Help: need to know differences between "antique" Tulip chair by Saarinen + Le Corbusier Lounger and reproductions  

Vintage vs. authorized reproductions
K.C.
I have found the staff at both Cassina and Knoll to be very helpful in most matters. I would suggest that you contact them with "specific" questions and request their gratious help.

K.C. I made the mistake of
special ordering a Saarinen ashstand from Bauhaus 2 Your House a couple of years ago. Their Saarinen retros are made in Italy and on the surface, they look right. But, instead of the shiny finish, I ordered it in a matte white finish and the paint or lacqueris nbot as applied to the aluminum as properly as a real Knoll one is, so the paint has scuffed and there is a bit of paint loss.
Also, the weight is lighter than an original and the bowl itself is too thin and there's construction lines that were not properly buffed out, finally, the damn thing did not have the round screen that it should have had.
A bad choice all around.
I'm not suggesting that it's total crap, but there no reason for the paint to scuff off. A real one - even a newly made Knoll version of any of the Tulip pieces - has the paint/lacquer applied better and it's much more durable.