Knoll, NO RESERVE PRICE - Eero Saarinen - Table - Tulip table - Wood, Aluminium





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€1,300 | ||
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Tulip table designed by Eero Saarinen and manufactured by Knoll International in Italy, with a 137 cm round white laminate top and central aluminium pedestal, 72 cm high, dating from 1980–1990, in good used condition.
Description from the seller
Icon of American Modernism: Tulip Table (Diameter 137 cm) – Design by Eero Saarinen – Original Knoll International Production
We present at auction an absolute masterpiece in the history of 20th-century design: the famous Tulip table (from the historic Pedestal Collection), conceived in 1955 by architectural genius Eero Saarinen and produced by Knoll International. Offered in its most iconic and timeless configuration with a white-lacquered round top and central pedestal, this example boasts a generous 137 cm diameter, ideal for comfortably accommodating 6 to 8 people, combining maximum sociability with dramatic presence.
Design and History: The Elimination of the "Grove of Legs"
The Tulip project arose from a revolutionary formal and functional intuition for the era:
Pure Sculptural Essentialism: Saarinen wanted to eliminate what he called the "tangle of legs" of traditional tables, a visual confusion he found unpleasant. He thus created the famous central pedestal stem in white-lacquered cast aluminum that flows smoothly like a flower stem to support the top.
Integration with Space: The Pedestal design frees the space underneath, allowing extreme freedom of movement for guests' legs and for the arrangement of chairs.
Auction Lot Conditions: Impeccable Conservational State
- The auctioned specimen presents general use in excellent condition:
- White Laminated Top (137 cm): The round top in lacquered laminate is in excellent, virtually perfect condition, free of scratches, stains, or visible defects.
- Pedestal and Structure: The solid central cast aluminum base in white is perfectly stable and robust, with only very slight, age-appropriate signs of use.
- Authenticity Guaranteed: The originality and Knoll lineage are attested by the Knoll International logo embossed in relief directly in the aluminum casting under the base.
Dimensions and Capacity
Diameter (Width x Depth): 137 cm
Height: 72 cm
Recommended Capacity: 6 - 8 place settings (thanks to the absence of perimeter legs, it allows maximum seating flexibility).
The Designer: Eero Saarinen
Eero Saarinen (1910-1961), Finnish-American architect and designer, was a prominent figure of Organic Modernism. Trained at Cranbrook alongside Charles Eames and Florence Knoll, he designed monumental architectural works such as the Gateway Arch in St. Louis and the TWA Terminal at JFK Airport in New York, applying the same sculptural purity to his furniture projects.
The Manufacturer: Knoll International
Founded in 1938 by Hans and Florence Knoll, the American company is a global pillar of high-end industrial design. Knoll has long held the exclusive rights to produce Saarinen's Pedestal collection, ensuring engineering precision and museum-quality craftsmanship.
Shipping and Insurance
Our company ORVETT includes shipping insurance in the rates indicated for Italy and Europe. For overseas shipping, we will prepare a personalized quote after the auction concludes based on the final destination of the lot.
Seller's Story
Icon of American Modernism: Tulip Table (Diameter 137 cm) – Design by Eero Saarinen – Original Knoll International Production
We present at auction an absolute masterpiece in the history of 20th-century design: the famous Tulip table (from the historic Pedestal Collection), conceived in 1955 by architectural genius Eero Saarinen and produced by Knoll International. Offered in its most iconic and timeless configuration with a white-lacquered round top and central pedestal, this example boasts a generous 137 cm diameter, ideal for comfortably accommodating 6 to 8 people, combining maximum sociability with dramatic presence.
Design and History: The Elimination of the "Grove of Legs"
The Tulip project arose from a revolutionary formal and functional intuition for the era:
Pure Sculptural Essentialism: Saarinen wanted to eliminate what he called the "tangle of legs" of traditional tables, a visual confusion he found unpleasant. He thus created the famous central pedestal stem in white-lacquered cast aluminum that flows smoothly like a flower stem to support the top.
Integration with Space: The Pedestal design frees the space underneath, allowing extreme freedom of movement for guests' legs and for the arrangement of chairs.
Auction Lot Conditions: Impeccable Conservational State
- The auctioned specimen presents general use in excellent condition:
- White Laminated Top (137 cm): The round top in lacquered laminate is in excellent, virtually perfect condition, free of scratches, stains, or visible defects.
- Pedestal and Structure: The solid central cast aluminum base in white is perfectly stable and robust, with only very slight, age-appropriate signs of use.
- Authenticity Guaranteed: The originality and Knoll lineage are attested by the Knoll International logo embossed in relief directly in the aluminum casting under the base.
Dimensions and Capacity
Diameter (Width x Depth): 137 cm
Height: 72 cm
Recommended Capacity: 6 - 8 place settings (thanks to the absence of perimeter legs, it allows maximum seating flexibility).
The Designer: Eero Saarinen
Eero Saarinen (1910-1961), Finnish-American architect and designer, was a prominent figure of Organic Modernism. Trained at Cranbrook alongside Charles Eames and Florence Knoll, he designed monumental architectural works such as the Gateway Arch in St. Louis and the TWA Terminal at JFK Airport in New York, applying the same sculptural purity to his furniture projects.
The Manufacturer: Knoll International
Founded in 1938 by Hans and Florence Knoll, the American company is a global pillar of high-end industrial design. Knoll has long held the exclusive rights to produce Saarinen's Pedestal collection, ensuring engineering precision and museum-quality craftsmanship.
Shipping and Insurance
Our company ORVETT includes shipping insurance in the rates indicated for Italy and Europe. For overseas shipping, we will prepare a personalized quote after the auction concludes based on the final destination of the lot.

