Model 71 Dining Chair by Eero Saarinen for Knoll
Eero Saarinen for Knoll Inc. / International
Design: 1950 | Manufactured: 1980s
Who doesn’t feel like a boss in this Saarinen-designed chair? For over seventy years, the Model 71 Dining Chair has been a favourite in both executive boardrooms and refined residential interiors. Designed in 1950 by Eero Saarinen for Knoll International, this timeless icon of mid-century design continues to elevate any space with its sculptural elegance and understated sophistication.
Saarinen sought to eliminate visual clutter, creating a chair that flows seamlessly from seat to backrest in one continuous, organic line. The result is a design that feels sculpted rather than constructed, soft in silhouette yet grounded in architectural precision.
This particular example features its original chromed steel base and has been reupholstered in a premium multicolour mohair, alpaca and wool fabric by Pierre Frey, with an all-new foam interior for exceptional comfort and longevity. The delicate richness of the fabric, combined with the chair’s generous curves and integrated armrests, ensures long and comfortable dinners in both style and ease.
Condition
The chair is in excellent vintage condition, newly reupholstered in high-quality fabric with a solid and well-preserved frame.Dimensions
W68 x D60 x H78 cm | Seat height 43 cmOrigin
USAFabric
Premium Pierre Frey Mohair, Alpaca and Wool Fabric / Request a sampleMaterial
Chrome, 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.