EAST GREENVILLE PA – “The Womb Chair,” which defied conventions of what a chair could be, was introduced in 1948 by the Knoll division of East Greenville furniture designer and manufacturer MillerKnoll Inc. The company on Monday (May 22, 2023) kicked off events surrounding the iconic chair’s 75th anniversary.
Womb Chair designer Eero Saarinen acted at the behest of Florence Knoll to create what she called “a chair that was like a basket full of pillows … something I could curl up in.” Today, The Womb Chair is still manufactured to its original design, and continues to be a top seller for MillerKnoll.
Celebrations for the anniversary began Monday during NYCxDesign, also known as “New York City by Design.” The annual design festival is scheduled in May and consists of independently hosted exhibitions, open studios, panel discussions, and other in-person and virtual events across all five boroughs of the city.
Knoll’s limited-engagement exhibit tells the story of the Womb Chair from inception – the partnership between Saarinen and Knoll – to fabrication, “and ultimately, to timelessness, demonstrating the staying power of original design,” it said.
Photo provided by MillerKnoll Inc.
