“Today, more than ever before, we need to relax”
Designed in 1946 by architect and furniture designer, Eero Saarinen the iconic womb chair is, (and I can’t overstate this) every bit as contemporary and cutting edge as it was when it made its debut over 70 years ago.
Few functional objects have achieved the status of high art, rare exceptions include a few iconic pieces of mid-century modern furniture. The Barcelona, the Eames, and of course the womb chair are such examples – each of which are as much objects of modern art as they are, chairs.
Founded on principles that valued well-designed everyday objects, mid-century modern designers, used natural, as well as modern materials, to create aesthetically beautiful, organic forms that were, both comfortable and functional for everyday people.
The challenge for the womb chair, in particular, was set by architect, furniture, and interior designer, Florence Knoll. She asked Saarinen to design her a chair that would feel, “like a basket full of pillows . . . something I can curl up in.”
The result, after two years and numerous failed attempts to design a chair “that would work” – one that would feel as comfortable whichever way it was sat in, was the elegantly curved, originally titled, Model No.70.
Minimalist, and organic in form, it was described by Saarinen as “a cup-like shell into which you can curl up and pull up your legs.” It was so comforting to sit in and relax, both physically and psychologically, it soon became affectionately known as the womb chair.
Womb chairs, (still produced by Knoll), command a price tag beyond the budget of many of us who, never-the-less, appreciate good design.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t own a beautifully made chair that was originally designed by Eero Saarinen.
There are some exceptionally well-made replicas out there, womb chairs that adhere to the original design specifications – to the extent that in some cases it would take a design expert to distinguish them from the official chair.
In this guide we’ll take a look at the best replicas you can get.
Reviews of Our Top Picks for the Best Womb Chair Replica
| Editor’s Award | Brand | Click Image to Read Review |
| Our Top Pick | Best Custom Made Womb Chair – New Review | Womb Chair and Ottoman by Eternity Modern |  |
| High-End Worthy Mention | Emorden Furniture Womb Chair & Ottoman |  |
| Best Mid-Range Womb Chair Replica | Manhattan Home Design |  |
| Best Budget Womb Chair Replica | Kardiel Womb Chair & Ottoman |  |
| Another Worthy Mention | Mid Century Saarinen Style Womb Chair and Ottoman by AP |  |
Also in this guide.
Promotions and Offers You May Like
Manhattan Home Design:
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Best Custom Made Womb Chair – New Review: Womb Chair and Ottoman by Eternity Modern
Best Custom Made Womb Chair – New Review:
Womb Chair and Ottoman by Eternity Modern
This is a stunning new addition to our top pick list. To sum it up it’s an exeptionally high-quality, faithful reproduction of the orignal Saarinen design.
But before we talk in more detail about the quality of its construction, we have to mention the thing we absolutely love about this chair – and that’s that it’s completely customizable.
If you are choosing an accent chair, especially one that’s as iconic as the womb chair, you want it to be the perfect color in the perfect fabric choice -something that takes you to your happy place every time you look at it.
Eternity Modern custom makes each chair especially for you. You can choose between the impressively wide range of fabric choices listed below, or you can choose to have a chair made, using your own fabric.
Here are your fabric choices:
Boucle wool, velvet, chenille, helios linen, Sunbrella fabric, aniline leather, and vintage.
The wide choice of fabric options makes the Eternity Modern chair our most practical option too.
For example, if your chair is likely to be exposed to sunlight for much of the day, you can opt for Sunbrella fabric.
If you’ve read our outdoor chaise lounges, guide, you’ll know how amazing this fabric is. But in brief, it’s highly UV-resistant so it’s not going to fade. It’s also water repellent, breathable, and it’s super easy to clean.
Perfect for sun rooms or for homes with children and pets.
And whereas most womb replicas only come in bouclé wool, this chair also comes in a rare, full aniline leather option too – aniline leather being the highest quality leather you can get. If you what to learn more about aniline leather, just check out our Barcelona replica guide.
So let’s take a look at the details.
The shell is molded fiberglass just like the original, and it’s supported by black powder-coated steel legs.
The cushions are filled with highly-resilient, baby-friendly, urethane foam, and, of course, all materials on this chair are fire-retardant and non-toxic.
What We Like:
- Completely Customizable | You can have one made in your own fabric or choose from a wide choice of fabric and color options. Most notably Sunbrella fabric – perfect if your chair will be situated in a sunny location. Or even (a rare find) – a leather option.
Buying Factors to Consider:
Established in 2005, Eternity Modern are a highly respected company specializing in high-quality mid-century modern furniture, and their womb chair a testament to the exceptionally high standard of workmanship that goes into their pieces.
As we’ve already mentioned, these chairs are custom made, so each one is made to order – that means there will inevitably be a few weeks wait. That said, this chair is, in our opinion, totally worth it.
Check the latest price and color options for the Womb Chair and Ottoman on Eternity Modern.com
Our Top Pick for the Best Womb Chair Replica: Emorden Furniture Womb Chair & Ottoman
Our Top Pick for the Best Womb Chair Replica
Emorden Furniture Womb Chair & Ottoman
Emorden Furniture specialize in producing high quality reproductions of the most iconic pieces of mid century modern furniture, and their womb chair is a great example of their high standard of craftsmanship.
As with their Eames chair replica, they have stayed true to the original design.
Hand Stitched and upholstered in a high-quality Cashmere fabric over custom formed foam cushions, the shell is fabricated from reinforced fiberglass – just as Saarinen stipulated.
Stainless-Steel legs with a polished chrome finish give strength and stability to the shell and are constructed in the same materials as per the original design.
What We Like:
- Cashmere Fabric | The seat and ottoman are also piped in the same fabric.
- Stainless-Steel Legs with Polished Chrome Finish | As per the original design.
Check the latest price and color options for the Emorden Furniture Womb Chair & Ottoman on Amazon.
Alternative Top Pick Womb Chair Replica: Manhattan Home Design
Alternative Top Pick Womb Chair Replica
Our alternative top pick is the Womb Chair and Ottoman from Manhattan Home Design.
Competitively priced, it’s a completely stunning reproduction of the original chair.
Hand-stitched through braided lockstitch technology, this chair comes with high-density PU-injected, modular, memory foam cushions wrapped in dacron silk, before being covered with high-quality bouclé wool. The result is the perfect combination of comfort and breathability.
Faithful to Eero Saarinen’s original design, the chair has a reinforced fiberglass shell supported by a stainless steel rod base and legs with a polished chrome finish.
What We Like:
- High-Density PU-Injected Memory Foam Cushions | Wrapped in dacron silk for breathability.
- Hand Stitched Bouclé Wool | As per the original design. The chair comes in a wide choice of color options. These chairs make quite a statement so the color choice is an important factor.
Buying Factors to Consider:
This chair ships from Manhattan Home Design in 1-3 business days with free FedEx insured delivery. It comes in a wide range of colors.
Check the latest price and color options for the Manhattan Home Design on the Manhattan Home Design website. And don’t forget to check for a coupon at the top of this page.
Best Budget Womb Chair Replica: Kardiel Womb Chair & Ottoman
Best Budget Womb Chair Replica
This replica and womb chair ottoman is our budget option, but it’s still a high quality chair that remains true to the original design.
Upholstered in 50% cashmere wool, and 50% synthetic fiber, the chair is cross edge stitched and crafted by hand.
The modular high-density foam cushions are cold-pressed. Cold foam is very long-lasting – not least because it doesn’t require heat to be processed, this leaves the foam molecules less stressed.
Supporting a fiberglass shell, are sturdy and well-made legs, though not as in our top choices, made from stainless steel. This chair has an aluminum base with a chip and flake resistant chrome finish.
What We Like:
- Value for Money | This chair is a more affordable option than the others we have looked at in this guide. It’s an excellent choice and a faithful reproduction of the original design.
Check the latest price for the grey tweed Kardiel Womb Chair & Ottoman on Amazon.
Check the latest price for the red or orange Kardiel Womb Chair & Ottoman on Amazon.
Another Worthy Mention: Mid Century Saarinen Style Womb Chair and Ottoman by AP
Another Worthy Mention
Mid Century Saarinen Style Womb Chair and Ottoman by AP
This high-quality womb chair reproduction is another worthy mention and a well deserved addition to our top pick list.
Made from cashmere wool fabric, the chair is meticulously hand-stitched over high density modular cushions.
Like our other higher-end options, the frame is constructed in polished # 304-grade stainless steel.
The chair is available in a red option.
Check the latest price for the Mid Century Saarinen Style Womb Chair and Ottoman by AP on Amazon.
Frequently Asked Questions
How comfortable is a womb chair?
The womb chair is very comfortable to sit in. It was designed by Eero Saarinen at the request of architect, furniture, and interior designer, Florence Knoll who wanted a chair in which she could “sit in sideways or any other way I want” – a chair that would feel, “like a basket full of pillows . . . something I can curl up in.”
The organically curved, minimalist chair originally titled, Model No.70 was the result of many failed attempts to produce the perfect design.
When it finally made its debut, the chair was so comfortable and comforting to sit in, it became affectionately known as the womb chair.
What is the womb chair made of?
The main components of the womb chair are an underlying molded fiberglass shell covered with latex foam, supported by chrome-plated steel legs and a u-shaped section which supports the underside of the chair and forms the back legs.
Foam-filled cushions are upholstered in hand-sewn tweed or bouclé wool/cashmere fabric.
What is Eero Saarinen famous for?
Eero Saarinen was a Finnish-American architect. He is most famous for designing Washington Dulles International Airport, the TWA Flight Center in New York, and the Gateway Arch, Washington.
He was also a furniture designer, famous for his tulip chairs and tables as well as the iconic womb chair.
When was the womb chair designed?
Although the womb chair looks very modern, it was in fact designed by Eero Saarinen in 1946 and officially launched in May 1948 at Knoll Associates’ New York showroom.
Other Womb Chair Replicas We’ve Reviewed:
These are the products that didn’t quite make our top picks, but they’re still pretty good so you might like to take a look:
High-End Option with Stainless Steel Legs
The Wombat Lounge Chair and Ottoman by AP
This is another good quality chair that has stayed true to the original design.
Key Features:
- Upholstered in a 100% premium cashmere wool blend.
- Multi-density foam cushions – which provide a layer of firmer foam for the base and a softer topping.
Soho Modern Style Mid-Century Minimalist Chair
Soho Modern Style Mid-Century Minimalist Chair
This is another great option by Soho Modern Style.
Key Features:
- Stainless steel frame for both the chair and ottoman.
- Premium wool bouclé fabric.
Lastly, if your like a free mid century modern print, hop over to our free printable page.