Finnish-American architect and furniture maker Eero Saarinen (1910–61) declared that he “wanted to clear up the slum of legs” crowded beneath tables. Enter his Pedestal collection, which Knoll launched in 1958. The collection included armchairs, stools and tables of various sizes all balanced on a single supporting leg.
Saarinen got his start in furniture as a student at Michigan’s Cranbrook Academy of Art, where his father, architect Eliel Saarinen, was director. Some of Eero’s earliest work was designing furniture for Kingswood, a Cranbrook school for girls that opened in 1931. The pieces included a table with four gathered legs in order to make room for both people and chairs’ legs.
At Cranbrook Academy, Saarinen met Florence Knoll, who would become a lifelong friend and professional partner, especially when she was leading the Knoll furniture company. He also met fellow designer Charles Eames, and — with support from Ray Eames — they created the molded plywood Organic chair, which placed first in the 1940 Organic Design in Home Furnishings competition organized by the Museum of Modern Art in New York. As with Saarinen’s future practice, the Organic chair was emblematic of a design approach that was informed by a consideration of the human body as well as the possibilities of new machine processes.
Although America’s involvement in World War II disrupted plans to manufacture the Organic chair, Saarinen continued to explore organic shapes in industrial design. His interest in using seamless plastic forms was clear with his Pedestal series, but the technology was not advanced enough for their stability. Instead, the Pedestal table and its accompanying Tulip armchairs and armless chairs comprised cast-aluminum bases. Each table, stool and chair was crafted with a single, tapered cylindrical leg that descends to a base that flares into a circle, giving the illusion of being one piece. Like his Gateway Arch in St. Louis, the series’ pieces appear to float, and although austere in silhouette, they reflect intense attention to engineering.
The Pedestal table was released with several additional options, including marble and wood veneer for its round and oval tops for dining, side and coffee tables. Because of their modest footprint on a room and streamlined design, these tables can harmonize with nearly any interior style. The design’s status as a mid-century modern classic has inspired numerous imitators, but Saarinen’s original Pedestal table — still manufactured by Knoll — maintains the grace and quality that distinguishes it from the rest.
Mid Century Modern Knoll Tulip Dining/Conference Table or Desk in White Marble
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A Saarinen for Knoll Tulip Table designed for the work space having a center hole to run computer and telephone wires. It features beautiful calacatta marbl...
Marble, Aluminum
Saarinen for Knoll Mid-Century Modern Oak Tulip Pedestal Side Table
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Classic tulip side table designed by Eero Saarinen and manufactured by Knoll. This table has a 20 inch diameter oak top, a white pedestal base, and was made in 1978. Knoll label unde...
Aluminum
Knoll Saarinen Pedestal Tulip Round Coffee Table in Arabescato Marble
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Stamford, CT
This iconic 1957 design by Eero Saarinen is colloquially known as the “Tulip Table,” and more formally as the Saarinen Pedestal Table, born from Saarinen’s desire to declutter dining...
Marble, Metal
Eero Saarinen 1950 coffee table, manufactured by Knoll International
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Ravenna, IT
Marble table designed by Eero Saarinen in 1950 and produced by Knoll International in 2000. Saarinen's design is distinguished by a single, softly shaped central leg that supports th...
Marble
Mid-Century Eero Saarinen for Knoll Oval Tulip Side Table
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Middlesex, NJ
Early Eero Saarinen for Knoll oval tulip side table. Retains early Knoll label.
Aluminum
$7,693Sale Price|30% Off
Knoll 6-8 seater Table in Macassar Ebony
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in South Charleston, WV
Iconic large table by Knoll, designed by Eero Saarinen. 54" diameter and easily seats 8 persons but 6 will feel very spacious. 28.5" tall. This table has the original cast iron bases...
Steel
Eero Saarinen Knoll Tulip Side Table, Black Marble Top, Vintage 1984
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in New York, NY
Eero Saarinen Knoll Tulip Side Table Black Marble Signed, 1984 Chic vintage pedestal table with a 16 inch black marble top, polished eased edge, and the original white powder coated ...
Marble, Aluminum
Eero Saarinen Tulip Dining Table, Green Marble, Mid-Century Modern
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Eero Saarinen Tulip dining table with white base. New plate of green Guatemala Verde marble. Manufactured by Knoll International.
Marble
Eero Saarinen by Knoll Side Table
By Eero Saarinen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Eero Saarinen Tulip Side Table by Knoll, 1957. Marble top with enameled metal base, label on underside.
Marble, Metal
Rare 1960s Saarinen Oval Walnut Table with Early Knoll Label
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Glendale, CA
Rare 1960s Saarinen Oval Walnut Table with Early Knoll Label. Executed in beautifully grained walnut and enameled metal with original manufacturer's label ...
Metal
Eero Saarinen for Knoll 20" Pedestal Tulip Group Side Table
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Ferndale, MI
White laminate 20" diameter top on weighted cast base . Knoll label intact on underside of the top . Minor paint flaked on top edge . The ever iconic Tulip table was designed by Eer...
Metal
Eero Saarinen for Knoll Oval Table Mod, Tulip, Italy 2022
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Naples, IT
Oval table Model Tulip designed by Eero Saarinen, offered with MDF laminate top white stain-resistant and scratch-resistant, has a round cast aluminum base.
Laminate
Eero Saarinen 20" Top Tulip Side Table for Knoll ( B )
By Eero Saarinen
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A iconic sculptural tulip side table with a bigger sized 20" round top in white Laminate and matching steel base . Retains the manufactures label by Knoll designed by Eero Saarinen ...
Metal
Eero Saarinen for Knoll Mid Century Tulip 36 inch White Laminate Coffee Table
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Eero Saarinen for Knoll Mid Century Tulip 36 inch White Laminate Coffee Table This coffee table measures: 36 wide x 36 deep x 15 inches high All pieces of furniture can be had in w...
Laminate
Vintage Tulip Side Table with Oval Walnut Top by Eero Saarinen for Knoll
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Vintage tulip side table with a stunning oval top in walnut designed by Eero Saarinen for Knoll. Designer: Eero Saarinen Manufacturer: Knoll Origin: USA Year: 1950s Style: Mid C...
Walnut
White Tulip round table in marble by Eero Saarinen for Knoll, 1955 modern
By Eero Saarinen
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Tulip table, design Eero Saarinen, Knoll production, 1955. Designed by Eero Saarinen in 1955 and manufactured by Knoll, the Tulip table is one of the most iconic pieces of 20th-centu...
Marble, Metal
Early Knoll Saarinen Pedestal Tulip Side Table in White Laminate
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Stamford, CT
Eero Saarinen’s Pedestal Collection for Knoll is one of the most iconic designs in furniture history. Commonly referred to as the "Tulip" collection, Saarinen's goal was to eliminate...
Metal
Eero Saarinen Marble Top 'Tulip' Side Table
By Eero Saarinen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Eero Saarinen Marble Top 'Tulip' Side Table. Underside of top stamped Made in Italy; underside of base with rectangular Knoll: Park Avenue sticker ...
Marble, Metal
Dining table Tulip in marble by Eero Saarinen for Knoll International - 1960s
By Eero Saarinen
Located in Uccle, Bruxelles
Magnificent "Tulip" table designed by Eero Saarinen for Knoll International in the 1960s This iconic marble table, recognizable by its white cast aluminum base, is a timeless piece ...
Marble, Aluminum
Early Eero Saarinen for Knoll 'Tulip' Dining Table with Marble Top
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Mortsel, BE
Eero Saarinen for Knoll International, 'Tulip' dining table, Carrara marble, metal, United States, 1950s/1960s This distinguished pedestal table from the Tulip collection was concei...
Marble, Metal, Aluminum
