Saarinen

Eero Saarinen for Knoll

Eero Saarinen was born in Finland in 1910 to architect Eliel Saarinen and textile artist Loja Saarinen. He studied sculpture in Paris and architecture at Yale before returning to Cranbrook, where he met Florence Knoll and collaborated with Charles Eames on furniture design. When Florence joined Knoll in the 1940s, she invited Saarinen to design for the company.

The Womb Chair (1948) was designed at Florence Knoll's request for seating that would cradle the body in a generous upholstered shell. The Tulip Chair (1956) eliminated what Saarinen called the "slum of the legs" by replacing the four-leg base with a single cast aluminium pedestal. The Saarinen table program extends the same pedestal across round and oval formats at coffee, side, dining, and conference heights. Saarinen was also a significant architect: the Dulles International Airport, the Gateway Arch, and the TWA Terminal at JFK are among his major projects.

Modern Planet by Gabriel Ross is an authorized Knoll retailer. Shop the Saarinen collection at Modern Planet, including the Womb Chair and Ottoman, Tulip chairs and stools, and the full Saarinen table range. Nationwide delivery.

Is the Saarinen Womb Chair still made by Knoll?

Yes. The Womb Chair has been in continuous production since 1948, produced to the original specifications with a fibreglass shell and steel rod base.

What is the Saarinen Tulip Chair made of?

The Tulip Chair uses a cast aluminium pedestal base with a fibreglass seat shell. Seat cushions are upholstered in fabric or leather.