Design Pierre Paulin, 1965

A chair should be more than simply functional. It should be friendly, fun and colorful. -Pierre Paulin

As if Pierre Paulin had premonitions of Flower Power, the simple Tulip spreads its half-open petals around the sitter, inviting and warming at the same time. The Tulip is stately with a high back, which is an eminently comfortable armchair. With its matching footstool, it makes a strong and yet exceptionally comfortable combination. Disc base is delivered standard with a felt ring at the underside.

Pierre Paulin studied stone carving and clay modeling at the Ecole Camondo in Paris in the early fifties where he began designing furniture for Thonet. In 1958, he became the designer for Artifort where he created a series of sculptural chairs with an inner structure of steel tubing, covered in foam and fabric. In 1968, Paulin collaborated with Le Mobilier National and received many important government commissions including furniture and interiors for the Elysee Palace in Paris. He also designed home appliances.

Restored to its place of honor - the Tulip chair has been reintroduced with its original cross-base. Having once fallen from favor due to the arrival of the swivelling disk base, it can now be admired in all its original glory. The polished stainless steel metal-strip cross-base looks lighter and airier than the polished aluminum disk base and gives the Tulip an elegant twist. Cross-base does not swivel and is offered in polished stainless steel. The disc base can be specified with or without swivel option. It is offered in polished aluminum with a chrome back and tube or base in powder-coat color.