In a 1956 cover story in Time magazine, Eero Saarinen said that “the underside of typical tables and chairs makes a confusing, unrestful world,” and that he was designing a collection to "clear up the slum of legs in the U.S. home." Later that year, he completed his Pedestal Table (1956) with its cast aluminum base inspired by a drop of high-viscosity liquid. His now-iconic Pedestal Table is made with abrasion-resistant Rilsan® finish on the base and a tabletop made of solid marble, wood veneer or laminate. Each piece is stamped with the KnollStudio logo and Eero Saarinen's signature. These are authentic Pedestal Tables by Knoll. Base made in China; tabletop made in Italy or U.S.A., depending on material.
Materials
Cast aluminum base with Rilsan finish; bevel-edged top in marble, laminate or wood veneer. SOLID MARBLE: Arabescato (polished or satin finish), Calacatta, Nero Marquina, Verde Alpi (green with black and white veining), Extra White (pure white with very faint traces of grey). LAMINATE: MDF with bevel-edged laminate. WOOD VENEER: MDF with cathedral-grain pattern of wood veneer in oak, walnut, cherry, ebonized walnut (walnut veneer with nearly black stain), Pau Ferro rosewood.
Due to size, weight and fragility, the Marble Tables must ship with our White Glove delivery service. For all other tables, please review our shipping options. During checkout you will select the option that best fits your needs. View delivery options.
Eero Saarinen Finland (1910-1961)
Although Eero Saarinen made his reputation in the United States following World War II, he had his roots in Europe. Until 1923, he lived in Finland with his mother, textile artist Loja Saarinen, and his father, the renowned architect and town planner, Eliel Saarinen. For Eero, architecture was a discipline like the fine arts, and in particular, sculpture. He called himself a "form giver" and everything he designed had a strong sculptural quality.
Saarinen began his career as a student at Yale University and after travels and studies in Europe returned to the U.S. and taught for a brief period at Cranbrook Academy. Cranbrook had been founded in 1927 by publisher George C. Booth and Eliel Saarinen, the latter of whom became Director in 1932. Two of its graduates were Charles Eames and Florence Knoll Bassett (then Schust). Read more >
