1 Mid-20th Century MCM Tulip Armchair with White Shell & Black Cushion by Burke, Inc.

$995

Awesome Mid-20th Century Mid Century Modern Tulip armchair by Burke is comprised of a white fiberglass armed shell or frame, white painted metal shaft, 4 prong fiberglass base, & loose cushion pad with black hopsacking. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that this is vintage and not new so will have signs of use and wear even if it has been refinished or restored. Specifically, the base has been repainted & there is age related wear to the fiberglass frame including some crazing on the edges. The pad will need reupholstered & it has been priced accordingly. Please see photos, zoom in for details, & see long description as they are part of the condition report. We attempt to portray any imperfections. Circa, Mid-20th Century.

Description

This handsome armchair is SINGLE and ready to MINGLE!!!! Mingle its way right into your heart… and home!!! LOL!! This is a FABULOUS Tulip chair by Burke comprised of a white fiberglass armed shell mounted on a white painted metal shaft with a four-prong base and loose seat pad wearing a black hopsacking fabric that honestly… has seen better days. It will need reupholstered BUT we never think of reupholstering as a negative because we LOVE new fabrics!!! Just think of the limitless options!! SO many great colors, patterns, and textures!! It is made and labeled by Burke Inc. in the style of Saarinen’s famed tulip fiberglass shell chairs. Burke modeled their fiberglass chairs after Saarinen’s tulip chair and Eames fiberglass shell chairs as a more affordable option for the masses. But they made them with changes and enhancements that have made them become collectable in their own right. Kind of a second cousin of sorts with lots of style and sass. It will be great in your bedroom dressing area, at a vanity or desk, in your sitting room next to an accent table, or maybe at the entry for a marvelous spot to sit and remove your shoes. And, whether you have a mid-century modern home, an industrial loft, a Modern setting, or any style in between… it will look fabulous anywhere you decide.

Maurice Burke was born in the UK in 1921. He served in World War II with the Canadian Army and after in the early 1950’s he relocated his family to California where he settled in as a furniture salesman for Herman Miller and would go on to work for Felmore, a largely traditional wooden furniture business in 1952. That did not work out, so he relocated his family to Dallas, Texas and began his own venture he called Burke Inc. Initially serving as manufacturer and designer for the first iteration of pedestal chairs. By 1959 Burke Inc. had a strong established itself as a progressive name in the furniture industry, however, success soon led to conflict with Knoll manufacturers of Eero Saarinen’s Tulip chair eventually leading to court and a copyright infringement. They were forced to change the design, however, that would come to benefit Burke and his company with the redesigned “Star” collection some would argue was a better alternative to Knoll’s. For the next four years Burke Inc grew rapidly with showrooms in every major city in North America filled exclusively with their products selling both to private customers and commercial. Burke Inc. had a steady success until to the surprise of many Maurice Burke sold Burke Inc. to Brunswick. To those who knew him, Maurice Burke was known to never stay too long in one place. He took this as an opportunity to detach himself from the industry and relocated his family to the UK and later they settled in Switzerland. Mr. Burke passed away in 2013.

This SPECTACULAR Tulip armchair bears an iconic reputation and a timeless style you are sure to love for years to come. Don’t let this one get away!! Make it YOURS!!!!

Additional information

STYLE / PERIOD

DESIGNER

LINE/COLLECTION

Tulip Chair

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN

PRIMARY COLOR

,

MATERIALS

Hopsacking, painted metal, Fiberglass

CIRCA

Mid 20th Century

MAKER

Dimensions

Chair Size Each:
- Height: 31.25 Inches
- Width: 24.5 Inches
- Depth: 22.5 Inches
- Seat Height: 18.5 Inches
- Arm Height: 25 Inches
- Inside Seat Width: 19 Inches
- Inside Seat Depth: 18 Inches
- Inside Back Height: 13.5 Inches
- Clearance to floor: 16 Inches
- Weight: 16.48 Pounds

crate / box size

Boxed Size:
- Length: 36 Inches
- Width: 28 Inches
- Height: 30 Inches
- Weight: 30 Pounds