How Can I Tell If My Saarinen Executive Chair Is Fake?

Eero Saarinen designed this spectacular arch in St. Louis.

Eero Saarinen was a Finnish architect and designer. Perhaps his most famous achievement in America is the iconic Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Mo. When it comes to his furniture, his pieces have a distinctive, unorthodox and modernist appearance. His executive chair is part of a noteworthy collection of 1957, where critics praise the chair for having a fluid, sculptural form. Imitators have copied this chair, upholstering it with sub-par fabric and creating similar chairs that largely lack the flawless quality of real Saarinens. If you have a chair in question, you should examine it strategically.

Instructions

1. Examine the upholstery. The upholstery should be seamless, contributing to the modernist appearance.

2. Look at the legs. They should consist of tubular steel with a polished chrome finish or wood.

3. Measure the seat height, which should be around 18 inches. The overall height of the chair is 31 and 1/2 inches

4. Measure the width of the chair. With arms, the chair should be 25 ½ inches wide and 24 ¾ wide without the arms.

5. Examine the fabric that makes up the chair's upholstery. It should consist of boucle.

6. Contact Knoll, the official manufacturer of the Saarinen Executive chairs, and read off the serial number on the tag of your chair. They will be able to corroborate its authenticity.

References

• Boston.com; Saarinen Rising; Clay Risen; November 2004
• Bon Luxat: Eero Saarinen Executive Chair
• Regency Shop; 10 Tips to Judge the Quality of Your Saarinen Executive Chair; August 2008