NEW YORK — Sometimes referred to as the father of Nordic Modernism, the Finnish architect Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto (1898-1976), best known as Alvar Aalto, began his architectural work rooted in classicism and ultimately found his own style, moving into Modernism. He avoided frilly designs and overly decorative elements and embraced clean lines and geometric functionality. His design work, which ranges from furniture and lighting to textiles and glassware, remains highly praised. He ranks among the earliest standouts of the Scandinavian aesthetic, making his mark long before this style took hold in many parts of the world.

Aalto grew up in central Finland, and in 1921, he graduated with a degree in architecture from the Helsinki University of Technology. He quickly earned a name for himself, winning numerous awards and competitions for his forward-thinking buildings that were heavily influenced by the newest approach of architecture: Functionalism. He was not a proponent of stark Modernism, but instead designed homes that were inspired by both Finnish and Japanese aesthetics. They often featured natural materials as well as organic forms.

In 1935, he and his first wife, Aino, who was also an architect, founded the Artek company to design furniture and accessories for the home with like-minded individuals. Vintage examples of Aalto’s furniture, designed to be long-lasting, easy to care for and comfortably functional, are coveted not only for their well-thought out design but also the stories they represent.

A smallish piece that can bring big money is Aalto’s Tea Trolley 900, which made its debut at the 1937 World Exhibition in Paris. The Aaltos were well traveled and this piece was said to have been influenced by British tea culture. Outfitted with a rattan basket, ceramic tiles and large wheels, this trolley is eminently functional and would make a fine centerpiece in any room. A variant of the Tea Trolley 900 in ash, birch and lacquered wood with ceramic and wicker realized €39,000, or around $42,609, plus the buyer’s premium in May 2020 at Piasa.

Aalto also created a celebrated variety of chair designs, including the circa-1930s Model 402 armchair. This model was distinguished by its semi-tilted back and cantilevered frame that ensured comfort but had a modern look. “The slightly tilted back of Armchair 402 allows for gentle relaxation while still remaining in an upright position,” according to its manufacturer, Artek. Allowing for adjustments in the wood that naturally occurred, Aalto designed the armrests to comprise two halves of a single piece of wood so that the chair would stay balanced as it aged. A high-backed version of this chair in laminated beech with steam vent and lacquered plywood attained $32,000 in May 2017 at Wright. The auctioneer noted in its catalog description that plywood high-back chair production spanned only a few years, so surviving examples are scarce. “There is some variation in the details of the works from the period; one example was included in the prestigious Nordic Building Day exhibition of 1932,” they noted.

Lighting was also an area in which Aalto distinguished himself. His most desirable designs include the A111 fixture, better known as the “hand grenade,” created in 1961 for Valaistustyo. A brass, lacquered steel and copper example of this six-section suspension lamp brought €40,000, or $43,702 plus the buyer’s premium, in March 2022 at Piasa.

A perennially popular lighting fixture dating to 1953 is the unusually shaped A332, which was dubbed the Beehive for reasons that are instantly obvious. The lamp has a highly sculptural look, lit or unlit, and its rows of perforated steel rings help it give off a warm light. Aalto developed the first model for Finland’s University of Jyvaskyla, but it looks equally good in homes as well as public places. An early production blue A332 Beehive model in painted metal earned €21,000, or about $22,943 plus the buyer’s premium, in February 2021 at Annmaris Auctions.

While Aalto also designed task, table and floor lighting, vintage examples of his ceiling pendant lights in great condition seem to command the highest sums. A pair of ceiling lamps in lacquered metal and brass, designed for Valaistustyo, sold for €15,000, or about $16,388 plus the buyer’s premium, in May 2023 at Annmaris Auctions.

Alto was one of Finland’s most renowned architects and his country honored him by placing his image on its 50 mark bill from 1986 to the early 2000s, when the euro became the country’s official currency. Today, his designs remain beloved for their functionality, comfort, clean style and lines. The works he created for the Valaistustyo company and for his own, Artek, which is still in business, are favored by collectors. Mid-century Modern furniture and decorative accessories have been in high demand since they were new, and Aalto’s designs have done much to ensure the style’s enduring appeal.