The Arkana Tulip chairs, designed by Maurice Burke in the 1960s, are a British modernist classic and a distinctive response to Eero Saarinen's iconic Tulip design.
Manufactured in Bath, England, these chairs feature the hallmark single pedestal base with a moulded fiberglass or plastic shell and a minimalist silhouette that embodied the futuristic, space-age aesthetic of the era.
A key innovation of Burke's design was the inclusion of a patented auto-return swivel mechanism, allowing the chair to rotate and automatically return to its original forward-facing position-an elegant and functional feature, especially suited for dining and commercial settings. This mechanism was housed within the cast aluminium base, typically finished in white or black enamel.
The Arkana Tulip chairs were fitted with removable upholstered seat pads in a variety of bold mid-century colours. Today, they are prized for their sculptural form, practical engineering, and role in making cutting-edge design accessible to a broader UK and European audience.
In very good vintage condition the chairs feature some patina across the base and seat but are otherwise excellent. New seat upholstery in a blush velvet weave.
Two available, price per chair.
Available to view at our Surry Hills store and please contact us should you have any questions about these or any of our available pieces.
Dimensions: 470mm wide x 520mm deep x 470mm seat height & 810mm back height
The Arkana Tulip chairs, designed by Maurice Burke in the 1960s, are a British modernist classic and a distinctive response to Eero Saarinen's iconic Tulip design.
Manufactured in Bath, England, these chairs feature the hallmark single pedestal base with a moulded fiberglass or plastic shell and a minimalist silhouette that embodied the futuristic, space-age aesthetic of the era.
A key innovation of Burke's design was the inclusion of a patented auto-return swivel mechanism, allowing the chair to rotate and automatically return to its original forward-facing position-an elegant and functional feature, especially suited for dining and commercial settings. This mechanism was housed within the cast aluminium base, typically finished in white or black enamel.
The Arkana Tulip chairs were fitted with removable upholstered seat pads in a variety of bold mid-century colours. Today, they are prized for their sculptural form, practical engineering, and role in making cutting-edge design accessible to a broader UK and European audience.
In very good vintage condition the chairs feature some patina across the base and seat but are otherwise excellent. New seat upholstery in a blush velvet weave.
Two available, price per chair.
Available to view at our Surry Hills store and please contact us should you have any questions about these or any of our available pieces.
Dimensions: 470mm wide x 520mm deep x 470mm seat height & 810mm back height
