Pash Classics Blog

Whether you’re a long-time admirer, or if you’re just starting to explore the world of Charles and Ray Eames’ furniture, it’s hard to ignore the way their iconic designs help to radiate joy and increase the functionality of every room in the house. However, it’s also quite hard to forget just how much thought was put in to creating furniture for our second home: the office.

Over their 50-year career, the design duo developed many chairs that would become office design icons, such as the ‘so New York’ ES104 Executive Office Chair. But it’s the modest Eames Aluminium Group chairs that have really stood the test of time and eased so many into a productive day at work.

The EA117 and EA119. Also known as the Aluminium Group

So, what exactly is the Aluminium Group and why are they still recognised as some of the best office chairs around?

Origins

One could be forgiven for thinking that the chairs were born out of the advertising offices of Maddison Avenue, as a way to let executives work in comfort for an ungodly number of hours a day. But you’d be wrong. In the 1950’s Eero Saarinen and Alexander Girard were designing The Miller House in Indiana. This magnificent build required furniture to suit, but more specifically they wanted Charles and Ray Eames to design high quality outdoor chairs.

The Miller House where the Aluminium Group was commissioned.

The duo set to work and created a range of reclining aluminium chairs upholstered in a synthetic mesh. As their popularity began to increase in the world of furniture design, a demand for these chairs to become suitable for office use was born. In 1958, some tweaks were made and the EA117 Chair was born, with its high-backed brother the EA119 coming shortly after.

The Eames Aluminium group once converted for office use.

Materials

Forever conscious with their use of build material and upholsteries, Eames designed the EA117 and EA119 with a cast aluminium frame which supported a stretched mesh fabric seat and back. Over the years the structural design has remained, but with updates to the upholstery to make it even more comfortable.

The original upholstery: Synthetic mesh.

The original aluminium frame construction with stretched wool upholstery.

At Pash Classics you’ll find a choice of the original synthetic mesh, full grain Italian leather or luxurious wool. All perfectly in keeping with the original design.

Ergonomics

When the group transitioned from outdoor use to that of office spaces, Charles and ray Eames went back to the drawing board and gave both chairs some vital updates. Not by accident, these modifications have given the Aluminium group their status as extremely comfortable and ergonomic places to work;

Lockable Tilt: Need to sit up straight? Or want to lounge back and relax? Thanks to the EA117 and EA119’s lockable tilt mechanism, you can find a posture that suits at the pull of a lever.

360 Degree Swivel: One of the most basic functions of an office chair can be traced back to the mid-century thanks to designers like Charles and Ray Eames.

Adjustable Height: Have you ever come across desks that are the same height? It happens, but it’s a rarity. Luckily Eames utilised an innovative gas lift system which allows for easy chair height adjustment, without the need to pull, push or twist the chair.

When you combine all of these minor design revolutions, you have a chair that has remained at the forefront of ergonomic design for over 60 years.

Today

Even today it’s hard to see one of the Eames Aluminium Group chairs and see just another office chair. Their iconic style is a true archetype of mid-century design and a sure way to let the world know you care about where you sit. With the immerging popularity of working from home, you’re now just as likely to see an EA117 or EA119 at home as in the office.

So why not browse the wide selection of Pash Classics Eames Aluminium Group replicas that won’t break the bank? A better working day awaits!

Even today, in 2018, there's always something new to discover in the world of mid-century design. Every month we share with you our round up of the most interesting stories, images and videos from across the internet. Enjoy!

1. This month is rather special for lovers of mid-century furniture and architecture design. May 24th marks the 101st birthday of pioneering designer Florence Knoll. So what better way to start things off than 7 Things to Know About Mid-Century Design Pioneer Florence Knoll?

2. Architecture and furniture design go hand in hand, so much so that you almost can't have one without the other. One of our favourite mid-century architecture projects of the year is shown in all its glory at Ras-A Overhauls Mid-Century House Under a Bridge in LA. Keep an eye out for a few Eames chairs that really enhance the home's amazing design.

Photo by Lauren Moore

3. One of the reasons why we still love furniture of the 1950's and 60's is because of it's influence on pop culture. But it is easy to forget that this cultural influence may never have happened if it wasn't for the rapid accessibility of photography for the masses. This Man Collects Mid-Century Modern Cameras is an interesting video short from Gizmodo that shows some really amazing camera designs from the past 100 years.

This Man Collects Mid-Century Modern Cameras Video

4. From the most unlikely of places comes somethings rather interesting. GoCompare's Alternate Architecture shows how some of the world's most iconic architecture designs could have looked. The series of images includes the Sydney Opera House, the design of which was chosen by non other than Tulip Table designer Eero Saarinen.

Alternative Architecture by GoCompare

You’ve got the chair that makes a statement, the lighting is perfectly positioned, and the walls are painted your favourite shade of colour, but there’s something missing…

Storage is often overlooked in the home, especially when it comes to storage that is purchased as an investment. The right piece can last you a lifetime by sitting perfectly alongside your constantly evolving home interior and complementing all of the décor choices you make for years to come.

If there’s one style of furniture that fits the above criteria, it’s the mid-century sideboard. Made great by their simple rectangular shapes combined with natural wood finishes and ample amount of practical storage, mid-century is a style that isn’t going away any time soon. If you haven’t got thousands to spend on a vintage original piece, Pash Classics are here to help with their exclusive range of mid century cabinets and sideboards at a very affordable price.

Here’s everything you wanted to know about the range:

Danish Inspired: No one designs wooden mid-century furniture quite like the Danes. Their key to success is through an appreciation of minimal design that doesn’t need to be changed every season, but instead works alongside your other furniture. Because of this, the Pash Classics range of sideboards are inspired by Danish design, so you too can invest in this classic look.

Handmade in Britain: The design is timeless, so it’s only right that the quality is too. By working with skilled local cabinet makers, every single Pash Classics Sideboard is crafted in our home country of Leicestershire by hand and made to order. Relax in the knowledge that your cabinet is made just for you.

Customisable: There are plenty of great designs to choose from such as the majestic Brunndal Sideboard or the geometric Elba Sideboard. But sometimes your space needs something a little bit more personal. That’s why we offer all of our cabinets in customisable colours and dimensions. Looking for on trend green doors? No problem, simply contact us to find out more.

Real Wood Veneer: A hallmark of mid-century design, multiple layers of MDF make up the solid structure to each sideboard with a high quality, real wood walnut or oak veneer exterior. Each piece is then protected with a lacquered coating.

How to style your sideboard: Versatility is the key to great design, and there’s almost no limit to the ways you can style your mid-century sideboard. Their larger size and grand appearance makes the dining room an ideal location, perfect for storing cutlery and seating candles. Offices and bedrooms are also great locations for the sideboard by giving extra storage for clothes or office supplies whilst giving a style upgrade to these often forgotten about rooms.

To stay perfectly on trend, adorn your sideboard with plenty of green plants. Shades of green are complemented by the real wood walnut veneer and help to bring the outdoors inside. Plant your greenery in terracotta pots for even more earthy tones.

You can browse the whole selection of mid-century sideboards at Pash Classics.

It's no secret that here at Pash Classics we're huge fans of mid-century design, and we know you are too. But there's more to it than just great looking furniture, the world around us is full of ideas, cities and people that continue to be influenced by this iconic movement. With our Mid-Century Roundups we hope to give you a small snapshot of the world through a mid-century lens by sharing the very best articles, images and videos of the month that we know you'll love. So pull up your favourite lounge chair, sit back and enjoy:

1. Firstly we have a Look Inside California's Mid-Century Modern Mansions. A captivating glimpse in to the homes of the 1950's and 60's super rich through the late Marvin Rand's new photography book.

Image: Look Inside California’s Hidden Midcentury Modern Mansions. Credit: The Estate of Marvin Rand.

2. Have you ever wished there was an ABC book of mid-century design for your children? Well it may be niche but, but now there is and we love it. Enjoy A Q&A With Julie Merberg, Author of Baby's First Eames.

Image: A Q&A With Julie Merberg Author of Baby's First Eames. Credit: Downtown Bookworks.

3. When it comes to classic design one can't ignore Copenhagen. Denmark's capital has become increasingly popular as a weekend getaway and with it's rich heritage of style, design and cuisine there's a lot to see and do. The New York Times provides you with a handy guide for 36 Hours in Copenhagen.

Image: 36 Hours in Copenhagen. Credit: Jane Beiles

‘Future comes by itself, progress does not.’ Poul Henningsen unintentionally summed up his own designs through an off the cuff quote that helps us to understand why his work looks just as modern today as they did 70 years ago.

Born in 1894 in Denmark, Henningsen studied as an architect from 1911 to 1917 but never graduated. His focus changed from perusing a career in architecture to one in design and painting. It was this decision that helped him in to become the revered designer and innovator his legacy is known for.

If you’re not sure who Poul Henningsen is by name, we’re sure you will know him through his famous Artichoke and Snowball lamps, amongst a wide range of other lights and pendants that would go on to change the way designers look at lighting a room.

Poul Henningsen Artichoke Lamp Reproduction by Pash Classics

Henningsen became fixated by the idea of recreating the warming and relaxing glow of petroleum lamps which he remembered fondly from his childhood. He considered modern light bulbs to be way too bright, to him they were purely functional, not emotional.

To turn a modern bulb into a light that could bring emotion and style to a room, Henningsen set to work in his attic. By blacking painting the room black, he used candles surrounded by grease stained paper to create varying curves of light and shadow.

From here he measured thousands of light angles in a process he would call Fotometer. These findings would be used throughout his career and influence a great number of his designs. Poul Henningsen had perfected the reflection, shadow and glare of light.

His first lamp, the PH Lamp, was a major success and in 1925 brought the young designer in to international limelight. The success that came from this design allowed PH to spend an entire career in pursuit of even greater light sources.

We believe that this perfection was created in 1958, when Henningsen designed the PH Kogle, or Artichoke Lamp. Originally called the Kogle in Danish due to its resemblance to a conifer cone, one can instantly see the inspiration behind both names. It was this pendant that thrust Poul Henningsen's lighting designs in to the spotlight of mid century design.

Created from laser cut brushed aluminium leaves that look both natural and entirely intentional, perfectly reflect its hidden light source from all angles. The lamp’s specially chosen range of colours (copper, white, silver or gold) give a variety of tones to the escaping light which not only turns heads but completes Poul Henningsen’s vision of a perfectly lit room.

Poul Henningsen Artichoke Lamp Reproduction by Pash Classics

Outside of lighting design PH was a widely recognised critic, author and architect. At the beginning of the Second World War he worked as chief architect for the world’s oldest theme park, Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens. Here he was responsible for the creation of Glassalen, a beautiful theatre within the park’s grounds.

As Nazi Germany took occupation of Denmark, Henningsen found himself under heavy observation due to his outspoken nature in writings such as “Hvad med Kulturen?” (What About Culture?), a heavily critical piece on Danish cultural life and his involvements with anti-fascist organisations. As a result, he fled to Sweden where he continued to write and design.

In 1967 Poul Henningsen died, leaving behind a legacy of design.

We don’t use the word masterpiece lightly at Pash Classics, but Arne Jacobsen’s Egg chair undoubtedly qualifies. Fifty years after its creation, it continues to bring a sophisticated presence to some of the most designer and exclusive interiors in the world.

Egg Chair in white wool upholstery

Even if you didn’t know the chair by name, we’re sure you’ve instantly recognised its iconic curved aesthetic. Jacobsen’s now famous chair has made its way into a plethora of films, music videos, luxury hotels and homes of the style minded. The Beatles ‘You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away’ video and Big Brother to name just two, albeit on different sides of culture!

Designed in 1958 for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, a revolutionary concept to create the world’s first designer hotel was not entirely successful. As a result, the building now stands with much of the original designs stripped. Yet the chair instantly stood out in stark contrast to the building’s almost exclusive use of horizontal and vertical lines and has since become one of the most classic designs of the past century.

The SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, home to the Egg Chair

Despite being first and foremost an architect, Jacobsen had toyed with being a product designer for the majority of his working life and had previously designed several pieces of furniture in collaboration with Frtiz Hansen.

However, it was the ergonomic curved forms of Eames’ iconic Lounge Chair and Eeero Saarinen’s Womb Chair that gave Jacobsen the inspiration for what was to become his most famous design. In his home garage Jacobsen acted like a sculpture and created clay models to perfect the chair’s curved design, finding balance between ergonomics and style.

As a designer who was ever pushing style and technology forward a new technique, never before been used in furniture design was developed. Instead of creating the base from wood as was common in pre-war Europe, a strong foam inner shell was used to create the shape in production.

The original run of these magnificent chairs were created only for the SAS Hotel. However, due to their immense popularity a small run of ‘special edition’ Egg Chairs were created shortly after. To maintain their exclusivity each chair was extortionately priced at $60,000 in 1958.

Luckily for you, Pash Classics offer a reproduction Egg Chair, modelled from an original design, for a significantly lower price but with all of the quality. Constructed from a high quality fibreglass shell and upholstered in your choice of wool, cashmere or Italian leather.

In the years since its initial creation, the Egg Chair has become a symbol of mid-century design and has made cultural appearances throughout every decade since. Many could even be forgiven for assuming the chair was designed in the 70’s, thanks to its consistent appearance in brightly coloured upholsteries in homes across the UK.

The chair’s head turning design makes it a great choice for those who are looking to add an accent chair in to their living room, and its ergonomic design makes it an easy choice for relaxing in. Surely nothing makes a statement quite like the world’s most famous chair?

Eero Aarnio is an innovator of Modern Furniture design who has influenced the lives of so many from his home studio with two striking designs, the Ball and Bubble Chairs. So how did these world famous designs come to be?

Aarnio was born in 1932 in Finland, meaning that the young designer-to-be spent his childhood in a country deeply affected by the second world war. He grew during a period of rapid post-war technological progression, in a culture that was ready to pioneer design for the masses.

Eero Aarnio in front of the pop culture that helped propel his designs in to the limelight.

This culture of pioneering design spawned the minimal, wood focused Nordic modern furniture that has become so popular in recent years thanks to its low cost, quick production and achingly beautiful aesthetic.

However, Aarnio broke away from the styles that surrounded him, not out of rebellion, but out of the joys of design. As an individual who always looks forward never backwards, he was interested in the new wave of technologies and materials that were under development.

In the early 1960’s he began to experiment with bright colours, geometric shapes and the materials plastic and fibreglass.

By 1966 his first solo project using these materials was unveiled at the International Design Fair in Cologne. It was a design that had taken years to develop, with the prototype itself being hand made over the course of a year by Aarnio and his brother.

Aarnio wanted a chair that could fit himself, his wife and their two children in all at once, but also a chair that could give the user an area of personal space, even in a busy room. Above all however, the chair must be of high quality, as ‘quality will last’ Eero says. A quality design is an investment that can be passed down through generations.

The Ball Chair was an instant hit which adorned the homes of celebrities across the globe and became a staple on TV shows and in films. It stood as a stark contrast to Nordic design’s appearance and was incredibly comfortable to sit in. The Chair was in-fact the first ever to be produced in fibreglass, and the first ever to make use of the ‘perfect shape’, a sphere; the New York Times described the chair’s shape as one of ‘the most comfortable forms to hold the human body’. The ideal piece was created for a rapidly changing world and the emergence of pop culture.

Eero Aarnio's Ball Chair reproduction from Pash Classics

However, Aarnio never intended for his design to become a symbol of 60’s pop culture, nor did he intended for the phrase ‘space aged’ to be so closely associated. His ethos is always to create furniture that’s functional and produced from methods cheap enough for anyone to own. It just so happens a chair this practical and comfortable would use a shape associated with space travel (Sputnik, of course!).

One is easily forgiven for relating his designs with this phrase, though. 60 years on and the Ball Chair is still a piece in high demand by interior designers, home owners and children across the world. If that wasn’t futuristic design, then we don’t know what is!

Pash Classics' Ball Chair reproduction uses similar build techniques to Aarnio’s original designs and makes use of his favourite material with a glossy fibreglass shell seated on a swivel base and available for £599, meaning that this design really can be owned by anyone.

But this wasn’t the end of Aarnio’s influence on design. Two years later Aarnio developed the Bubble Chair in realisation that the Ball Chair could be dark inside when reading. He understood that, although this gave the chair it’s desired effect of creating a room within a room, not everyone wanted to be so enclosed. He was left with two options, either add a light or create the chair from transparent materials.

Eero Aarnio's Bubble Chair reproduction from Pash Classics

We’re sure you agree with us when we say we’re glad he chose to pioneer another new material. This time transparent acrylic plastic was the favourite.

In 1968 the Bubble Chair was released with the same intentions and to equal acclaim as its predecessor. This design features a hanging chain which allows the chair to be suspended from the ceiling or from a chrome plated stand.

Just like the Ball Chair, the Bubble came with all of pop culture’s love and was featured in everything from celebrity photoshoots to Playboy and the world’s most influential design magazines.

For those who are looking to own a piece of design history, the Pash Classics reproduction Bubble Chair remains faithful to the original design and is priced from £649.

Eero Aarnio continues to design at his home studio in Finland to this day, with the same influences as ever: always looking towards the future and living out his inner child through designs that are fun to look at, use and own.

We all know that trends come and go, but style lasts forever. Mid Century Modern isn’t so much a furniture trend, as the style.

The phrase Mid Century Modern was first coined by art historian and writer Cara Greenberg in 1983 and is perfectly phonetic to the style; It’s straight to the point, simple and no nonsense, exactly like the designs it encompasses.

The New York Times first noted the resurgence of Mid Century Modern as a style in 1998, when young New Yorkers started to turn towards space aged fibreglass and organic wooden shapes, and threw out their heavy iron furniture and saturated colours.

Here we are nearly 20 years on, and if anything the style has become even more popular. It’s no secret that we at Pash Classics are also big fans, so to help you understand where we’re coming from, here’s what you need to know about Mid Century Modern furniture.

The exact period that we refer to as Mid Century Modern is debated and really it is open to interpretation, which is how all great design movements should be! But most lovers of the style will agree that 1933 to 1965 is when the style was pioneered:

The style originated from the famous German Bauhaus movement and its pioneers such as Mies van der Rohe, whose iconic Barcelona Chair could be stated as the first piece of mid-century modern furniture.

Mies van der Rohe's iconic Barcelona Chair, is arguably the first piece of Mid Century Modern design.

During the mid to late 1930’s many designers fled Germany and vulnerable areas of Europe as a result of changing beliefs in their home countries. Several of these designers emigrated to the United States where their minds were nurtured by the rapid creation of new materials such as fibreglass, and more effective production methods.

Just as the 30’s and early 40’s had pioneered new materials and increased the potential of furniture design, the late 40’s and 50’s were an equal blessing to any designer who embraced this new style. New houses were needed quickly and in vast quantities, which of course meant affordable furniture was required to fill these homes.

To keep costs low, their function high and their style simple, pieces were often created from only one or two types of materials and with as few colours. From here a large range of now iconic designs were created which embraced new materials, often with artificial qualities and balanced perfectly with natural wood.

But if you thought that Mid Century Modern was a movement stuck in its ways of one specific aesthetic, you’d be wrong! George Nelson, an innovator and designer of the renowned Marshmallow Sofa determined three types of Mid Century Modern:

George Nelson's Marshmallow Sofa

• Bio Morphic: Characterised by its smooth surfaces, organic curves and natural flow, the style was especially loved by Charles and Ray Eames. A perfect example? The Eames La Chaise, designed in 1948 for a Museum of Modern Art competition. Its organic shape was inspired by 'Floating Figure', a sculpture by Gaston Lachaise.

The Eames La Chaise, a perfect example of Bio Morphic mid century design.

• Machine: Chances are this is the style you think of when you think Mid Century Modern! Originating strongly from the Bauhaus movement, the Machine style uses space aged geometric shapes in combination with cutting edge materials and a focus on form following function. In many ways, ‘Machine’ is the 1950’s in a nutshell.

Eero Aarnio Ball Chair perfectly embodies Machine Mid Century Modern

• Handmade: Danish design has taken the world by storm over recent years for many of the same reasons as Mid Century Modern. Their approach towards minimalism with sculptural lines and a focus on quality is certainly refreshing in today’s fast-fashion world. However, that Danish style we all love originated from ‘Handmade’ Mid Century. Pash Classics' range of handmade mid century sideboards embody this whole philosophy of style.

Pash Classics' Brunndal Cabinet is made in England with a focus on Danish design and high quality build.

It’s this focus on low key yet beautiful design and their affordable high quality that meant MCM didn’t die out when the baby boom years ended. So if you’re looking for a piece of furniture that will last as long as it will look stylish, Mid Century Modern is the way to go.

“Steel’s constructive potential is not the only thing that interests me; the refraction of light on its surface is an important part of my artistic work. I consider steel a material with the same artistic merit as wood and leather.”

It’s not that difficult to establish which of the iconic designers, whose designs feature on Pash Classics, once made this quote. His designs bring about the most perfect blend of steel and natural leather whilst maintaining a simplicity that could have only come from Denmark.

Poul Kjærholm, a cabinetmaker by trade and a master of industrialist design and Danish minimalism by practice, remains one of the most relevant furniture designers to this day almost 65 years after his designs first reached the limelight.

Poul Kjærholm

Born in the small Danish village of Øster Vrå, Kjærholm progressed after a cabinetmaking apprenticeship to the Danish School of Arts and Crafts in Copenhagen in 1952. It was here that the young designer’s influential future would be spawned.

Whilst at the school he became aware of and worked alongside Kaare Klint, who is widely regarded as the father of modern Danish furniture design, and whose work is epitomised by clean lines and the best possible use of materials and craftsmanship available. A year later in 1953, Kjærholm married Hanne Kjærholm who would prove to be a leading figure in Danish architecture and provide a great help in getting women’s architecture noticed.

Alongside these two great influencers, Kjærholm noted several movements including German Bauhaus and the Dutch De Stijl, as well as iconic designers Van der Rohe and Charles & Ray Eames as great factors in progressing his own designs.

By the mid 1950’s, Kjærholm had started to produce his own furniture designs in collaboration with good friend and entrepreneur Ejvind Kold Christiansen. Christiansen gave great artistic freedom to Kjærholm and together they produced his first range of furniture, the PK0 Plywood Series.

Poul Kjærholm PK0 Chair

The PK0 Plywood Series stayed true to Poul’s influences by using simple lines to create a beautiful piece of furniture crafted from high quality materials. However, it was later in 1956 when his designs started to take on his now famous forms of sculpted stainless steel.

The PK22 was created as a more refined and practical version of an old PK design, the PK25. Made from multiple pieces of stainless steel and upholstered in leather, the chair won international acclaim and paved the way for future PK designs to be characterised with simple aesthetics and little decoration. The chair also embodied his ethos for mixing steel and natural materials.

PK22 Chair by Pash Classics

Poul often designed furniture with a particular space in mind and a fascination of the effect achieved by placing a piece of furniture in an architectural space. It’s this realisation that furniture can make a statement in ones interior without being over designed that has allowed the PK range to remain as beautiful and contemporary today as they were 60 years ago.

In testament to Kjærholm’s influence, he was awarded the Danish ID Prize for Product Design and became head for the Institute for Design and professor from 1973 until his death in 1980. Pieces of his work are held in permanent collections at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Victoria & Albert in London.

Danish design is all about simplicity and democracy. Great pieces of furniture should be available to everyone and not exclude. This is where Poul Kjærholm's Chairs play an important part in continuing this ideology. Crafted from stainless steel and Italian leather to stay perfectly in keeping with the original designs, each chair is affordable without the sacrifice of high quality.

Eero Saarinen - One of the past century's most iconic designers.

On the 20^th of August we celebrate the life and work of one of our favourite mid-century designers here at Pash Classics. Eero Saarinen may be well known to our followers as the creator of the beautiful Tulip Tables and Chairs, but internationally he’s equally recognised as a master of architecture.

In many ways Saarinen was destined to a life in the high ranks of design. Born in Finland (a country renowned for its output of admired designers such as Eero Aarnio, Tapio Wirkkala and Maija Isola) to a respected Architect, Eero and his family emigrated to America when he was just 13 years of age.

It was here that Eero studied sculpture and furniture design at the Cranbook Academy of Arts where his father taught and was dean. During this time the young designer became close friends with Charles Eames, Ray Eames and Florence Knoll, three of furniture’s most influential forces.

From here, Eero’s future was set in stone. He received his first critical acclamation for a new design of chair, one that used radical contemporary materials and brought a new aesthetic to post-war America.

Saarinen’s original intention for his 'Organic Design in Home Furnishings' competition winning entry was to create a chair made from a single mould of fibreglass. Despite several attempts this idea proved to be too susceptible to breakage and as a result a cast aluminium base was coasted in a rislan finish, giving the same appearance to the fibreglass seat. Eero Saarinen exercised a rare quality, one which enabled him to become the great influencer in mid century design: he worked with new materials and tested their limits in ways which no one else had previously attempted.

The Pash Classics reproduction of Saarinen's original Tulip Armchair.

However, the Tulip Chair wasn’t just a one off from the Finnish prodigy, the piece was designed in conjunction with a magnificent dining table that utilised the same materials and build methods. The result was a dining collection that has smooth modernist lines, remaining experimental to this day. Often called ‘space aged’, the collection perfectly captured the romantic imagination of the 1950’s.

Eero Saarinen's Tulip Side Chair and Tulip Dining Table.

The Tulip series, along with his equally revolutionary Womb Chair were quickly recognised and produced by the Knoll company, a symbol of good will and gesture by his former design collaborator. Today his now famous designs continue to inspire thousands and adorn the interiors of just as many homes. If you’ve ever been interested in owning your own Saarinen design, Pash Classics have you covered with the high quality Tulip Dining Table.

With an impressive background in design and international recognition from key players in the development of mid-century furniture, you could be forgiven for forgetting that Saarinen is just as influential in the art of architecture.

Upon the death of his father, Eero formed his own architecture firm, Eero Saarinen and Associates, where he designed many iconic buildings that made regular use of his signature curved aesthetics. The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri and the TWA Flight Centre at JFK Airport are perhaps two of his most praised architectural achievements and are instantly recognisable.

Eero Saarinen's designed the instantly recognisable TWA Flight Centre at JFK Airport.

Saarinen's Gateway Arch stands as much as a testament to the designer's talent as his Tulip collection. At 192 metres tall and completed in 1965 the structure remains the world's tallest arch, the tallest man-made monument in the Western Hemisphere and Missouri's tallest accessible building.

The Gateway Arch, designed by Eero Saarinen.

In 1957 Eero was part of the Sydney Opera House Commission and was the key figure in the selection of the now internationally famous design by Jørn Utzon. Maybe it is this talent to recognise and create designs that stand the test of time that has made Saarinen’s name live forever through his furniture and architecture?