Description
Finnish ‘Sauna’ stool, designed by Bertel Gardberg. Produced by Normark Finnmade in Finland, 1950s. Made entirely from solid pine.
Dimensions:
Height: 44 cm / 17.32 in
Diameter: 36 cm / 14.17 in
Known as the ‘G-Palli’—combining ‘G’ for Gardberg and ‘palli’, the Finnish term for a small, backless stool—this name translates simply to ‘Gardberg’s stool.’ Created in the 1950s for Villa Jouhki, the home and workshop Gardberg personally designed and built in Tammisaari (Ekenäs), a coastal town in southern Finland, the stool is crafted entirely from solid pine. Produced by Normark Finnmade, a respected Finnish woodworking company known for quality, the stool’s minimalist three-legged form and round seat reflect Gardberg’s focus on functional and refined design.
Bertel Gardberg (1916–2007) is considered a pioneer of Finnish silversmithing. His career brought international recognition, including gold medals at the Milan Triennales in 1954 and 1957, and a silver medal in 1960. His honors include the Golden Ring of Honor (1960), the Lunning Prize, the Pro Finlandia Medal (both 1961), and the title of Academician of Arts (1982). Between 1953 and 1954, Gardberg also served as chief designer at Paris’s Galeries Lafayette, reflecting his influence beyond Finland.