Tulip Chairs

Vintage tulip chairs from the 1960s through 1980s – single pedestal designs that got rid of the tangle of legs under tables and chairs. While Eero Saarinen’s 1956 design for Knoll made the concept famous, designers across Europe created their own interpretations of the tulip chair throughout the following decades.

Each chair here has been professionally restored in our Devon workshop. Fibreglass and moulded plastic shells need careful assessment after 50+ years – these materials can become brittle, develop cracks, or show stress marks. Cast aluminium or moulded plastic bases are checked for stability. Original cushions stay if they’re sound; when we replace them, we’re transparent about it.

What defines tulip chairs:

The single pedestal base creating that distinctive tulip silhouette. Moulded shell seats – whether fibreglass, ABS plastic, or other composites – that flow organically into the stem. The Space Age optimism about new materials and manufacturing techniques that made these possible. Some by known designers like Saarinen and Italian makers like Rudi Bonzanini, others by anonymous manufacturers catching the spirit of the times.

You’ll find variation across makers and eras. Knoll-produced Saarinen originals with cast aluminium bases and quality fibreglass shells. Italian designs from the 1960s-70s with more sculptural, organic forms. Unlicensed copies ranging from decent quality to frankly cheap – and we’re honest about which is which. Colours from classic white to period oranges, reds, blacks, and earth tones. Some with arms (armchair versions), most without.

Authentication and quality:

High-end manufacturers like Knoll typically stamped or labeled their chairs – look underneath the seat. Italian makers sometimes did too, though labels often disappear after decades. Quality differences are obvious once you know what to look for: base weight and finish, shell thickness and moulding quality, how the shell attaches to the base, overall proportions.

We identify makers where possible from construction details, material choices, and design features. If it’s a Knoll original, we’ll tell you. If it’s a quality Italian piece by a known designer, you’ll know. If it’s an unlicensed copy – and some of these aren’t bad – we’re upfront about that.

Condition considerations:

Fibreglass can develop hairline cracks, particularly around stress points where the shell meets the base. Surface crazing, scratches, and UV damage are common on 50+ year old plastics. Bases can show wear, pitting, or need refinishing. We’re transparent about all of it – if there are repairs, if a base has been refinished, if cushions are replacements – you’ll know before you buy.

These come from house clearances and sales across Southwest England. They’ve sat at dining tables, in offices, and design-conscious homes since the 1960s. The tulip chair concept hasn’t dated because it was radical enough when Saarinen designed it that it still looks modern now.