Nothing is ever reborn, in the words of Alvar Aalto. Which is fitting for Artek and Tom Dixon's "new" furniture line, 2nd Cycle. The line is made up of old Artek pieces retrieved from all over the place: Helsinki flea markets, small-town auctions, defunt institutions. And the beauty of it is that after collecting 40, 50, 60-year-old (and older) furniture, it's all one-of-a-kind.
Like a nubby old sweater, holey jeans or time-softened sheets, this line shows its age and tells a story. Layers of paint, patinaed natural wood, worn leather upholstery are all qualities of these aged pieces that are not easily matched in newly manufactured products.
From Artek: Artek’s visionary design found its expression in breakthrough technology to create pieces as timeless as the Picassos that used to hang above them in the shops of Helsinki. The dints, the scratches and the patina tell their never-ending story. And no matter where they’ve been or the place they’ll end up next, one thing is certain: they’re never out of time nor out of place. As Alvar Aalto once said, “Nothing is ever reborn, but neither does it totally disappear. And that which has once been, will always reappear in a new form.”
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
They already sold this shite once, they're gonna sell it again? I hate this concept. Owning these used pieces should be about luck. I bet they will cost a fortune.
view snot's profile
I pretty much agree with snot (how odd that sounds...)
Pieces like these should be found treasures, not rounded up like cattle and resold. Also, looking at that one seat, it seems pretty clear to me that the finish was removed with a random orbit sander as oppose to time wearing it away. Time isn't that even. Besides, its an old faux finish trick - not that I'm saying they do this to all pieces - but truly worn furniture is a special find and never looks quite this "done".
To buy one of these that has been "collected" is to buy something that looks old but has no personal history. I'd rather go to a flea market and buy my own selections and take them home.
view JacksonMarie's profile
we were luck, in college, at MIT, alto had designed our dorm (Baker House) and all of its furniture -- at the time we really abused and complained about the weird looking furniture, but only in the last 5 years have i realized some perspective about it...
view sassy's profile
Country modern?
view Jon_B's profile
Shabby modern?
JacksonMarie is right -- that's orbital sander work. Milk paint used to wear like that. Twentieth century paints form a skin that would chip and peel, not rub off to anything like that degree.
view wende in the twin cities's profile
I dunno.. those look just like a bunch of old chairs my dad had in his garage. And he certainly didnt engage in deliberate "patina-ing" of the crap he piled up in there.
view Modfan's profile
these remind me very much of stools we used in any number of art and pottery classes I took as a child.
wooden painted stools children time = that shabby chic look we all know and love.
view mmadden's profile
oh, for god's sake, the comment system ate my plus signs. Wooden painted stools PLUS children PLUS time.
view mmadden's profile
Mine are 35 years old, but I would never paint them!
view notsocooldad's profile