Yrjö Kukkapuro
Yrjö Kukkapuro,two "Saturns" tables and eight chairs, Haimi, Finland, 1970s.
2 rectangular tables in red lacquered metal, height 71 cm, width 70 cm, length 121 cm.
8 chairs with red lacquered metal frames, swivel on central foot with red leather upholstery. Labelled Hiami. Seat height 43 cm, width 53 cm, height 82 cm.
Localized wear. Scratches. Marks. Localised colour loss on metal. The upholstery of three of the chairs has loose stitching.
Designer
Yrjö Kukkapuro is a Finnish interior architect and furniture designer with a prolific career spanning over 65 years. He gained fame primarily through his experimental design and ergonomic philosophy, focusing on ecological values and the inherent qualities of materials. Born in 1933 in Vyborg, Kukkapuro studied at the University of Art and Design Helsinki, later becoming a teacher there. Eventually, he served as the rector from 1978 to 1980.
Kukkapuro is perhaps best known for his chairs, with one of the most famous being the "Karuselli" from 1964. The chair was dubbed the "Most Comfortable Chair in the World" by The New York Times in 1974 and is part of the permanent collections at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.