Yrjö Kukkapuro
Image rights
The artworks in this database are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced without the permission of the rights holders. The artworks are reproduced in this database with a license from Bildupphovsrätt.
For condition report contact specialist
YRJÖ KUKKAPURO, An early 1980s 'Saturnus' corner sofa for Avarte. Finland.
Made to order. Maroon leather upholstery. Modifiable seat with screw fastening. Manufacturer's label. Length c. 440 cm. Height to seat 40 cm. Total height 71 cm.
Some of the screws are missing. Partly hard wear.
Provenance
Bank of Finland.
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.