Knoll ® Saarinen Tulip Chair

About the Designer
Eero Saarinen Finland (1910 - 1961)

Eero Saarinen shared the same birthday as his father, Eliel Saarinen. They emigrated to the United States of America in 1923, when Eero was thirteen. He grew up in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, where his father was a teacher at the Cranbrook Academy of Art and he took courses in sculpture and furniture design there. He had a close relationship with fellow students Charles and Ray Eames, and became good friends with Florence Knoll (née Schust). Beginning in September 1929, he studied sculpture at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris, France. He then went on to study at the Yale School of Architecture, completing his studies in 1934. Subsequently, he toured Europe and North Africa for a year and returned for a year to his native Finland, after which he returned to Cranbrook to work for his father and teach at the academy. He became a naturalized citizen of the U.S. in 1940. Saarinen was recruited by Donal McLaughlin, an architectural school friend from his Yale days, to join the military service in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). Saarinen was assigned to draw illustrations for bomb disassembly manuals and to provide designs for the Situation Room in the White House. Saarinen worked full time for the OSS until 1944. After his father's death in 1950, Saarinen founded his own architect's office, "Eero Saarinen and Associates". Eero Saarinen died of a brain tumor in 1961 at the age of 51

In any design problem, one should seek the solution in terms of the next largest thing, designer Eero Saarinen once said. "If the problem is a chair, then its solution must be found in the way it relates to the room." One glance at the ultra-modern Tulip Chair and you'll instantly think of a place in your home for it. Whether you put four of them around your kitchen table or in your home office, the Tulip Chair is a standout addition to any setting.

The Design
Eero Saarinen might be considered by some to be a purist when it came to his approach towards architecture and interior design. He sought the essential idea and reduced it to the most effective structural solution within an overall unity of design. To that end, he designed the Tulip Chair in 1957 in terms of setting, rather than a particular shape. The Tulip is a single-legged chair made from fiberglass-reinforced resin. With Tulip, Saarinen realized his ideal form of unity: "Every significant piece of furniture from the past has a holistic structure." Saarinen's Tulip Chair won the prestigious Museum of Modern Art Award in 1969, the Federal Award for Industrial Design in 1969 as well as the Design Center Stuttgart Award in 1962. Each authentic Tulip Chair features the KnollStudio® logo and designer signature stamped into the base of the chair. The chair is available black, white or platinum, with arms or without, and comes with a wide variety of fabric options. Additionally, the Tulip Chair is GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified®.

Features at a Glance:

• Design Year: 1957
• Frame: Molded fiberglass with a reinforced, plastic bonded finish
• Base: Cast aluminum in a rilsan coated finish
• Cushion: Removable, with zippered cover and Velcro fastening
• Chair available with either a fixed or swivel base
• Upholstered in your choice of fabric from a wide selection of Knoll textiles and Spinneybeck leathers

Upholstery Options

• Mariner: A plump weave structure brings texture and depth, a solid upholstery fabric well suited for task seating and other classic contract applications. Nylon 100.0%. Backing-Acrylic. Knoll Grade A.
• Vinyl: KnollTextiles Vinyl provides a workhorse upholstery solution in a palette of classic neutrals and primary brights. Cotton (backing) 3.0%, Vinyl (Face) 91.0%, Polyester (Backing) 6.0%. Knoll Grade B
• Classic Boucle: The rich, nubby texture of Classic Bouclé is evocative of traditional hand woven upholstery textiles. Recently recolored, Classic Bouclé is a timeless addition to any interior. Wool 43.0%, Nylon 57.0%. Backing-Acrylic. Knoll Grade B
• Cato: Introduced in 1961, Cato has achieved iconic status among upholstery textiles. Primarily constructed of wool, the exaggerated texture of this pattern recalls the hand weaving tradition. Wool 86.0%, Rayon 14.0%. Backing-Acrylic. Knoll Grade I
• Spencer: A rich epinglé that comes in a range of saturated colors. Wool pile 45.0%, Cotton Ground 55.0%. Finish-mothproof. Knoll Grade G
• Volo: A lightly corrected, aniline Spinneybeck leather. The light correcting process refines the surface of the leather, preparing the material for the reception of the grain enhancement given prior to finishing. Volo receives a special retannage which enriches the leather, tightens the grain and provides a hand and a level of quality superior to those of other corrected leathers. Heavy finish. Chrome tannage. Breathable protective finish. Greenguard Certified. Grade U
• Sabrina Leather: A Spinneybeck full grain leather. This leather provides a smooth, tight grain and suppleness of hand. It is perfect for high-traffic use in places such as office seating or lounge furniture. Medium finish. Chrome tannage. Breathable, protective finish. Greenguard certified. Knoll Grade U
• Ultrasuede: The premier microfiber in the marketplace. Made from 80% recycled materials. Designed for wrapped panel, wallcovering and upholstery applications. Knoll Grade G.

Note: Please call for more upholstery options



Awards:

• Museum of Modern Art Award - 1969
• Federal Award for Industrial Design - 1969
• Design Center Stuttgart Award - 1962

*This product is made to order and thus customer orders cannot be canceled once the products go into production

Dimensions:

• Overall Dimensions: 32" H x 26" W x 23.25" D
• Seat Height: 18"
• Arm Height: 25.38"

Order with Confidence:

• Sustainability Statement: Sustainable design is a key component of Knoll's environmental focus. Knoll's commitment to social responsibility and a healthy environment has prompted the company to further articulate its longstanding environmental programs and, with encouragement and support from colleagues in the industry, Knoll has re-energized its focus on such "green" initiatives as life cycle analysis and LEED® certification. Knoll is proud to have contributed to projects that have received LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.



• The Saarinen Tulip Chair is Greenguard certified.
• Knoll products are guaranteed to be free from defects in materials and workmanship during the applicable warranty period set forth in the Knoll Warranty.
• Should you discover shortly after receiving your Tulip Chair that parts are either damaged or missing, please call us immediately, and we will be happy to send you replacement parts as soon as possible and at no additional cost.
• Each authentic Knoll product is stamped with the KnollStudio® Logo and designer signature and includes a certificate of authenticity.

Note: This quality item is custom made for your order. Unfortunately, this means that orders cannot be cancelled or returned once placed, so please call our trained staff with any questions you may have prior to ordering - we will ensure that you get exactly what you need.