholstered in woven paper string.
.

This and the following images are of the original L-leg as it still stands.
The photos are of some of our Aalto pieces.
.

"Bent solid wood

The innovative and strong L-leg construction is based on the technique of bending 

solid wood, a technique innovated and refined by Alvar Aalto and Artek since the 

early 1930's.

Artek's L-leg is made from birch wood carefully selected and collected from the 

Finnish forests. Before the raw material goes into production it is left to dry with 

the help of sun and wind for six months in outdoor storages. After cross cutting 

and sawing off raw material only hi-quality flawless woods with no structural 

errors are selected. Wood waste is chipped and burned for heating.

The quality selected solid wood piece is sawn open at the end in the direction of 

the fibres. Thin preglued pieces of birch veneer are put in the grooves, enabling 

the wood to be bent to form a 90° angle with the help of presteaming and 

microwave heating.

The form pressed leg piece is placed in a microprocessor controlled drying 

chamber to ensure the correct final moisture degree, assuring the legs long 

lasting quality. The leg piece cleaned from glue and waste material is sawn off to 

give the leg its correct dimensions. Fine-sanding is made by hand ensuring the 

finest quality.

Finally the L-leg is lacquered carefully.

The beautiful and strong L-leg is ready for assembly and can easily be fastened 

with screws to the underside of a seat or a table top, eliminating the need for 

complicated joinery.

Thanks to this unique production method, the L-leg keeps its shape forever and  

ages gracefully, lasting from generation to generation."

http://www.architonic.com/pmabt/artek/3100010

The Alvar Aalto Artek chair no. 69.

.

But there's more to this story -

the woven paper string seems to have had a comeback,

to be a luxury item nowadays:

K-chair, by Harri Koskinen for Woodnotes,
made of a metal matt-chromed frame
and a removable upholstery made with paper yarn cotton fabric.

. 

Woodnotes website here.

"Woodnotes is a Finnish design company founded in 1987 by textile designer Ritva 

Puotila and her son Mikko Puotila. The company is still owned by its founders.

The original concept behind Woodnotes products was to combine artistic creativity 

inspired by Finland’s rugged nature with advanced technologies to shape of 

Finnish raw materials: wood and paper.  Woodnotes is the first company in the 

world to use paper yarn in a contemporary way in functional textiles. Ritva Puotila 

wanted to use paper yarn because of its properties – to make the most of its 

unique characteristics, not as a substitute for other materials.

The Woodnotes collection, which has expanded over the years from carpets made 

from paper yarn to a comprehensive concept, is augmented every year with new, 

relevant, and innovative products. Woodnotes still, however, holds to its original 

concept of producing products from paper yarn – cotton based on paper yarn 

was, for instance, the basis for the design of the recently internationally 

recognised My and Roo loungers.

Woodnotes products are recognised around the globe for their elegant design and 

superior quality. The company currently exports 70% of its production to over 30 

countries. Woodnotes products are sold at higher-end interior design and design 

retailers.

Woodnotes products have won numerous international awards."

Artek/Marimekko exhibition in Japan in 2008:

"The two Finnish design houses are celebrating at Tokyo’s Spiral Garden. There’s 

a sculptural installation for the 75th anniversary of Artek's stool, which was 

designed by architect Alvar Aalto in 1933, and Marimekko will show classic and 

new prints, created by established and young designers like Maija Isola, Kristina 

Isola, and Miina Äkkijyrkkä."