I am confused on Knoll Saarinen table designs. I am collecting tulip chairs to eventually get exactly what I want (6 tulip armless and 4 arm swivels) and have learned a lot early on as far as what is real Knoll Saarinen and what is not. What is confusing the heck out of me is the table design. What I originally bought I thought was Knoll but was advised by this board that it is not. I was under the impression (after some research) that the Knoll Saarinen tables have what I would call a Knife edge - a very sharp bevel on the edge of the formica (laminate) that bevels on to the wood so the table appears to float and be very thin - A part of the design that I absolutly LOVE (and the one I origianlly bought does not have). Also, there is an additional small circular piece of "wood" that is attached to the base of the table top bottom. In my search for a smaller table top (I currently have a 48" and am in need of a 42") I am looking at vintage table tops that have neither the beveled edge nor the circular small "wood" base but the height is correct. All of the tables have chairs and are labled Knoll Saarinen (and appear to be genuine)and the owners swear they were all bought together! Many are also collectors. Herein lies my problem! Did the style of the table tops change over the past 50 years that much!!! I can't understand why someone would change a design that drastically!!! Perplexed!!!! ~Elle
the only thing i can add ...
the only thing i can add to your frustration as the marble or top may have been destroyed and a local shop may have re milled it,
There is a pizza restaurant that had 5 Eames tables and he had them remade to fit the bases and they all ended up with sharp edges I like them. i have that table with a blunt edge, so that might be what happened with the knoll table.
Yeah, what LRF said. The...
Yeah, what LRF said. The melamine on the tops chip, stain, etc. Marble tops are easy to break if you pick them up the wrong way, especially the bigger sizes. I went to an estate sale about 6 months ago and the woman had lots of real Knoll bases, but only 1 of the tops (melamine) was real...all of the others were aftermarket marble.
Given the fact that tops are really easy to make, it's not surprising to see so many bull nose tops on Knoll bases.
fm
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