Eero Saarinen 1957
Eero Saarinen vowed to address the “ugly, confusing, unrestful world” he observed underneath chairs and tables -- the so-called "slum of legs." A five-year design investigation led him to the revolutionary Pedestal Collection, including the Tulip Chair.
The Saarinen Pedestal Collection brings order and beauty to the surrounding architecture.
The swiveling seat allows for easy entrance and exit from a table.
The Tulip Chair base is offered in black, white, and cream—three glossy finishes that pair beautifully with a wide range of upholsteries.
While studying at Cranbrook Academy of Art in the 1930s, Florence Knoll and Eero Saarinen forged a lasting friendship. The connection between these avid students of design evolved into a partnership that produced some of the most revered furniture pieces of the 20th century.
Eero Saarinen insisted that, in any design, “confusion comes from trying to amalgamate several conflicting ideas.” To avoid that confusion, in his furniture, as in his architecture, Saarinen sought the essential idea and represented it formally with clarity and strength, always striving for “consistency and relatedness of all parts.”
In the early 1950s, he turned his attention to the “ugly, confusing, unrestful world” he believed resulted from “the slum of legs” underneath typical tables and chairs. In 1957, he realized his ideal of formal unity with the Pedestal Table and Tulip Chair collections for Knoll. These majestically effortless, one-legged tables and chairs have since become symbols of modern design and mainstays of the Knoll design legacy.
Born to world famous architect and Cranbrook Academy of Art Director Eliel Saarinen and textile artist Loja Saarinen, Eero Saarinen was surrounded by design his whole life. After meeting Florence Knoll at Cranbrook, Saarinen went on to design many of Knoll's most recognizable pieces, including the Tulip collection, the Womb chair, and the 70 Series of seating. In addition to these achievements, Saarinen became a leader of the second-generation modernists.
For a complete list of applicable upholsteries, please visit the Surface Finish Library.
20048 | Saarinen Dining Table with Tulip Chairs
20044 | Saarinen Dining Table with Tulip Chairs and Stool
17493 | Knoll at Fulton Market | Textiles
12842 | Dining Area with Saarinen Table & Tulip Chairs
12839 | Dining Area with Saarinen Table and Tulip Chairs
12696 | Saarinen Dining Table and Tulip Chairs
10373 | Saarinen Dining Table and Tulip Chairs
9543 | Saarinen Tulip Collection
5330 | Tulip Chair, Saarinen Dining Table
20039 | Saarinen Tulip Side Chair - Side Chair, Fully Upholstered, Fixed, Hourglass, Mocha, Cream
20038 | Saarinen Tulip Side Chair - Side Chair, Fully Upholstered, Fixed, Crossroad, Pearl, Cream
20037 | Saarinen Tulip Side Chair - Side Chair, Fully Upholstered, Fixed, Aegean, Bay, Cream
20036 | Saarinen Tulip Side Chair - Side Chair, Seat Cushion, Fixed, Crossroad, Paprika, Cream
20035 | Saarinen Tulip Side Chair - Side Chair, Seat Cushion, Fixed, Hourglass, Indigo, Cream
19890 | Tulip Chair
19868 | Tulip Chairs
19867 | Tulip Chairs
19866 | Tulip Chairs
19865 | Tulip Chairs
19863 | Saarinen Collection
19862 | Saarinen Collection
19861 | Saarinen Collection
11620 | Saarinen Pedestal Collection
11602 | Saarinen Pedestal Collection
11601 | Saarinen Pedestal Collection
8110 | Antenna Workspaces
5105 | Saarinen Tulip armless Chair
5102 | Saarinen Tulip armless Chair
5088 | Saarinen Tulip armless Chair
4885 | Saarinen Tulip Chairs and Stool
4883 | Saarinen Tulip Chairs and Stool
4879 | Saarinen Tulip Side Chair
The configurator below is for reference purposes only. All options, finishes and sizes may not be represented.
For the complete scope, please refer to the KnollStudio price list.