Eero Saarinen, for Knoll

EERO SAARINEN (Kirkkonummi, Finland, 1910 – Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1961) for KNOLL INTERNATIONAL.
“Tulip” dining table, Pedestal series.
Designed in 1957. Period piece, Italy, 1960s.
Carrara marble and white-lacquered cast aluminum.
Marked “KNOLL INTERNATIONAL 172-173” on the base.
In good condition. Shows slight signs of use, minor scuffs, and isolated chips in the lacquer on the base.
Measurements: 72.5 cm high x 120 cm in diameter.

The Pedestal series is one of Eero Saarinen’s most influential contributions to 20th-century furniture. It originated from the designer’s desire to eliminate the complex “tangle of legs” found in traditional tables and chairs and replace it with a unified, clean, and sculptural form. After several years of research and model development, Saarinen solved the problem with a single central support, transforming a functional issue into one of the most recognizable images of modern design.

The strength of the design lies precisely in the visual continuity between the base and the tabletop. The pedestal tapers gradually, creating a fluid transition that eliminates any sense of a conventional assembly. The wide circular tabletop thus appears suspended above a base with an organic profile, while the gently beveled edge visually reduces its thickness. The combination of this essential geometry and the natural veining of the marble introduces a textural counterpoint that prevents the structure from feeling overly cold and reinforces the piece’s sculptural character.

Eero Saarinen was one of the leading figures in postwar American architecture and design. Trained in sculpture and architecture, he worked closely with Florence Knoll and created some of his most iconic designs for the firm, including the Womb Chair and the Pedestal series. His pursuit of unified and organic forms was also evident in architectural works such as the TWA Flight Center in New York and the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. His furniture is represented in major international collections, including the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.