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Knoll Saarinen Tabl...
 

Knoll Saarinen Table chairs Real?  

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Mbwkam
(@mbwkam)
Active Member
Joined: 12 months ago
Posts: 5
22/11/2023 5:22 pm  

Have the opportunity to buy this set. Only markings are the letters KD in blue on the bases. The owner purchased the set in early 70's new. I thought maybe KD stands for Knoll Dining? Looks like may of had labels at one time. Table is 48 inches. 5 chairs one if Tulip.

1700670153-Screenshot_20231121-090632.png

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Mbwkam
(@mbwkam)
Active Member
Joined: 12 months ago
Posts: 5
22/11/2023 5:24 pm  

Another picture 

1700670249-received_899019311656314.jpeg

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Mbwkam
(@mbwkam)
Active Member
Joined: 12 months ago
Posts: 5
22/11/2023 5:24 pm  

And another

1700670280-received_836996691760895.jpeg

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Mbwkam
(@mbwkam)
Active Member
Joined: 12 months ago
Posts: 5
22/11/2023 5:25 pm  

Another picture 

1700670319-received_308530912090530.jpeg

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Mbwkam
(@mbwkam)
Active Member
Joined: 12 months ago
Posts: 5
22/11/2023 5:25 pm  

Another one

1700670348-received_737288078259753.jpeg

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tktoo2
(@tktoo2)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 745
27/11/2023 7:44 pm  

@mbwkam, Yes, they are a "real" vintage set almost certainly designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana (UK) in the style of Saarinen. Look up images of Burke "tulip" and "propeller" chairs for comparison. Screw holes around the top edge of the table base is a dead giveaway that it's not by Knoll.


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diuqilelat
(@diuqilelat)
New Member
Joined: 12 months ago
Posts: 1
29/11/2023 4:43 am  

This set of chairs still looks of good quality. Even though it's white, it doesn't look too old.

survivor io


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cdsilva
(@cdsilva)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 2050
01/12/2023 6:42 pm  

On a tangent, a friend e-mailed me a single photo earlier this week asking if I knew what it was. At a glance, I was able to quickly advise that it was an Eames La Fonda chair, designed for a Mexican restaurant in the base of the Time and Life Building in NYC. As nice a design as it is, especially the "La Fonda" base, it is only the third best piece that the Eames' designed for that building, behind the three walnut stools and the Executive Chair.

Anyway, I made the quick ID without close examination. After being sent additional photos of the backside, underside, and base closeup, I realized that it was not a legit Herman Miller-made La Fonda, but a "heavily inspired" design by Burke. I was not previously aware that Burke had done a La Fonda design.


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tktoo2
(@tktoo2)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 745
01/12/2023 9:21 pm  

@cdsilva, I have not seen any of those in person before, yet your description sounded so familiar somehow!

http://designaddict.com/community/identification/eames-or-not-la-fonda-ish-fibreglass-chair/


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cdsilva
(@cdsilva)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 2050
01/12/2023 9:53 pm  

For those interested in more info about the La Fonda chairs (both arm and side), this website is a good resource: https://eames.com/en/lafonda-arms  

Fun fact: the Mad Man offices were set in the Time and Life Building for a few seasons, and they even used Executive Chairs in their conference rooms.

1701464008-Pages-from-2021-03-09-Iconic-Furniture-of-the-Time-Life-Building.jpg

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tktoo2
(@tktoo2)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 745
01/12/2023 10:36 pm  

@cdsilva, You'll notice that the chairs in that still from "Mad Men" have "5-star" bases! Oops!

Also on TV, modified Burke chairs were used on the set of the Original "Star Trek" series.

 


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cdsilva
(@cdsilva)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 2050
01/12/2023 10:56 pm  

Very nice eye, tktoo. I had missed that, the same way I missed the knockoff La Fondas at first glance earlier this week.


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