Beautiful Things Can Be Created Where Vision & Technology Intersect
Tulip table with chairs
In the middle of the last century huge advances were made in material technology and manufacturing processes. The new plastics, resins and fibreglass were aiding industrial product design everywhere and furniture design was one among many areas that saw lightening speed advances with what the new materials and technology offered.
Eero Saarinen’s Tulip table was one of the most technologically advanced furniture design to come out of that era. The aesthetic appeal of the Tulip table has long outlived the period from which they originated. Saarinen’s Tulip table was lauded for its modern look and techie materials but it has continued to be a staple of design owing to it simple form and versatile pairings.
The Appeal of the Eero Saarinen Tulip Table has Lasted Far Beyond the Period it was Created for.
Modern Designer Tulip table
In 1956, architect and designer Eero Saarinen addressed what he disparagingly called the “ugly, confusing, unrestful world resulting from the slum of legs underneath typical chairs and tables.”
Lest you think Saarinen hated legs unjustly, if you have a standard table with four chairs, that presents a total of twenty legs, by the time you add guests and the family pet, you are up to thirty-two legs. Yikes, maybe Saarinen was on to something.
The Malleability of Saarinen's Work was a Criticism Leveled Upon Him in His Own Day but a Big Reason for the Lasting Appeal of His Furniture Pieces Today
Tulip table with bentwood chairs
The Tulip table effectively obliterated the “slum” by creating a cast aluminum base said to have been inspired by a drop of high-viscosity liquid. The table had the smooth, curved lines of modernism and is considered a classic of industrial design. Eero Saarinen, considered one of the masters of American 20th Century architecture, was the visionary behind the iconic St. Louis’ Gateway Arch and John F. Kennedy Airport’s TWA Terminal.
His architectural works embody some of the strongest symbols of American identity at the beginning of the atomic age. Likewise, Saarinen’s furniture shares much of the same iconic status and is revered for the adaptability and malleability of his modern aesthetic.
Saarinen Wanted to Rid the World of the 'Ugly, Confusing, Unrestful World Resulting from the Slum of Legs Underneath Typical Chairs and Tables.'
Small Retro Tulip Table
The Saarinen Tulip Table is simple, elegant and striking. So much of furniture design is derivative, an artist takes something that someone else does and alters it in some way giving us something different but not truly new. Saarinen’s Tulip table was original and entirely new.
The shape and form of Sarrinen’s Tulip table suggest both the space age and organic forms. Many pieces come to symbolize the era in which they were created, looking retro or kitschy in modern day interiors. The Tulip table has no such limitations, it can effortlessly blend into so many different types of interiors. The Tulip table can look eclectic, modern, cozy, futuristic, traditional and more depending upon the chairs it’s paired with and the way it’s accessorized.
A Saarinen style tulip table can be an all purpose dining table for smaller spaces,
White Tulip Table
Or if happen to have a bit more room, you can create a cozy, bistro-inspired breakfast nook. With the quality replica Saarinen tulip tables available at Relax House, you can achieve this designer look for much, much less. It is difficult, even for a die hard Saarinen enthusiast to tell the difference and the price point is much kinder than an original.
Add a modern twist to any room in your space with this table that is both modern and organic in feel. The smaller stature Marble Top Tulip Side table is an elegant, airy, alternative to a heavy, boxy nightstand when used bedside. Or use the Tulip side table paired with a reading chair in a guest bedroom or with an accent chair like the reproduction Saarinen Organic chair. Or use the Tulip side table in place of end tables in your posh, modern living room.
The Tulip Table has a Form Both Modern & Organic Making it Ideal for Many Different Styles
Marble Topped Tulip Table
In part because the Tulip table has a form that evokes both a modern and organic feel, it fits so beautifully in a variety of decor styles. Drop it in to your austere modern space and you notice the clean, smooth curves of this iconic table’s form. Put the Tulip style table in a lush, more formal space and it takes on a haughty, upscale modern feel. The Saarinen style Tulip table is an anchor piece, a must have that will serve you well, even as your taste broadens and changes. This is the table that will change as you change, evolve as your style evolves.
Relax House also makes a Tulip Table engineered to withstand outdoor use. The indoor/outdoor Tulip table is a pretty way to enliven your outdoor space. Pair the outdoor tulip table with a modern chair like the Panton S style chair or the Jasper Morrison Style Air Chair for a completed , modern look.
No matter what your overall style, if you like the look of this iconic table, you can find a way to incorporate it into your design space. Whether its the dining size reproduction Tulip Table, the glass top tulip table, the small mini tulip side table or the indoor/outdoor tulip style table, Relax House has the table to fit your space and style. Visit Relax House to see a complete selection of modern reproduction furniture, including the Tulip table.