Eero Saarinen (1910–1961) was one of the most visionary architects and furniture designers of the 20th century — a Finnish-American whose sculptural forms challenged the rigid geometry of mainstream modernism and continue to captivate collectors worldwide. His furniture for Knoll Associates, produced from the late 1940s through his untimely death at age 51, remains among the most recognizable and valuable in the mid-century modern canon. This guide covers everything you need to know about collecting authentic vintage Saarinen furniture.
Who Was Eero Saarinen?
Eero Saarinen was born in Finland and emigrated to the United States at age 13 when his father, the celebrated architect Eliel Saarinen, moved the family to Michigan. Eero studied sculpture in Paris and then architecture at Yale, graduating in 1934. He is famous both for his furniture work and for iconic architectural commissions including the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, the TWA Flight Center at JFK Airport, and Dulles International Airport.
His furniture collaboration with Knoll Associates — founded by Hans and Florence Knoll — produced three of the most recognized designs of the postwar era: the Womb Chair, the Tulip Chair and Table, and the No. 71 Chair. Each represented a breakthrough in organic form and manufacturing technique.
The Major Saarinen Furniture Lines
The Womb Chair (Model 70) and Ottoman (Model 74)
Florence Knoll famously asked Saarinen to design "a chair that I can curl up in like a cat." The result, introduced in 1948, was the Womb Chair — one of the most comfortable and visually striking lounge chairs ever made. Its fiberglass shell cradles the body in a wide, enveloping arc, upholstered in fabric or leather, and rests on a thin steel rod base. The matching ottoman completes the set.
Authentic vintage Womb Chairs were produced by Knoll from 1948 onward. Look for the Knoll Associates label on the underside of the seat or the frame. Early examples had different shell curvatures and proportions than later production; the base rod diameter and foot cap design also varied across decades.
Tulip Chair (Model 151) and Tulip Table (Model 172)
Introduced in 1956, the Tulip Collection was Saarinen's most radical achievement in furniture design. His goal was to eliminate what he called "the ugly, confusing, unrestful world that is underneath chairs and tables" — the tangle of legs. The Tulip chair features a single pedestal base and an upholstered fiberglass seat shell. The Tulip table has the same pedestal base in aluminum with a marble, laminate, or wood top.
An important note: due to manufacturing limitations in the 1950s, the pedestal base is cast aluminum rather than fiberglass — the entire piece cannot be made from one material, despite Saarinen's ambition. This is often misunderstood. Authentic Knoll Tulip chairs have an aluminum base with a fiberglass shell; the base is typically white or black powder-coated. Beware of all-plastic pedestal chairs — these are not Saarinen/Knoll originals.
No. 71 Chair (Grasshopper Chair)
The Grasshopper Chair (Model 61), designed in 1946 with Charles Eames for the Museum of Modern Art's "Organic Design in Home Furnishings" competition, was among Saarinen's earliest commercial pieces for Knoll. It features a distinctive bent plywood frame with upholstered seat and back, its arms flowing continuously into the legs like a grasshopper's limbs. Less widely known than the Womb or Tulip, the Grasshopper is increasingly collectible.
Executive and Conference Chairs
Saarinen also designed a range of executive and conference seating for Knoll in the early 1950s, including the swivel base executive chair (Model 148) and the Pedestal executive chair, which predated the Tulip collection. These are occasionally found in office cleanouts and estate sales and are undervalued relative to the Womb and Tulip lines.
How to Identify Authentic Vintage Saarinen Furniture
- Knoll label: All original pieces bear a Knoll Associates or Knoll International label. Look for it under the seat, on the base, or on the underside of table tops. Labels evolved from paper to foil to embossed metal over the decades.
- Base material: Tulip chair and table bases are cast aluminum, not plastic or fiberglass. The base should feel heavy and have the texture of cast metal, not molded plastic.
- Shell quality: The Womb Chair and Tulip seat shells are fiberglass. They should have subtle fiber texture visible in strong light, not the uniform gloss of injection-molded polypropylene.
- Weld quality: On the Womb Chair's rod base, welds should be clean and professional. Reproductions often have rougher weld points and thinner rod diameters.
- Cushion attachment: On the Womb Chair, upholstery attaches to the shell with specific hardware. On authentic pieces this is tidy and precisely executed.
Knoll Then and Now: Vintage vs. Current Production
Knoll continues to produce all major Saarinen designs today — the Womb Chair, Tulip collection, and Grasshopper Chair remain in their catalog. Current Knoll production is high quality but not "vintage." True vintage pieces date from Saarinen's lifetime (pre-1961) or the following decades of Knoll production through the 1970s–1980s.
The distinction matters for collectors: early production pieces, particularly from the 1950s and 1960s, command significant premiums. Fiberglass shell quality, original upholstery fabric, and documentation of provenance all contribute to value.
What to Look for When Buying Vintage Saarinen
Condition of the shell is paramount — cracks or delamination in the fiberglass significantly reduce value and are difficult to repair invisibly. The aluminum Tulip bases are durable but can dent or lose their original finish; refinishing is common and generally accepted in the market. Original upholstery in good condition is a plus but most buyers expect to reupholster, so fabric condition is secondary to shell and base integrity.
Further Reading
- Florence Knoll Furniture Collector's Guide
- Warren Platner Furniture Guide
- Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs Guide
- How to Authenticate Vintage MCM Furniture
- Charles & Ray Eames Furniture Collector's Guide
Frequently Asked Questions About Eero Saarinen Furniture
Is the Tulip Chair base fiberglass or aluminum?
The Tulip Chair pedestal base is cast aluminum, not fiberglass. Saarinen wanted to make the entire chair from one material, but 1950s manufacturing technology couldn't produce a fiberglass pedestal strong enough to support weight. The seat shell is fiberglass; the base is aluminum. This is true of all authentic Knoll Tulip chairs.
How do I identify a real Knoll Saarinen chair?
Look for the Knoll Associates or Knoll International label — On Tulip chairs, check under the seat shell. On Womb Chairs, look under the seat or on the base. Also examine the base material — authentic Tulip bases are heavy cast aluminum, not lightweight plastic.
What is the Womb Chair made of?
The Womb Chair seat shell is fiberglass, upholstered in fabric or leather and attached with specific hardware. The base is welded steel rods finished in chrome or painted black or white. The overall construction is deliberately organic and enveloping, designed to let the sitter relax in multiple positions.
Are Saarinen Tulip chairs still made today?
Yes — Knoll continues to produce the Tulip chair, table, and other Saarinen designs. Current production is high-quality but not "vintage." Authentic vintage pieces from the 1950s–1980s are more collectible and typically more valuable than current production.
What makes the Womb Chair valuable?
Early Knoll production Womb Chairs from the 1950s and 1960s are the most valuable, particularly in original upholstery. Intact fiberglass shells without cracks or delamination, properly functioning steel rod bases, and documented Knoll provenance all contribute to value. The chair's combination of sculptural beauty and practical comfort has kept demand consistently strong for over 70 years.