Model 151 Tulip Chair and 152 Stool by Eero Saarinen for Knoll
Eero Saarinen for Knoll Inc. / International
Design: 1957 | Manufactured: 1970s
Designed by Eero Saarinen in 1957 for Knoll International, the Tulip Series stands among the most iconic achievements of modern design. Frustrated by what he called the “slum of legs” beneath traditional furniture, Saarinen sought to create a collection defined by purity of line and unity of form. His solution, a seamless pedestal base supporting an elegantly sculpted seat, redefined the relationship between furniture and space.
Crafted in cast aluminum and fiberglass, the Tulip Series includes chairs, armchairs, and stools, all distinguished by their graceful curves and architectural clarity. Each piece combines sculptural beauty with functional integrity, embodying the optimistic spirit of postwar modernism.
More than seventy years later, Saarinen’s Tulip remains a symbol of innovation and refinement, a design that feels as fresh today as when it first transformed the modern interior.
Measurements of stool: ⌀35 x 42H cm
Condition
The chair and stool are in excellent vintage condition, newly reupholstered in high-quality fabric with a solid and well-preserved frame.Dimensions
W50 x D55 x H80 cm | Seat height 45 cmOrigin
USAFabric
Verner Panton Maharam / Request a sampleMaterial
Cast aluminum. Fiberglass, FabricAbout the designer
Eero Saarinen
Eero Saarinen (1910–1961) was a Finnish-American architect and designer whose visionary work helped define the language of modern design in the mid-20th century. Educated at the Cranbrook Academy of Art alongside contemporaries such as Charles and Ray Eames and Florence Knoll, Saarinen shared a belief in the unity of architecture, furniture, and form. His designs are distinguished by their sculptural clarity and pursuit of organic, flowing shapes that transcend pure function.
From the iconic Tulip Chair and Pedestal Table for Knoll to architectural masterpieces like the TWA Terminal in New York and the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Saarinen’s work bridges art and engineering. His creations embody a timeless elegance, expressive, human, and forward-looking, continuing to inspire architects and designers around the world.
About the manufacturer
Knoll Inc. / International
Founded in 1938 in New York by Hans Knoll, and later joined by Florence Knoll, Knoll International became one of the most influential design companies of the 20th century. Built on the modernist principles of the Bauhaus and the International Style, Knoll redefined how the world furnished its homes and workplaces, bringing together architecture, art, and industrial production in perfect harmony.
Through collaborations with some of the era’s most visionary designers, including Eero Saarinen, Harry Bertoia, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Marcel Breuer, and Florence Knoll herself, the company created a collection that reads like a history of modern design. Each piece was conceived not as a standalone object, but as part of a holistic environment, a “total design” philosophy that continues to shape contemporary interiors.
Today, Knoll remains synonymous with timeless quality and innovation. Its furniture embodies clarity, function, and refined beauty, a lasting testament to the belief that modern design can elevate everyday life.