Yrjö Kukkapuro, a 'Skaala 475' armchair for Avarte. Designed 1981.
Chromed metal and plywood. Black leather upholstered seat and back. Label marked. Width 62 cm. Total height 88 cm.
Armchairs with armrests fastened with screws were produced in several tens. Plastic plugs were used to attach the armrests in the later manufactured armchairs.
Wear due to age and use. Minor stains. The general impression is good.
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.