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Pedestal Table
Iconic Designs

Pedestal TableBy Eero Saarinen

About the Design

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.

Eero Saarinen Pedestal Table

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Tulip Dining Table by Eero Saarinen for Knoll, United States, 1960s
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Antwerp, BE
Round dining table by Eero Saarinen for Knoll International, originating in the United States in the 1970s. This table is crafted with an elegant aluminum tulip base and a sleek lami...
Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables

Materials

Aluminum

Eero Saarinen for Knoll 24" Formica Side Table
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Eero Saarinen for Knoll 24" Round Side or Coffee Table. Great size perfect to use in many places in the house! White Formica with charcoal gray painted aluminum base.
Category

2010s American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables

Materials

Aluminum

Round Calacatta Viola Marble Dining Table by Eero Saarinen for Knoll, 1970s
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Renens, CH
Round Tulip Table from the pedestal series designed by Eero Saarinen, produced by Knoll International. Table top is cut from Calacatta Viola marble, with thick red/purple undertones...
Category

Vintage 1970s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables

Materials

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...
Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables

Materials

Metal

Tulip coffee table, Eero Saarinen, Knoll, 1956
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Tulip coffee table, Eero Saarinen, Knoll, 1956
Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Metal

Knoll Saarinen Table with Custom Ice White Ceramic Top
By Eero Saarinen
Located in Pasadena, TX
60? Knoll Saarinen table with custom top Iconic, classic vintage table designed by Eero Saarinen for Knoll International. Custom ceramic top....
Category

Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables

Materials

Ceramic

Eero Saarinen for Knoll International, Tulip Low Table, Marble Top, Design 1958
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
Eero Saarinen for Knoll International, Tulip Low Table Green variegated marble circular top on painted metal base 90cm diameter, 53.5cm high Knoll label to underside The Pedest...
Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Marble, Metal

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...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables

Materials

Steel

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 ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables

Materials

Metal

Eero Saarinen Tulip Side / End Tables for Knoll
By Eero Saarinen
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A pair of early Tulip side / end tables with round tops having a white Laminate finish and cast painted steel bases . From the iconic artist , sculptor , architect and furniture desi...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables

Materials

Steel

Eero Saarinen Tulip Side Table for Knoll
By Eero Saarinen
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A very fine sculptural tulip side table with a bigger sized 20" round top in white Laminate and matching base . Retains the manufactures label by Knoll and designed by Eero Saarinen...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables

Materials

Metal

Mid Century Modern Knoll Tulip Dining/Conference Table or Desk in White Marble
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
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...
Category

Early 2000s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables

Materials

Marble, Aluminum

'Tulip' Oval Table by Eero Saarinen for Knoll 1970s-80s
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Milano, IT
'Tulip' model dining table with cast aluminum base and oval white marble top. Manufacturing label present.
Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Tables

Materials

Marble, Aluminum

Dining Table "Tulip" with marble top by Eero Saarinen for Knoll International
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find an iconic design piece, a Space Age "Tulip" dining table designed by Eero Saarinen for Knoll International. It features a cast aluminum base with the m...
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Space Age Dining Room Sets

Materials

Marble, Aluminum

Saarinen for Knoll Pedestal Dining Table
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in New York, NY
Nice early Saarinen design for Knoll tulip dining table. This example has the 575 Madison Ave Knoll address, it is in very good original condition, showing only light cosmetic wear, ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables

Materials

Metal

Eero Saarinen 22" Oval Tulip Base Side Table with Walnut Top
By Eero Saarinen
Located in Tucson, AZ
This Eero Saarinen Tulip Base side table was designed in 1957 and manufactured in 1978, delivered to a stationary store in Houston Texas based on...
Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables

Materials

Aluminum

Eero Saarinen White Carrara Marble Tulip Side Table by Knoll
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Gorgeous original example of the classic Tulip side table by Eero Saarinen for Knoll. Executed in white Carrara Italian marble. Circa 1960s with original Knoll bowtie label fully int...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables

Materials

Carrara Marble, Iron

Knoll Saarinen Side Table
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Pasadena, TX
Knoll Saarinen Table. Sturdy, cast-aluminum base. A timeless modern classic in continuous production since 1956. A marvelous addition to your home.
Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables

Materials

Aluminum

Eero Saarinen for Knoll Mid Century Tulip 36 inch White Laminate Coffee Table
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Countryside, 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...
Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Laminate

1950s Oval Walnut Tulip Side Table Madison Avenue Eero Saarinen Knoll Elliptical
By Eero Saarinen
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Early 1950s 'Madison Avenue' production Knoll side table. Nice active walnut grain. Please note: There are two (set) screws in base, right at underside of wooden tabletop, not sure w...
Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables

Materials

Walnut

Saarinen for Knoll Mid-Century Modern Oak Tulip Pedestal Side Table
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
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...
Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern End Tables

Materials

Aluminum

Early Eero Saarinen for Knoll 'Tulip' Dining Table with Carrara 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...
Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables

Materials

Marble, Metal

More Eero Saarinen Designs
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Shortly after Eero Saarinen (1910–61) joined Florence Knoll at the manufacturer she had established with her husband, Hans, she presented the Finnish-born designer with a serious request: to create for her the world’s most comfortable chair, something, Saarinen recalls, that felt like “a basket full of pillows.” Presented with the challenge, Saarinen went primal. What, the designer figured, better signifies the very essence of comfort than the womb? "It was designed on the theory that a great...
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Executive Armless Chair
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With the founding of the Knoll Planning Unit at Knoll Associates in 1946, the modern open-plan office was born. Soon after the launch of the internationally celebrated design firm’s workplace-focused division, the Saarinen Executive Armless chair would emerge as one of its seating staples. A departure from more rigid office seating, the 1950 design by Finnish architect Eero Saarinen (1910–61) offered some of the comfort of his 1948 Womb chair in a more formal shape. Nicknamed “that chair with...
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