Saarinen Tulip Table

The Tulip Table was designed by the Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen in 1956. It was manufactured by the renowned American furniture brand Knoll. Saarinen designed the table as part of his "Pedestal Collection" to eliminate the visual clutter of traditional four-legged chairs and tables.

The distinctive pedestal base is cast from heavy, reinforced molded aluminum. The aluminum base is then coated in a thick, glossy Rilsan plastic finish (usually white or black) to give it its smooth, seamless appearance. This heavy base is essential to physically stabilize the large tabletop on a single central leg.

The Knoll Saarinen Dining Table comes in multiple widths, typically ranging from 35 inches up to 42 inches, and lengths from 78 inches to 96 inches for large dining configurations. There is also a smaller 42-inch round version perfect for breakfast nooks. The tabletop comes in premium finishes like marble, granite, and wood veneer.

While they look incredibly top-heavy, the original Knoll tables have heavy cast aluminum bases specifically engineered to prevent tipping. However, cheap unauthorized reproductions often use lightweight fiberglass or resin bases that can easily tip if a child pulls on the edge. It is always recommended to purchase the authentic, heavily weighted Knoll version for safety.