Artek was founded in Helsinki in 1935 by four young idealists, Alvar and Aino Aalto, Maire Gullichsen and Nils-Gustav Hahl, with a manifesto as much as a business plan: to sell furniture and promote a modern way of living. The name says it plainly, art and technology. Aalto's bent-birch pieces, the Stool 60 above all, are still made the same way. Every Artek piece here is an authenticated original, delivered in 1 to 5 days. Originals only.
Artek, Finnish Design Since 1935
Artek was founded in 1935 by four young idealists in Helsinki: the architects Alvar and Aino Aalto, the art patron Maire Gullichsen and the critic Nils-Gustav Hahl. Their aim sat at the intersection of design, architecture and art, to sell furniture and to promote a modern culture of living through exhibitions as much as products. The name fused the two ideas the founders cared about most: art and technology.
Artek's signature is bent wood, particularly birch. Alvar Aalto's experiments with steam-bent Finnish birch produced the L-leg, and with it the Stool 60: a three-legged stool of such quiet logic that it has been made for ninety years and copied more than almost any object in design. The genuine article, in natural birch or a black, red or lacquered seat, is unmistakable once you know it.
That is exactly why authenticity matters here. REHAUS sells genuine Artek originals, not the lookalikes the Stool 60 spawned, authenticated and restored, then delivered in 1 to 5 days, well below the price of new. Design doesn't depreciate. The Forever Guarantee and a 30-day home trial mean reduced risk on furniture made to outlast its owners. Browse the originals.
Artek: frequently asked questions
What is Artek?
Artek is a Finnish furniture company founded in Helsinki in 1935 by Alvar and Aino Aalto, Maire Gullichsen and Nils-Gustav Hahl. Its name fuses art and technology, and its aim was to sell furniture and promote a modern way of living. It is best known for Alvar Aalto's bent-birch designs, above all the Stool 60.
Who founded Artek?
Four young idealists: the architects Alvar and Aino Aalto, the art patron Maire Gullichsen, and the critic Nils-Gustav Hahl, who first brought the others together. Aino Aalto led the company's design direction and later managed it. The founders saw Artek as much as a cultural project as a business, sitting at the intersection of design, architecture and art.
What is the Artek Stool 60?
The Stool 60 is Alvar Aalto's three-legged stool, designed in the early 1930s and in continuous production ever since. Its bent birch L-leg, a leg that curves directly into the seat, was a genuine technical breakthrough. Millions have been made, in natural birch and in black, red and other lacquered finishes, and it remains one of the most recognised objects in modern design.
Where can I buy authentic, pre-owned Artek in the UK?
REHAUS sells authenticated, original Artek in the UK. Every piece is checked to confirm it is genuine Artek rather than a copy, restored where needed, and delivered nationwide in 1 to 5 days, with the Forever Guarantee and a 30-day home trial. Stock changes often, since each piece is one of one.
How do I know my Artek Stool 60 is genuine?
Because the Stool 60 is so widely copied, this matters. Genuine Artek pieces carry the brand's markings and are built with the specific bent-birch L-leg construction and materials Aalto developed, which the lookalikes only approximate. REHAUS authenticates every piece against these details, so you are buying the real Artek, not an imitation of it.
How much is Artek, new versus pre-owned?
New, Artek is priced as a premium design brand, ordered through a dealer. A pre-owned original at REHAUS, authenticated and restored, typically costs less and is ready to deliver in 1 to 5 days. Because Artek pieces are built to last and rarely date, a well-kept original holds up beautifully, which is part of the appeal of buying pre-owned.
How is Artek delivered, and can I return it?
Each piece is delivered in 1 to 5 days, with white-glove delivery complimentary on qualifying orders. Every order comes with a 30-day home trial, so you can live with it before committing. If it is not right, returns are straightforward. Because each piece is one of one, it is only truly yours once it has shipped.
Why buy Artek from REHAUS?
REHAUS sells originals only, never the copies Artek's classics attract. Every piece is genuine, authenticated, restored to a high standard, and delivered fast across the UK, with the Forever Guarantee and a 30-day home trial. You get the real Aalto design, with its provenance intact, rather than a lookalike.
