Supreme x Artek Aalto Tank 400 Chair
The original behind the Supreme x Artek Aalto Tank 400 Chair is the Artek Alvar Aalto Tank Chair 400 — $5520 retail vs Supreme's $5900.
Supreme vs. Original
Supreme version
About the original
The Artek Armchair 400, known as the Tank Chair, was designed by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto in 1936 for the 6th Milan Triennale, featuring a laminated birch cantilever frame supporting a deep, fully upholstered seat and backrest. The arms flow unbroken from the rear leg into the front leg, forming the visual mass that gave the chair its nickname. Artek was co-founded by Aalto, his wife Aino, Maire Gullichsen, and Nils-Gustav Hahl in Helsinki in 1935, and the factory in Turku has manufactured the 400 continuously since its debut. The FW2017 Supreme collab upholsters the seat and back in a custom jacquard woven exclusively for the drop.
About Artek
Artek is a Finnish furniture company founded in 1935 in Helsinki by Alvar Aalto, Aino Aalto, Maire Gullichsen, and Nils-Gustav Hahl to manufacture and distribute Aalto's bentwood furniture. The company's core catalog includes the Stool 60, introduced in 1933 and built from solid birch with the patented L-leg, along with the Armchair 400 Tank, the Paimio Chair, and the A330S Golden Bell pendant lamp. Artek has been owned by Vitra since 2013 and continues production in Finland. Supreme's collaboration placed its branding on a run of Stool 60s.
Price comparison
| Supreme retail | $5900 |
|---|---|
| Artek retail | $5520 |
| Hype tax | +7% |
Questions
Is the Supreme x Artek Aalto Tank 400 Chair just the regular Alvar Aalto Tank Chair 400?
The Supreme x Artek Aalto Tank 400 Chair, released in Fall/Winter 2017, is based on the Artek Alvar Aalto Tank Chair 400. Supreme collabs sometimes change the colorway or materials; the description on this page covers the original's specs and any notable differences in the Supreme version. If you want the product without the box logo, the Artek Alvar Aalto Tank Chair 400 is the one to buy.
How much cheaper is the Artek Alvar Aalto Tank Chair 400 than the Supreme version?
Supreme charged $5900 for the Supreme x Artek Aalto Tank 400 Chair; the Artek Alvar Aalto Tank Chair 400 retails for $5520. That's a 7% markup — buying the original saves you $380, or 6% off the Supreme price. Buy the original at retail and you skip the hype tax entirely.
Where can I buy the Artek Alvar Aalto Tank Chair 400?
You can buy the Artek Alvar Aalto Tank Chair 400 direct from Artek. Retail price is $5520. The buy links on this page go straight to the product listing at each retailer.
