My fascination with vintage Saarinen style tulip chairs has become a full-fledged continuing saga. Yesterday, I spotted “75 vintage tulip chairs” for sale on ebay. I was mesmerized by the photo alone (above), and had to find out more. Where did this sea of Kruegers come from? Why were they being sold? Can we help find them happy, new homes? Read on, and see some more sea-of-tulip-chair photos –>.First, an outline of my Saarinen saga:
- When my kitchen remodel was nearing completion, tulip chairs first entered my consciousness, and I knew they would look “just right.”
- At first I did not have much time, so I threw money at the problem and bought reproduction chairs on ebay, and a knockoff tulip table from CB2.
- Along the way, my chairs were — ironically — featured in a Cranbrook video on Saarinen’s life and work.
- Over time, the swivel mechanisms on the ebay chairs Made in China required continuous adjustments, disconcerting to DH, who was Mr. Fixit on that scene. (The CB2 table was just fine.) So I began looking for authentic vintage replacements, and a I almost immediately scored a vintage knockoff set of tulip table and chairs at Berkshire County Used Furniture…
- The set needed cleaning. So I found Shawn, who cleaned, stripped, sanded and repainted the steel table base, and put read leather and new padding on the cushions. Are my table and chairs Burke? Not quite sure. I don’t really care. One year in, and we are loving them!
- Saarinen tulip chairs in the Miller House, which he designed.
Now to the 75 vintage tulip chairs for sale on ebay
The listing says these Krueger designs from the 1970s. They look to be in excellent shape. Interestingly, Krueger is a company that is still around, based in Wisconsin. I bet if I asked, they would send me archival information Another day.
I contacted the lister of these chairs, and it turns out they are being sold to support a good cause — the Susquehanna River Archeological Center of Native Indian Studies. Executive Director Deb Twigg responded very quickly to my request for more photos — love! — and provided the following information:
Hi Pam. Thanks for your interest. The chairs are being used in our lecture hall at SRAC in Waverly, NY. We are a nonprofit, and a local healthcare system had bought these back in the day for some waiting areas.
.They sold a ton on eBay in 2007 and donated the rest to us. Since we are a non profit and economy us hard on us right now, we have decided to see if we can sell the chairs to help us pay our bills..We also have around the same amount in light blue tulip seats but the bases are different…here is our lecture hall with these chairs that are on eBay right now…
Feel free to call me with anything else you might want to know about- and thanks for helping us spread the word.
– Deb Twigg, Executive Director
You’re welcome, Deb, thank you for the photos and information, and good luck with your sale!.
Disclosure: When you buy anything from these ebay carousels or after you click into ebay (listing long gone), it nets me a teensy commission.
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Readers, if you want tulip chairs authentic from back in the day, these look like the real deal to me. Obviously, if you can get to Waverly too see what you would be buying, that is always preferable. The Buy-It-Now price is $300 per chair, or start your bid at $250 per chair. Some price comparisons:
- An authentic Saarinen tulip chair like the ones shown, purchased today new from Knoll looks to start about $2,300.
- I paid $225 for my vintage set, then about $600 to Shawn to repair, repaint and clean the set. One of the chairs had a ding in it — he filled the fiberglass. Greater experts than me say: Go for fiberglass that is in perfect shape, as repaired damage may not hold up to daily use.
Chris Wilson says
I found one of these EXACT chairs but it has no seat. Anyone ever see this seat? There are similar seats on eBay and Etsy but they don’t jut out like these…
Jim Grolemund says
These seat cushions have five truss head screws across the front and one in the center back. The front edge of the seat lip curves downward conforming to the shell. I doubt that any of the ones you are talking about would work due to the shape of the Saarinen shells which is different.
Deb twigg says
I have more seats and chairs!
Chris Wilson says
Just the fabric seat part?
Deb twigg says
Ivan take s look tomorrow????
Chris Wilson says
Awesome! Thank you.
Chris Wilson says
Find any seats?
Chris Wilson says
Find any?
Deb says
Nope sorry
Jim Grolemund says
RE: 75 vintage Krueger tulip chairs for sale
Posted by: pam kueber • August 3, 2011
Just a heads up for everyone….
So, I needed one of these to use as a parts donor for a set I recently acquired. I took a leap of faith and contacted Deb Twigg to see if by chance they had any broken ones. Lucky me, they have one with a cracked base that is perfect for my needs and I am picking it up this coming week.
So, anyone looking? She told me there are still some there but I don’t know how many. Could be your opportunity to score a set. See her contact info earlier in the blog.
Deb says
We still have a handful left!
Mel says
OH MY GOSH! I can’t believe I missed this post from three years ago, but my Dad worked at Krueger Metal Products my entire childhood, up until he retired! And because we could get a discount on chairs, we actually had this EXACT chair in our house in the 70’s! Thanks for the trip down memory lane, Pam! 🙂
Deb twigg says
We still have around 50 left – so anyone who wants one is welcome to contact me- 607-727-3111 or dtwigg@sracenter.org! Thanks for your support!
Pamela says
Pam, this is so cool! I have 3 original Burke Vecta tulip chairs left of my set of 4 (fully upholstered in orange fabric) with a tulip table with white leather formica top. The base broke on one chair (after 20 some years and nobody could repair it) so I abandoned it. The other thing that was special was the set is “cocktail height” great for us 5’4″ folks. Just started looking for tulips with blue seats!!! Found your blog, got all excited: 75 available and I only need 4! Went to ebay and found there was only one bid, but can’t tell if all were sold. Soooo, if you know if the good cause has any left, I would dearly love to buy 4. Thanks!
PS: Just found Deb, spoke with her and may get these after all.
pam kueber says
🙂
retrosandie says
Pam, I, too, love the pedestal bases and was lucky enough to find a beautiful Chromecraft set, Saarinen style. I have just listed it on ebay because I moved into a 550 sq foot apartment and this set JUST DOES NOT FIT!!! I need to let it go, because I won’t have room for my furniture still in storage. It’s in my living room right now, but alas! no room for my hutch, curios, retro sewing table/chair, etc. I would love to show the listing on your site, but don’t know where. Just love your “new” set!!