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Womb Chair

The Womb Chair was designed by Eero Saarinen in 1948 at the specific request of Florence Knoll, who asked him to design "a chair that was like a basket full of pillows—something I could really curl up in." The result was a wide, deep, molded fiberglass shell lined with foam and upholstered in fabric, supported by slim chrome rod legs. Its generous proportions encourage the sitter to shift positions, tuck legs up, and curl into the chair's embracing contours—hence the evocative name. The Womb Chair solved a problem that Saarinen identified as characteristic of modern furniture: the lack of psychological comfort. While many modern chairs were visually elegant, they often felt rigid and formal. The Womb Chair invited relaxation through its enveloping form, providing what Saarinen called "a great big chair in which you can feel really comfortable and free." With its matching ottoman, it creates a personal retreat within any room. Manufactured by Knoll since 1948, it remains one of the most comfortable and sought-after lounge chairs in the modern design canon.

Key Characteristics

  • ✓Enveloping molded fiberglass shell
  • ✓Wide, deep seat encourages curling up
  • ✓Designed to provide psychological comfort
  • ✓Slim chrome rod leg frame
  • ✓Matching ottoman for full recline
  • ✓Created at Florence Knoll's specific request

Types & Variations

Standard Womb Chair with ottoman
Womb Settee (two-person version)
Medium Womb Chair (compact version)
Various Knoll textile upholstery options
Leather upholstery version

Common Materials

Molded fiberglass shellFoam upholsteryChrome-plated steel rod legsKnoll textile or leather coveringLatex foam cushionsPolished or satin chrome base

Works Well With These Styles

Mid Century ModernModernContemporaryMinimalistScandinavian

Placement & Usage Tips

Place the Womb Chair with ottoman in a bedroom corner, living room reading nook, or nursery where its enveloping comfort can be fully enjoyed. A floor lamp positioned behind it creates a perfect reading station. The chair's generous width needs adequate surrounding space.

💡 Pro Tip

The Womb Chair's greatest strength is its versatility of sitting positions—you can sit upright, cross-legged, sideways, or curled up. Choose an upholstery that invites touch, like a textured wool or soft bouclé, to enhance the chair's tactile, comforting character.

Related Terms

Eero Saarinen

Finnish-American architect and designer known for the Tulip Table and Womb Chair, whose sweeping, organic forms challenged the rectilinear norms of modernism.

Florence Knoll

American architect and furniture designer who shaped modern corporate interiors through the Knoll Planning Unit and created refined, geometric furniture that defined office aesthetics.

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