"Pedestal" Armchair and Seat Cushion
Decorative Arts and Design
Taking full advantage of pliable fiberglass, the Pedestal armchair’s flowing lines create a unified design statement that has led to its being nicknamed the “Tulip” chair. It is the culmination of Saarinen’s experiments with molded shell forms, begun in 1940 in a collaboration with Charles Eames. The chair the two designed that year for The Museum of Modern Art’s Organic Design in Home Furnishings exhibition won an award and set the stage for innovative mid-century furniture design.
MEDIUM
Plastic reinforced with fiberglass, wool
DATES
Designed 1956; Manufactured ca. 1970
DIMENSIONS
32 x 25 1/2 x 23 in. (81.3 x 64.8 x 58.4 cm)
(show scale)
MARKINGS
Printed rectangular paper label afixed to seat interior, below cushion: Knoll International / 320 PARK Avenue / New york, NY 10022 (logo, capital "K" in a red circle).
SIGNATURE
no signature
INSCRIPTIONS
no inscriptions
ACCESSION NUMBER
78.128.7
CREDIT LINE
Gift of Knoll International, Inc.
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
White plastic reinforced with fiberglass molded into a tulip-shaped armchair with pedestal; seat cushion of latex foam rubber covered in red wool. Slightly curved seat bottom rises to arm rests and (higher) seat back; top of back is slightly scooped then slopes down to arm rests. Edges rolled over, extended further at sides to form arm rests. The seat is supported by a tapered, attenuated cylinder that continues into a wide flat circular base. Seat and base are two separately molded pieces attached with six bolts. The C-shaped, detachable seat cushion is attached beneath by two velcro strips.
CONDITION: Very good. Nick to proper right edge of arm and to proper left edge of seat. See condition report in object file.
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Eero Saarinen (American, born Finland, 1910–1961). "Pedestal" Armchair and Seat Cushion, Designed 1956; Manufactured ca. 1970. Plastic reinforced with fiberglass, wool, 32 x 25 1/2 x 23 in. (81.3 x 64.8 x 58.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Knoll International, Inc., 78.128.7. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 78.128.7_view3_IMLS_SL2.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 78.128.7_view3_IMLS_SL2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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