The IKEA Tirup chair: a modern classic

The IKEA Tirup swivel egg chair was an instant modern classic chair design. Read urbn nest’s article to find out why it’s so special and how you can get one for yourself. 

An IKEA Tirup chair urbn nest collected from the Clyde Coast in Scotland

Why was the IKEA Tirup chair introduced?

In the late 2000s IKEA were trying to introduce a range of high quality furniture lines aimed at offering more premium materials and design while maintaining trademark affordability. They experimented with better craftsmanship, durable materials and collaborations with known designers. Some well known examples from this era include the Stockholm range of pieces. The IKEA Tirup chair is another of these. 

At urbn nest we LOVE vintage IKEA pieces like the Tirup chair.

What makes IKEA’s Tirup chair so special?

Excerpt from 2008 IKEA Catalogue showing newly introduced Tirup chair in fabric

Designed by Carl Öjerstam in 2007, it drew inspiration from Arne Jacobsen’s iconic egg chair design of the postwar era. They were produced in a range of colours and were finished in real leather or high quality fabrics with real chrome plating to the base. 

2009 IKEA Catalogue showing Tirup chair in purple leather. Note higher price for leather examples

The Tirup chairs were priced at a higher price point than most IKEA products due to the better use of materials and design quality, and while they sold reasonably well, they were never going to sell in huge numbers as they were introduced around the time of the global financial crisis.

A Tirup chair which urbn nest currently has in stock at the time of writing

The other issue is they were designed too well - they were really well made, built to last and timeless, making them less likely to be replaced as quickly. IKEA decided not to focus on high end furniture moving forward, and the Tirup chair was dropped in around 2010. 

By 2009 the fabric chairs had been reduced in price, showing the impacts of the global financial crisis

To emphasise the point, the IKEA catalogue archive shows that the production run was really short - they were only advertised in the 2008 and 2009 catalogues. Combined with relatively low sale numbers (well, compared to other IKEA furniture anyway) is actually testament to the quality of design.

A few years later, there was a much greater appreciation of mid century modern design, and as such demand for Tirup chairs has skyrocketed, especially because there's relatively few in circulation. It’s easy to see why they’re so sought after. Tap here to see the Tirup chairs urbn nest currently has in stock.

What are the best features of the IKEA Tirup chair?

The aesthetic quality is obvious. A recent example we've stocked featured soft black leather and stylish seams. It has that classic egg chair shape, sitting on a chunky and deliberately misshapen round base, in chrome. The chair is as comfortable as it looks. For a chair that low it’s actually pretty easy to get out of too due to the angle of the tilt; it also swivels too.

Because it’s not as tall as a classic egg chair, it doesn’t feel as dominant in the room, which makes it perfect for smaller spaces. But because of the way you sit in it, it’s actually fully supportive, almost the perfect size.

It would look perfectly at home with original mid century furniture, like these pieces.

Where can I find IKEA Tirup chairs and more designs like this?

At urbn nest we regularly stock Vintage IKEA products, handpicking their most well designed and well made pieces from the 80s onwards. You can see our current stock of Vintage IKEA products - including Tirup chairs -  by tapping here. If you love vintage IKEA pieces, our article on the IKEA catalogue archive and our guide to vintage IKEA pieces are a must.

If we don’t have any in stock, tap here to fill out our form to request one. 

A Tirup chair which urbn nest currently has in stock at the time of writing