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.
.
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.
nocoretro says
Wow! So beautiful! I recently picked up 4 tulip chairs off of craigslist, I knew they were knock offs, but that’s what I wanted. I didn’t know the manufacturers name (and haven’t bothered to look on the chairs). But HOLY SMOKES! I bought four for $120.
John Hedge says
That’s a lot of chairs. I have a set of four I still need to refinish, that’s enough for now!
Bud says
Just FYI on new chairs:
http://hivemodern.com/pages/products.php?sid=486
Enjoy your site-very informative!
Tom says
If anyone is seriously considering a set of these I will be traveling to Buffalo, NY this Friday with a trailer anyway. I would be more than happy to pick up a set and do an exchange. I will be available most of the day on Saturday to meet up.
It may be possible to work out a better price if we buy a larger quantity of them.
I can be contacted at retrocorning@G M A I L .com
Eldon Daetweiler says
I LOVE stories like this. Just makes me wonder what other treasures are out there. I found a set of dirt encrusted tulip chairs sitting for trash pick up in LA years ago – now groovy again & sitting around my bro’s dining table. Putting this out in the universe… discovery of a warehouse of NOS 50’s & 60’s Linoleum. Just sayin…..
Tina says
I inherited my 1959 Knoll tulip table and four chairs from an aunt, who gave them to me when I bought my first house in 1988 because I had always admired them in her home. The set is my most prized possession. My 17-year-old daughter actually brought a friend over to the house the other day just to show it off.
They are showing signs of wear and tear and the cushions desperately need replacing. When she gave them to me, there was an extra set of cushion covers included, but they haven’t done well over the past 23 years (they were already 30 years old before I put them on the cushions!).
Puddletown Cheryl says
Shouldn’t it be a meadow of tulip chairs? lol
Marion Powell says
Very cute! You had me searching for the technical name, and I think it’s collective nouns.
Jana (Berniecat) says
What a bloomin’ awesome find! 🙂
Tom says
Crazy…These are literally 15 minutes away from me and we have been trying to find a Tulip Table and Chairs for the house.
Can I convince the wife to drop a grand on chairs….
Just another Pam says
Start by showing her what new ones would cost, Tom. That should soften her up a little….no, probably a lot.
Joy says
Don’t forget to mention they are being sold for a good cause too!! That should help! : )
BungalowBILL says
Remind her buying vintage can be an investment. Vintage items retain their value more than new knockoffs. Buying local is always better because your neighbor has to see you every day and is more likely to want to make you satisfied.
Deb twigg says
These are available in any multiples that you would like and shipping can be arranged by calling or emailing me. Thanks Pam for helping us get the word out!
Cindy says
Wow, sitting here with my a.m. coffee and reading about this stash of beauty for sale…..life doesn’t get much better than this!