how to tell an original saarinen tulip chair

And it was when they got together that Knoll’s genius for interior decorating and furniture design began to propel the company into its long-held position as one of the foremost, forward-thinking furniture design companies in the world. I wanted to clear up the slum of legs. ‘In any design problem, one should seek the solution in terms of the next largest thing. Everyone else is just trying to knock them off.” With this in mind, we asked Gersh for her expert advice on how to tell authentic Knoll from replica pieces. The base is heavy, made with moulded cast aluminium protected with rilsan. Knock-off designs will not have any of these original markings and will be plain underneath.Nest is proud to only sell licensed original Tulip Chairs and Tulip Armchairs, either fully upholstered or with a seat cushion. Originals are also made of fiberglass, whereas more recent reproductions are probably not.” Signs of use are another important factor. The chair has the smooth lines of modernism and was experimental with materials for its time. We will keep you up-to-date with all of our latest offers, It was at this time that Saarinen and Eames teamed up and were chosen to design furniture for a MoMA exhibition, which ushered in a new era of design.

The original and best Tulip chair if you’re a design snob like me, was designed by Eero Saarinen in 1956. “These have a cast aluminum base whereas many replicas have a metal base that’s not quite as sturdy,” says Gersh. They are stamped with the Knoll logo and have Eero Saarinen's signature engraved on their underside, as seen below. “Office furniture wasn’t this pretty before,” says Gersh.

The Tulip chair was designed by Eero Saarinen in 1955 and 1956 for the Knoll company of New York City. you subscribe, you confirm you have read Nest's Thanks for signing up to Nest. These pieces are teak, but Florence Knoll also produced similar ones in rosewood — both really rich woods that hold up well, but are also very pretty. It was designed primarily as a chair to match the complementary dining table.

It was a way to hide clutter, but also to mask the complexity of things, making the world feel easier to understand and digest.

things design. Knoll became a full partner in the company founded by her husband Hans Knoll, and when he passed away in 1955, “she basically ran the show,” explains Knoll honed her design chops at the Illinois Institute of Technology where she studied under Mies Van Der Rohe and the Cranbrook Academy of Art where she studied with Eliel and Eero Saarinen and Charles and Ray Eames. The Tulip Armchair also comes with the same options.A lot of thought went into producing this chair so that it was not only aesthetically pleasing but also suitable for daily living. I have wanted a Tulip Table for 15 years or more but the price tag is way out of my budget, especially the original Saarinen version. If the problem is a chair, then its solution must be found in the way it relates to the room…’Sign up for our emails and enjoy hearing about all things design. They’re clean, geometric pieces and the grain of the wood is the only thing that gives it more of an organic quality.” The stickers applied to Knoll furniture pieces are a helpful tool in determining the date and authenticity of a particular piece. I can't tell whether this table is Saarinen or Burke. Business, rather than the individual, was everything at that point. They’re still producing the most iconic designs even though Florence Knoll is no longer around. It has a singular flute-like base and a sculptural moulded fibreglass seat reminiscent of the flower it is named after. It’s a more difficult way of manufacturing a piece, so many try to produce them in the most efficient way rather than doing something like this that is better construction and makes a sturdier joint.” Another design element that showcases the care taken to produce high-quality pieces is in the wood used in Knoll credenzas. Star Trek also had the same exact chairs! This is the reason it has a swivel base. “Because it’s cast, originals have one piece of metal whereas knockoffs might have a seam. Also, you would never see screws under the base of an original chair. The Tulip chair was created some years later, but it’s still the epitome of organic design — it’s even named after a flower. you'll be kept firmly in the loop.Subscribe to receive email updates about Nest products, services, offers and events. The top is available in a wide choice of marbles, wood veneers, Knock-off designs will not have any of these original markings and will be plain underneath. How to spot a real Saarinen tulip table I can tell you what you have if you want to email pictures. Take your pick from a range of colours and fabrics, then finish your space with a matching Tulip dining table, coffee table or side table. Made in Italy. Create an account with Nest to keep track of your orders, print copies of your invoices and keep your personal details up-to-date.Finnish architect, sculptor and designer Eero Saarinen is known worldwide for his curvy architectural masterpieces, but his collection of Tulip chairs and tables are what has cemented his name into the design hall of fame.Today we take a look at the man behind the entire Pedestal collection, his inspirations for the range, and how to spot a genuine Tulip design amidst the flurry of fakes.Eero trained as an architect, so he designed the Tulip Chair in terms of its position in a room, rather than by look or shape.