Minimalist Chair with L-Shaped Legs

Alvar Aalto designed his Chair 69 in 1935 as a minimalist dining chair. As with so many of his seating designs, the Finnish designer also used L-shaped legs for the Chair 69, which give the chair its characteristic silhouette and allow the frame to be attached directly to the seat. Originally, the Chair 69—just like the Stool 60 and other well-known pieces by Aalto—was designed for the library in Vyborg. From there, it quickly began its triumphant march around the world, and private individuals, too, soon became enamored with the chair’s soft yet clean lines. Artek manufactures the Chair 69 from birch veneer, which is then finished with a clear varnish. Variants with laminated or upholstered seats are also available.