Antti Aarre Nurmesniemi (30 August 1927 in Hämeenlinna – 11 September 2003 in Helsinki) was a Finnish designer. He is perhaps best known for his coffee pots and his interior design work.

Antti Nurmesniemi
Born30 August 1927
Died11 September 2003
NationalityFinnish
Known forInterior design
SpouseVuokko Eskolin-Nurmesniemi

Biography edit

Antti Nurmesniemi's work includes enamel coffee pots and furniture such as the Jakkara sauna stool, as well as interior design work. He has been referred to as the "Grand Old Man of Finnish Design", and he won the Lunning Prize in 1959.[1]

He was married to textile designer Vuokko Eskolin-Nurmesniemi, known for her striped designs for Marimekko.[2]

Nurmesniemi was involved in the modernist design of the Palace Hotel from 1951–1953.[3] with Olli Borg and Olavi Hänninen.[2] He also designed the interior of the Finnish State Guesthouse.[4]

Eero Aarnio worked for him for a short time,[5] and they are credited together in at least one source for the Ball Chair design in the 1960s.[2] Mary Quant put the chair in her Bond Street store known for mod fashions. Aarnio also came up with the Bubble Chair, while Nurmesniemi designed the steel and leather covered poly-foam Triennale chair in 1960; Tecta Möbel's F 10 fiberglass, rubber, aluminum and chrome plated steel chair in 1968; the chrome and fabric covered foam Tuoli chair sold by Cassina in 1978; and the wicker and tubular steel D 35 ca. 1984.[6]

Works edit

 
Antti Nurmesniemi coffee pot.
  • Antti Nurmesniemi: ajatuksia ja suunnitelmia (Reflecting and Designing), Kaupungin taidemuseo. (Helsinki) 1992.

References edit

  1. ^ Krondahl, Hans. "Tema Lunning Prize winners". Projekt Runeberg. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  2. ^ a b c Neil Kent (2004). "8". Helsinki: A Cultural and Literary History. Signal Books. p. 145. ISBN 1-902669-74-6.
  3. ^ Aav, Marianne, ed. (2003). "Vuokko Nurmesniemi". Marimekko Fabrics Fashion Architecture. Yale University Press. p. 296. ISBN 0-300-10183-X.
  4. ^ Tainola, Rita (5 April 2017). "Täällä Kiinan presidenttipari yöpyi – Suomen arvovieraat majoittava Valtion vierastalo on hulppea kokonaisuus". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  5. ^ Eero Aarnio. Dwell October. 2007. p. 146.
  6. ^ Jerryll Habegger; Joseph H. Osman (14 June 2005). Sourcebook of modern furniture (3rd ed.). W. W. Norton & Company. ISBN 0-393-73170-7.