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 number of people have never really felt comfortable and secure since they left the womb,” the designer said of his Womb chair, which began production in 1948. “The chair is an attempt to rectify this maladjustment in our civilization.”
The Womb chair, like many other masterpieces of modernist design, is genius in its simplicity. Comprised of few materials, the chair consists of a fabric-wrapped, molded fiberglass bucket set atop legs of tubular steel. The skeletal look of the frame keeps the chair from appearing bulky despite the seat’s oversized silhouette, which makes it inviting to people of all sizes.
"There seemed to be a need for a large and really comfortable chair to take the place of the old overstuffed chair,” Saarinen once said of his concept.
Indeed, despite being indisputably comfortable, the Womb doesn’t require an abundance of padding and tufting — instead, its comfort owes to a perfectly shaped shell of fiberglass. This new approach to ergonomics both reflected Saarinen’s love of streamlined forms and echoed the kind of experimental work being done by American designers Charles and Ray Eames, who, like Florence Knoll, were friends he'd made at Cranbrook Academy of Art while he taught there.
It didn’t take long for the chair to become a cultural phenomenon; in the decade following its release, it appeared in a Coca-Cola commercial, a New Yorker cartoon and in a Norman Rockwell painting on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post. Today, Knoll offers the seat in some 15 upholstery options, and when Saarinen’s famous TWA terminal reopened as a hotel in 2019, Womb chairs featured prominently in the guest rooms, continuing the legacy of this classic design.
$17,800 / set
Eero Saarinen Womb Chair and Ottoman in Zebra
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
We have an incredible collection of vintage chairs and design icons waiting for a new life. Please allow 10-12 weeks for re-upholstery and restoration of a vintage Womb Chair and Ott...
Zebra Hide
Forsyth Bespoke Eero Saarinen Womb Chair and Ottoman in Shearling
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
Lead Time: Please allow 10 to 12 weeks to restore a vintage Womb Chair and Ottoman in Shearling. "Eero Saarinen designed the groundbreaking Wom...
Sheepskin
$16,800 / item
Forsyth Bespoke Eero Saarinen Womb Chair in Zebra
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
A favorite of the Forsyth design team! We have an incredible collection of vintage chairs and design icons waiting for a new life. Our upcycled Womb Chairs are some of our most popul...
Zebra Hide
Forsyth Bespoke Eero Saarinen Womb Chair and Ottoman in California Sheepskin
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
A favourite of the Forsyth design team! We have an incredible collection of vintage chairs and design icons waiting for a new life. Our upcylced womb chairs are some of our most pop...
Sheepskin
Forsyth Bespoke Eero Saarinen Womb Chair and Ottoman in Patagonia Shearling
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
A favourite of the Forsyth design team! We have an incredible collection of vintage chairs and design icons waiting for a new life. Our upcycled womb chairs are some of our most p...
Sheepskin
Forsyth Bespoke Eero Saarinen Womb Chair and Ottoman in Shearling
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
Lead Time: Please allow 10 to 12 weeks to restore a vintage Womb Chair and Ottoman in Shearling. "Eero Saarinen designed the groundbreaking Wom...
Sheepskin
1966 Eero Saarinen for Knoll Womb Chair w/newer Ottoman Reupholstered
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A wonderful early vintage Eero Saarinen for Knoll Womb Chair. The chair dates from 1966. We had it upholstered and it is stamped with the date on the shell of 1966. We have had the c...
Wool
Eero Saarinen for Knoll Mid Century Womb Lounge Chairs with Ottomans - Pair
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Eero Saarinen for Knoll Mid Century Womb Lounge Chairs with Ottomans - Pair Each chair measures: 39 wide x 35 deep x 36 high, with a seat height of 17.5 inches and arm height/chair ...
Metal
Black Leather Eero Saarinen for Knoll Womb Chair and Ottoman
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A beautiful black leather Eero Saarinen for Knoll Womb Chair and Ottoman. Both pieces retain their original labels. The chairs have seen very light use. There are some creases to the...
Steel
Eero Saarinen for Knoll Mid Century Womb Chair with Ottoman
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Eero Saarinen for Knoll Mid Century Womb Chair with Ottoman The chair measures: 39.25 wide x 35 deep x 35.5 high, with a seat height of 17 inches and arm height/chair clearance of 2...
Metal
Forsyth Bespoke Eero Saarinen Womb Chair and Ottoman in Texas Sheepskin
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
A favorite of the Forsyth design team! We have an incredible collection of vintage chairs and design icons waiting for a new life. Our upcycled womb chairs are some of our most p...
Sheepskin
Forsyth Bespoke Womb Chair and Ottoman in New Zealand Sheepskin, Smokey Taupe
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
A favorite of the Forsyth design team! We have an incredible collection of vintage chairs and design icons waiting for a new life. Our upcycled womb chairs are some of our most po...
Sheepskin
Forsyth Eero Saarinen Womb Chair and Ottoman in Dedar Orsetto
By Eero Saarinen
Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
A favorite of the Forsyth design team! In stock, ready to ship. “Eero Saarinen designed the groundbreaking Womb Chair at Florence Knoll's request for ‘a chair that was like a bask...
Fabric
Forsyth Bespoke Eero Saarinen Womb Chair and Pouf Ottoman in Patagonia Shearling
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
A favourite of the Forsyth design team! We have an incredible collection of vintage chairs and design icons waiting for a new life. Our upcycled Womb chairs are some of our most p...
Sheepskin
Eero Saarinen for Knoll Mid Century Womb Chairs - Pair
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Eero Saarinen for Knoll Mid Century Womb Chairs - Pair Each chair measures: 41 wide x 37 deep x 37.5 high, with a seat height of 17 and arm height/chair clearance of 21.75 inches E...
Metal
Eero Saarinen Womb Chair for Knoll Upholstered in Hand Sewn Champagne Alpaca
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Timeless and iconic mid century modern Womb chair designed in 1948 by Eero Saarinen in response to Florence Knoll's request for a comfortable chair that felt like a basket of pillows...
Chrome
Luxurious Soft Womb Chair, by Saarinen for Knoll Switzerland Production, 1960s
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Renens, CH
The Womb Chair was designed by Eero Saarinen in 1946 at the request of Florence Knoll, who wanted a chair that would provide complete comfort: “like a basket full of pillows.” Saarin...
Metal
Forsyth Bespoke Eero Saarinen Womb Chair and Ottoman in Australian Sheepskin
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
A favourite of the Forsyth design team! We have an incredible collection of vintage chairs and design icons waiting for a new life. Our upcycled womb chairs are some of our most popular designs. This womb chair and ottoman will be made to order with the finest Australian sheepskins...
Sheepskin
Forsyth Bespoke Eero Saarinen Womb Chair and Ottoman in Wavy Sheepskin
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
Lead Time: Please allow 10 to 12 weeks to restore a vintage Womb Chair and Ottoman in our wavy New Zealand sheepskin "Eero Saarinen designed the groundbreaking Womb chair at Flore...
Chrome
Forsyth Bespoke Eero Saarinen Womb Chair and Ottoman in Suede
By Eero Saarinen
Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
A favorite of the Forsyth design team! “Eero Saarinen designed the groundbreaking Womb Chair at Florence Knoll's request for ‘a chair that was like a basket full of pillows - somet...
Chrome
Forsyth Bespoke Womb Chair and Ottoman in New Zealand Sheepskin, Ivory
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
A favorite of the Forsyth design team! We have an incredible collection of vintage chairs and design icons waiting for a new life. Our upcycled womb chairs are some of our most po...
Sheepskin
Set of Two beige Eero Saarinen Womb Chair and Ottoman for Knoll, USA, 1960s
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of two Early Eero Saarinen womb chairs and ottoman for Knoll, USA - 1960s. Newly upholstered in a Knoll fabric. The measurements giv...
Metal
Forsyth Bespoke Eero Saarinen Womb Chair in Australian Sheepskin
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
We have an incredible collection of vintage chairs and design icons waiting for a new life. Our upcylced womb chairs are some of our most popular designs. This womb chair will be made to order with the finest Australian sheepskins...
Sheepskin
Womb Chair & Ottoman in Performance Gray Chenille by Eero Saarinen for Knoll
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Stamford, CT
Good design is often born from a desire to challenge the norm. In the late 1940s, friends and collaborators Florence Knoll and Eero Saarinen found themselves disillusioned by the rig...
Metal, Chrome
Eero Saarinen for Knoll Womb Chair in Pierre Frey Boucle'
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Dallas, TX
The iconic Eero Saarinen for Knoll Womb Chair, newly upholstered in an exquisite bouclé with black frame.
Metal
Forsyth Eero Saarinen Womb Chair and Ottoman in Dedar Karakorum
By Eero Saarinen
Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
A favorite of the Forsyth design team! We collected this beauty for its icon status. “Eero Saarinen designed the groundbreaking Womb Chair at Florence Knoll's request for ‘a chair t...
Fabric
Forsyth Bespoke Eero Saarinen Womb Chair and Ottoman in Dedar Boucle
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
Lead Time: Please allow 10 to 12 weeks to restore a vintage Womb Chair and Ottoman in Dedar Boucle. "Eero Saarinen designed the groundbreaking Womb cha...
Chrome
Eero Saarinen Womb Chair in Charcoal Grey Boucle Wooly Fabric
By Eero Saarinen
Located in Saint Louis, US
Sink into effortless comfort with the iconic Eero Saarinen Womb Chair, reimagined in luxurious charcoal grey boucle. Perfectly reupholstered with a plush feather and foam insert, thi...
Bouclé
$3,960Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 31.25 in W 35 in D 34 in
Eero Saarinen Womb Chair & Ottoman Medium in Alexander Girard Quatrefoil Fabric
By Eero Saarinen
Located in Seattle, WA
One of the most iconic chair designs of the 20th century, Eero Saarinen designed this lounge chair for Florence Knoll at the request of “a chair that was like a basket full of pillow...
Fabric, Fiberglass
$5,000Sale Price|26% Off
H 35.75 in W 39.5 in D 32 in
Early Eero Saarinen for Knoll Womb Chair and Ottoman Re-upholstered
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A wonderfully redone vintage 1960’s Eero Saarinen for Knoll Womb chair and ottoman. It has been reupholstered in a beautiful Knoll fabric designed by Nick Cave called Garden Vert. Fr...
Wool
Eero Saarinen Womb Chair and Ottoman, Knoll, USA, 1950s
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
An early production Eero Saarinen womb chair and ottoman, made by Knoll, USA, 1950s. Newly upholstered in luxurious pure Alpaca fabric (brown / grey) with a structure of fibreglass, black enameled steel frames and first edition feet / glides. Fast shipping worldwide. When asked by Florence Knoll to design 'a chair that was like a basket full of cushions - something she could really curl up in', Eero Saarinen produced the Womb chair...
Steel
$4,200
H 36.5 in W 39.25 in D 33 in
Early Production Eero Saarinen for Knoll Womb Chair / Classic Modern Design
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Buffalo, NY
Early Production Eero Saarinen for Knoll Womb Chair / Classic Mid Century Modern Design,, Chair in "as is" original condition.. Perfect candidate for a re-do.. Can be fully ,professi...
Iron
$5,500
H 36.5 in W 40 in D 34 in
C. 2010 Eero Saarinen Full-Size Womb Chair & Ottoman in Crimson Red Boucle
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an original Womb Lounge Chair and Ottoman, originally designed by Eero Saarinen for Florence Knoll and Knoll Associates in 1948. This particular example was manufactured by K...
Steel
Womb Chair + Ottoman by Eero Saarinen for Knoll in Houndstooth
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 1975. Price is for the set. Contact us if you’d like to purchase a single item. Classic womb chair and ottoman, reupholstered in houndstooth. Ottoman 24L 20W 15H
Fabric
$12,162 / set
H 35.44 in W 38.19 in D 35.44 in
Rare Early Eero Saarinen Womb Chair and Ottoman, Knoll, USA, 1950s
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
A rare early production Eero Saarinen womb chairsand ottoman, made by Knoll, USA, 1950s. Fibreglass, black enameled steel frames and first edition feet / glides. Newly upholstered i...
Steel
$4,000
H 36.75 in W 40.25 in D 36.25 in
2023 Eero Saarinen for Knoll Womb Lounge Chair in Purple Fabric
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Womb Lounge Chair, designed by Eero Saarinen for Florence Knoll and Knoll Associates in 1948. This particular example was manufactured by Knoll in the USA in 2023. The piec...
Steel
$20,500 / set
H 35.44 in W 38.19 in D 38.19 in
Set of Two beige Eero Saarinen Womb Chair and Ottoman for Knoll, USA, 1960s
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of two Early Eero Saarinen womb chairs and ottoman for Knoll, USA - 1960s. Newly upholstered in a Knoll fabric. The measurements giv...
Metal
$9,047 / set
H 34.26 in W 37.41 in D 34.26 in
Eero Saarinen - Lounge Sessel "Womb" Knoll International, 1960er
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Rosendahl, DE
Womb Lounge Chair with ottoman by Knoll International, designed by Eero Saarinen and produced in the 1960s. This iconic chair is renowned for its organic shapes and unparalleled comf...
Steel
$15,595 / set
H 36 in W 39 in D 35 in
Eero Saarinen for Knoll Mid Century Womb Lounge Chairs with Ottomans - Pair
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Eero Saarinen for Knoll Mid Century Womb Lounge Chairs with Ottomans - Pair Each chair measures: 39 wide x 35 deep x 36 high, with a seat height of 17.5 inches and arm height/chair ...
Metal
$9,500
H 36.25 in W 39.5 in D 35 in
Vintage "Womb" White Bouclé Chair and Ottoman by Eero Saarinen for Knoll
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Wonderful vintage “womb” bouclé chair and ottoman designed by Eero Saarinen for Knoll in the United States, early 1940s. This chair has a modern design and could be considered even a...
Chrome
Eero Saarinen Womb Chair by Knoll
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Jensen Beach, FL
Iconic Womb chair designed by Eero Saarinen.
Chrome
Eero Saarinen for Knoll Womb Chair and Ottoman in Red Boucle
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Dallas, TX
Experience unparalleled comfort and design with Eero Saarinen's iconic Womb Chair with Ottoman. This 20th-century masterpiece boasts a super soft texture that elevates any space. Ama...
Steel
Sold
H 36.25 in W 39.5 in D 34.5 in
1960s Knoll Womb Chair and Ottoman Designed by Eero Saarinen Mid Century Modern
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Virginia Beach, VA
A 1960's yellow Knoll womb chair and ottoman designed by Eero Saarinen for Knoll. Reupholstered in the 1990s in a yellow microfiber fabric. This chair is unmarked but guaranteed auth...
Chrome
Sold
H 36 in W 39 in D 32 in L 36 in
Early Production Saarinen Knoll Womb Chair & Ottoman Reupholstered LIC Label
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A wonderful early production Eero Saarinen Knoll Womb Chair and ottoman that we just recently had reupholstered. the fabric we chose is a Knoll Studios “Feeling Plaid” which is 55% R...
Steel
Sold
H 36 in W 40.5 in D 35 in
Late 1950s 2nd Gen Eero Saarinen for Knoll Womb Chair with Ottoman in Teal
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Virginia Beach, VA
A vintage womb chair and ottoman designed by Eero Saarinen for Knoll. Reupholstered in a teal maharam fabric, called Maharam Beck Applachian green blue wool. The fabric is 78% wool b...
Iron
Eero Saarinen for Knoll Womb Lounge Chair in mauve-gray Fabric
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in The Hague, NL
Womb Lounge Chair by Eero Saarinen for Knoll, USA, 1990s Designed by Eero Saarinen in 1948 for Florence Knoll and Knoll Associates, this iconic Womb Chair exemplifies mid-century mo...
Chrome
Eero Saarinen for Knoll Womb Chair and Ottoman in a red Boucle
By Eero Saarinen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Eero Saarinen for Knoll womb Chair and Ottoman in a red Boucle Fabric. This example is 20 years old and very clean! Matching Ottoman is 26" x 20". Probably the most comfortable mi...
Chrome
Sold
H 36.5 in W 41 in D 30 in
Eero Saarinen for Knoll Womb Chair newly reupholstered in a Rivington Charcoal
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Eero Saarinen for Knoll womb Chair newly reupholstered in a Rivington Charcoal Fabric. Chrome frame and Original label. Truly one of the most comfortable chairs out there!
Chrome
1st Series of the Womb Chair by Ero Saarinen, Knoll, ca. 1948
By Eero Saarinen
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
The Womb Chair stands as one of the most celebrated icons of 20th-century design, born from the collaboration between Eero Saarinen, Charles Eames, and Florence Knoll. Conceived in 1...
Metal
Sold
H 37 in W 40 in D 34 in
Early Womb Chair & Ottoman in Chocolate Mohair by Eero Saarinen for Knoll
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Stamford, CT
Good design is often born from a desire to challenge the norm. In the late 1940s, friends and collaborators Florence Knoll and Eero Saarinen found themselves disillusioned by the rig...
Enamel
1970 Knoll Womb Chair Green Wool
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Virginia Beach, VA
A vintage womb chair and ottoman designed by Eero Saarinen for Knoll. Reupholstered in a thick nubby textured wool blend. This fabric was deadstock from Vladimir Kagan’s estate and i...
Chrome
Sold
H 35.5 in W 40.5 in D 37 in
Euro Saarinen Womb Chair & Ottoman redone in Anni Albers Knoll Eclat Weave
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A stunning Eero Saarinen Womb chair and ottoman for Knoll redone in a Knoll Eclat Tangeine fabric which is an Anni Albers Iconic 1974 design translated into a weave in 2007. Eclat ...
Steel
Modern icons are showing up in gracefully layered dining nooks, living rooms and lounges — proof that great design only gets better with context.
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
Maggie and Anne Genovese, of Forsyth, teamed up with fashion designer Nikki Kule to reimagine some classic pieces.