With his iconic Pedestal collection, architect and designer Eero Saarinen (1910–61) vowed to “clear up the slum of legs,” as he described the visual clutter resulting from traditional furniture frames in a 1956 TIME magazine cover story. Central to this endeavor is the Pedestal table, whose round top on a slender, graceful pedestal would become a near ubiquitous — and oft-imitated — form. The Tulip armchair and the Tulip armless chair continue this streamlining in Saarinen’s modern, space-age aesthetic.
With its simplified silhouette and fiberglass body, the Tulip armless chair is at once elegant and industrial, a feat that Saarinen continually mastered in mid-century modern works ranging from furniture to architecture (think the St. Louis Arch and the TWA Terminal at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport, which has reopened as a hotel). The designer originally tried to cast the entire seat in fiberglass, pushing the envelope of modern furniture production, but, to ensure stability, he eventually settled on a cast-aluminum base and fiberglass seat. In 1957, the chair was put into production through Knoll — Saarinen knew pioneering American designer Florence Knoll from his days at the Cranbrook Academy of Art, where he taught and took on design projects for the school. It has remained one of the legendary firm’s most popular seats ever since.
Given its sculptural shape, the Tulip armless chair can be paired with a Saarinen table for a wholly modern dining set — as it appears throughout the TWA Hotel — or hold its own as a side or accent chair, a popular touch by top residential designers today. The Velcro-attached seat cushion is available in over a dozen upholstery options, though the thoroughly space-age cherry red is undoubtedly the most famous.
Seven Eero Saarinen Tulip Chairs for Knoll International 1970s All original
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Basel, BS
Beautiful set of seven Tulip Chairs by Eero Saarinen, produced by Knoll in Germany around 1975/76. All original and great condition with white seat shells, no discoloration! Comes ...
Aluminum
Set of Two Eero Saarinen Model 151 Tulip Armchairs
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Vienna, AT
Pair of armchairs 'Tulip', model 151, design Eero Saarinen, 1955-1956. Early production, probably 1960s. White lacquered molded fiberglass and seat with wool cover. Produced by Knoll...
Aluminum
Set of 6 Tulip Chairs by Eero Saarinen For Knoll, 1960s
By Eero Saarinen
Located in Brussels, BE
Set of 6 Tulip Chairs by Eero Saarinen For Knoll, 1960s
Fabric, Plastic
$4,400 / set
Eero Saarinen for Knoll Tulip Chairs, Set of Two
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Dallas, TX
Great looking pair of armless tulip chairs by Eero Saarinen for Knoll. Practically brand new, very light use. Eero Saarinen called himself a “form giver,” and everything he design...
Aluminum
Tulip pivoting chairs by Eero Saarinen for Knoll, 1960s
By Eero Saarinen
Located in Uccle, Bruxelles
Magnificent set of four swivel Tulip chairs designed by Eero Saarinen for Knoll in the 1960s. This set is in very good vintage condition but shows some signs of wear due to age. Al...
Aluminum
Set of 4 Eero Saarinen for Knoll Tulip Chairs in White & Black Leather
By Eero Saarinen
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A nice set of recent Knoll Saarinen Tulip chairs with black leather seat cushions. The chairs and cushions are are labeled Knoll. I believe the production date is 2021 but the year i...
Aluminum
Set of 6 Tulip Chairs by Eero Saarinen produced by Knoll International ca. 1970
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Geneva, CH
Set of 6 tulip swiveling dining chairs by Eero Saarinen and produced by Knoll International ca. 1970s Original red wool cushions invery good condition. Manufacturer label under the c...
Aluminum
Set of Six Model Tulip Chairs, Eero Saarinen, Knoll, Late 20th Century
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Helsinki, Uusimaa
Set of six model Tulip chairs, design Eero Saarinen, manufactured by Knoll, Late 20th Century. Fiberglass and aluminum frame, seats upholstered with quality model Elysee 14611 -fabri...
Aluminum
Side Chairs by Eero Saarinen for Knoll, Switzerland, 1970s – Set of 4
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Renens, CH
A set of four original “Pedestal” side chairs designed by Eero Saarinen for Knoll International. Produced under license in Switzerland during the 1970s, these chairs exemplify Saarin...
Aluminum
$11,042 / set
H 31.11 in W 23.23 in D 22.84 in
Set of 8 Saarinen Executive chairs by Eero Saarinen – Knoll International
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Uccle, BE
Set of 8 “Saarinen Executive” armchairs with tubular legs. Cognac-colored leather cover. This armchair with ample shapes offers excellent comfort. Featured in many interiors, Eero Saarinen’s chair...
Leather
$14,902 / set
H 31.5 in W 25.2 in D 24.02 in
Knoll Tulip Dining Set by Eero Saarinen 1960s Large Marble Table Armchairs
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Magnificent fully original tulip dining set designed by Eero Saarinen and produced by Knoll International in the 1960s. The set consists of 6 original marked tulip armchairs and the ...
Carrara Marble, Aluminum
$2,500 / set
H 16 in W 16 in D 16 in
Pair of Finnish Eero Saarinen for Knoll International Swivel Tulip Stools
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Queens, NY
"Pair of Mid-Century Finnish ""Tulip"" stools from the American Pedestal Collection (Late 1950s) upholstered in white leather, standing on white enameled metal bases. (EERO SAARINEN ...
Metal
Eero Saarinen for Knoll Executive/Dining Chairs Up to 10
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
For your consideration are these Eero Saarinen for Knoll executive chairs. With black / charcoal black wool fabric upholstery by Knoll. they all vary slightly in shade due to what e...
Metal
$7,391 / set
H 31.89 in W 19.3 in D 20.87 in
Set of 5 Tulip chairs by Eero Saarinen for Knoll International, 1970s
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Renens, CH
The Tulip chair, designed by Eero Saarinen in 1956 for Knoll International, is a key piece of mid-century modern design. Saarinen aimed to create a chair that removed the clutter of ...
Steel
$3,795 / set
H 32 in W 26 in D 23 in
Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Set of 4 Eero Saarinen Knoll Tulip Dining Armchair
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fantastic set of four Eero Saarinen Knoll Tulip Armchairs. C1970, the set is in very good condition with expected normal wear and tear from age and use. No damage chairs...
Enamel, Steel
Eero Saarinen for Knoll International Dining Chair in Plywood
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Eero Saarinen for Knoll International, dining chair, coated iron, plywood, velvet, United States / Belgium, design 1948, production 1960s Organic shaped chair designed by Eero Saari...
Iron
$5,950 / set
H 31.5 in W 22.05 in D 21.26 in
Eero Saarinen for Knoll Set of Four Dining Chairs in Beige Leather
By Eero Saarinen
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Eero Saarinen for Knoll, set of four dining chairs, model '72', lacquered steel, leather, United States, design 1948, later production Set of four organic shaped chairs designed by ...
Steel
Tulip Chair by Eero Saarinen for Knoll International - 1960s
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Debrecen, HU
Two of the six available chairs are swivel models. All pieces are original; however, the chair tops were refinished at some point. Designed by Eero Saarinen and manufactured by Knol...
Aluminum
Saarinen Tulip Stool by Eero Saarinen for Knoll
By Eero Saarinen
Located in Centreville, VA
Designed in 1957 as part of the Pedestal Collection for Knoll, Eero Saarinen’s Tulip Stool reflects his pursuit of purity and simplicity in design. Aiming to eliminate what he called...
Fiberglass
$7,400 / set
H 16 in W 26 in D 21.25 in
Set of 6 Tulip Armchairs by Eero Saarinen for Knoll, plumb upholstery, 1960's
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Chicago, IL
Eero Saarinen Tulip armchairs, with plumb upholstery. Knoll Associates, 1960's Set of 6 chairs Manufacturer "320 Park Avenue" labels attached underneath cushions, which dates back t...
Fiberglass
Blue Knoll Tulip Chairs by Saarinen, Set of Two
By Eero Saarinen
Located in Basildon, London
Introducing the Knoll Tulip Chair by Eero Saarinen, a stunning set of two that exemplifies mid-century modern elegance. These iconic chairs feature a sleek, pedestal base crafted fro...
Aluminum
Sold
H 31.89 in W 19.3 in D 20.87 in
Set of 6 Tulip chairs by Eero Saarinen for Knoll International - 1981
By Eero Saarinen
Located in Uccle, Bruxelles
Set of six Tulip chairs designed by Eero Saarinen for Knoll International in the 1980s. This chair is a design classic. It features a magnificent fiberglass shell resting on an alum...
Aluminum
Sold
H 30.71 in W 19.69 in D 21.26 in
Mint Set of 8 Tulip Dining Chairs by Eero Saarinen, Knoll ca. 2010
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Geneva, CH
Set of 8 tulip dining chairs by Eero Saarinen produced by Knoll Studio ca. 2010. Like new. Swiveling. Orange-red cushion. Absolute perfect condition. Manufacturer label under the bas...
Aluminum
Eero Saarinen for Knoll International Tulip Chair
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Dronten, NL
Classic Tulip dining chairs designed in 1956 by Eero Saarinen for Knoll International. A defining accomplishment of modern design and a timeless addition to your home—a true Classic....
Aluminum
Sold
H 31.5 in W 19.3 in D 21.26 in
Set of 4 white and blue Tulip 769-S chairs, Eero Saarinen, Knoll, 1955 modern
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Designed by Eero Saarinen in 1955 for Knoll, the Tulip Model 769-S chairs are part of the iconic Pedestal Collection. With their distinctive painted aluminum base and fiberglass shel...
Metal
Eero Saarinen set of four Tulip chairs 1970s
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in bari, IT
Saarinen Tulip chairs are a modernist design classic, created by architect and designer Eero Saarinen in the 1950s. They are famous for their sleek, minimalist lines, with tulip-shap...
Aluminum
Eero Saarinen Tulip Side Chair in Black by Knoll
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Highland, IN
All dressed in black, Saarinen's iconic design is given even greater graphic appeal with the black finish accentuating its sexy, flowing lines. This authentic example by Knoll is in...
Aluminum
Two 'Tulip' Chairs by Eero Saarinen for Knoll, 1970s-80s
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Milano, IT
Pair of iconic 'Tulip' model chairs with cast aluminum base, plastic shell, foam cushion with original leather upholstery of the period.
Aluminum
'Tulip' chair by Eero Saarinen for Knoll 1970s-80s
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Milano, IT
Chair with cast aluminum base, plastic shell, foam cushion covered in original leather of the period. Good Condition
Aluminum
Tulip armchairs by Eero Saarinen
By Eero Saarinen
Located in MADRID, ES
Tulip armchairs by designer Eero Saarinen produced by Knoll. The swivel base is in powder-coated cast aluminium and the seat shell is in moulded fibreglass. This design breaks the mo...
Aluminum
Sold
H 31.5 in W 19.3 in D 20.48 in
Set of 8 pivoting tulip chairs by Eero Saarinen for Knoll International - 1960s
By Eero Saarinen
Located in Uccle, Bruxelles
Amazing set of 8 Tulip chairs designed by Eero Saarinen for Knoll international in the sixties. All the chairs are pivoting and they are stamped under the foot of the chair with the...
Fiberglass
Sold
H 31.89 in W 19.69 in D 21.26 in
Set Of 6 Vintage Tulip Dining Chairs By Eero Saarinen For Knoll, 1960s
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in ABCOUDE, UT
Amazing set of 6 Tulip chairs in original brown wool upholstery by renowned designer Eero Saarinen, and manufactured by Knoll International, 1970s This particular set has four swivel...
Metal
Mid-Century Saarinen Tulip Chairs by Knoll - Set of Four
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Raleigh, NC
Authentic set of four vintage tulip dining chairs designed by Eero Saarinen for Knoll circa 1960’s. Each chair is equipped with the original maker’s mark sticker intact. The tulip c...
Aluminum
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
Of the million-plus items on 1stdibs, some seem to have transcended time, looking as fresh today as when they were first produced. The pieces highlighted on our new Iconic Designs page stand out for longevity, functionality and quality of design and manufacture — just the tonic for the present unsettled moment.
