Want more images or videos?

Request additional images or videos from the seller

1 of 13

4 Mid Century Modern Maurice Burke Model 115 Tulip Star Shell Dining Chairs

Name: 4 Mid Century Modern Maurice Burke Model 115 Tulip Star Shell Dining Chairs
Brand: Maurice Burke
Rating: 5 (142 reviews)

$2,350List Priceper set

About the Item

Four original mid century Burke Inc. tulip shell chairs featuring the iconic star design in white with pink vinyl cushions. Made in Dallas Texas. Model 115 of the Star Trek series. Burke Inc. (1959 - 1963) Maurice’s first successful solo venture, Burke Inc. quickly became a leading player in the North American furniture market. Many of Maurice’s best designs started here, including the prolific Star Collection. Arkana (1963 - 1974) After relocating to Europe, Arkana became the epicenter of the Burke’s design efforts, featuring refined Star and Chelsea ranges from Maurice, and with Duncan joining in 1970 to premiere his own iconic Orbita Collection. Macrima (1973 - 1974) Tragically short lived, Macrima was forced to close amid the OPEC crisis of 1973. However, limited runs of Duncan’s Series 21 Stool, and Maurice’s final Mushroom iteration make it a hidden gem worth exploring. Maurice was born Maurice Bourque on November 21st, 1921 in Springside Saskatchewan. Coming from a French Canadian family that traced its roots back to the early Acadian settlements of the Maritimes, he was the sole survivor of five sons, along with a single sister, Cecile. His father ran the local General Store, but as the 30’s arrived, the Depression brought the majority of the community to bankruptcy alongside the Bourque’s family business. The family relocated to Montreal Quebec, and Maurice secured a stable position working as a personal secretary for the President of the Canadian National Railway. However, when Canada joined the British Empire’s war on Germany in 1939, he joined the Canadian Army and shipped off early to Britain. There he would join the nascent Canadian Tank Corps, becoming an early tank commander. But a serious injury during training led to him leaving the Tank Corps. However, he would remain in service throughout the war as part of the Canadian Auxiliary Services Entertainment Units, utilizing his administrative skills to help organize shows and revues for Canadian soldiers in Britain. By the end of the war, Maurice had attained the rank of Major, and was ready to return to the Americas to start a new adventure in a very different field. Post War Success Maurice returned to Canada briefly in 1946 with his newly married wife, Felicity. However, shortly after she gave birth to their first son Duncan in Toronto the next year, Maurice became fascinated with the world of furniture production and design. Finding relatively few options in Canada, the family relocated stateside to Los Angeles, California, where Maurice joined the Hermann Miller as a salesman in 1950. Working alongside early mid-century designers including Harry Bertoia and Ray Eames soon inspired Maurice to try his own venture under the name Felmore, with a store in Pacific Palisades. However, this first company’s generally wooden and uninspired offerings would prove a flop, and while a second son Jeff joined the family in 1951, Maurice would remain under the radar; working as a humble salesman and mid-level manager for several companies until he was ready to launch his next - much more daring - venture. That venture would necessitate another move, this time to Dallas Texas in 1958, initially as a salesman for London Lamps and Madison Woodworking. But in 1959 he was ready to premiere his next company: Burke Inc. and their initial range of space aged pedestal furniture. This time, Maurice’s space age designs were a hit; though the success had a double edge when Knoll Furniture took him to court over alleged infringement of their design: Eero Saarinen’s now-famous Tulip chair. While the case was settled quickly and relatively peacefully, Maurice would have to change his base from a rounded pedestal to an X shaped one. But this change would ultimately prove beneficial, and gave the collection it’s equally distinct look and namesake: the Star Collection, which became the mainstay of the company’s success. By the 1960’s, Burke Inc. had showrooms in every major American city, and iterations on the Star collection such as the Lundquist, Estaban, and Bjorgensen series, as well as purpose built office furniture, public seating, barstools, gave Burke Inc. a full catalogue for every potential need. But Maurice was an entrepreneur first and foremost, and something about the pressures of success of Burke Inc and it’s intensifying demands on his time prompted him to sell the company in 1963 to Brunswick, who were particularly interested in his return-spring swivel seating for their own lines of public seating and bowling alley furniture. Thus Burke Inc. would continue under several different names and owners, while Maurice’s next project would take him back across the Atlantic. European Reinvention After the sale of Burke Inc., Maurice quickly moved to set up a new business in the United Kingdom, in part due to its incentives for new businesses in the north. Arkana would open the same year as the family relocated in 1963, but by 1965 Maurice was out of the day-to-day running of the company in favour of focusing on design. Alongside his initial Mushroom collection, the Chelsea campaign style chairs, and European versions of his previous designs were managed along with existing licences through his Bjorgensen SA design firm. Meanwhile, the family would become based primarily in Switzerland, though due to having interests across both the English Channel and Atlantic ocean, the Burkes were very much an ‘international’ family. By 1968 Arkana had been acquired by Christie Tyler and merged with Bath Cabinet Makers and Avalon as Arkana Limited. Nearly simultaneously, Vecta Contract was established in 1969 as a direct successor to Maurice’s original company Burke Inc, and continued to manufacture both his old catalogue of designs as well as new iterations from Arkana under license in the US. By 1970, Duncan had joined Arkana and Bjorgensen, assisting both with technical and design work on Maurice’s next batch of designs, and adding his own Orbita/Zermatt range to Arkana and Vecta’s catalogues. Unfortunately, this was also the prelude to a series of misfortunes that would begin with Maurice’s next venture. Troubles, Trials, and Last Adventures In the run up to 1973, Maurice had been scouting out a location for a new production facility for a third company: Macrima, who would focus exclusively on his latest iteration of plastic molded furniture, the M1 and M2 ranges. Alongside Duncan’s Ministool design, the now French-based company would be a dedicated furniture company beginning with dining sets similar to Burke Inc.’s original start. But the sudden and unexpected oil crisis set off by OPEC after the Yom Kippur War saw production costs soar into non-viability, and by 1974 Macrima was officially dead. Worse however, was that Maurice was ill with cancer. And after the collapse of Macrima, he would essentially disappear into a semi-retirement as he sought treatment; managing his existing designs through Bjorgensen. Fortunately this was enough to grant him time to find an effective course of treatments, and by the end of the decade, Maurice was recovered enough for two more entrepreneurial adventures. The first of these was Burke / Alpha. Founded in 1980, it would be his last venture into furniture with a combination of new chair designs by Maurice and accompanying tables designed by others. Unfortunately, this last round of designs proved his least popular, and the company ceased operations in 1983. The next company however, would be a very different beast from his previous furniture exploits: Nature’s Best Health Products. Founded in Tunbridge Wells, England in 1982, and sold to Guinness in 1985, Nature’s Best would serve as Maurice’s final exit from business, and settlement into a now full retirement. Personal Life After retiring in 1985, the family initially remained in Europe before settling in Canada in the 1990’s. Maurice remained a craftsman through and through, and in retirement made both fountain sculptures and hand carved doors for his newly built home in Kingston Ontario. He also enjoyed boating and fishing along the shores of Lake Ontario. Maurice married Felicity Owen in 1946, right after the end of World War 2. The couple had two sons, Duncan and Jeff, and between them 3 grandchildren. Maurice died on August 26th, 2013, his wife surviving him until she too passed away on September 4th, 2016. Dimensions: 20" x 21" x 31"h, seat 19"

Creator:
Maurice Burke (Manufacturer)
Dimensions:
Height: 31 in (78.74 cm)Width: 21 in (53.34 cm)Depth: 20 in (50.8 cm)Seat Height: 19 in (48.26 cm)
Sold As:
Set of 4
Style:
Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Metal,Plastic
Period:
Mid-20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
Mid 20th Century
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Good vintage condition, wear and distressing commensurate with age and use, some chipping to enamel, marking.
Seller Location:
Dayton, OH
Reference Number:
Seller: 397461stDibs: LU5343237300112

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Steel

Mid-Century Tulip Side Chair Model 115 by Maurice Burke for Arkana

$585 Sale Price

40% Off

H 31 in W 20 in D 21.5 in

Mid-Century Tulip Side Chair Model 115 by Maurice Burke for Arkana - Pair

By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture

Located in Van Nuys, CA

The Tulip Chair 115 (and the Tulip Chair 116), designed by Maurice Burke of Dallas, Texas, for Arkana, are the bedrock of Star Trek. The Burke Tulip chairs are the first cousins of S...

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Steel

Mid-Century Tulip Side Chair Model 115 by Maurice Burke for Arkana - Pair

$1,170 Sale Price / set

40% Off

H 31 in W 20 in D 21.5 in

Set of four Arkana 116 dining chairs by Maurice Burke, 1960

By Arkana Furniture, Maurice Burke

Located in Ludwigslust, DE

A set of four Tulip chairs with light-colored seat shells and aluminum legs, in excellent condition. The fiberglass seat shells are crack-free, with only slight wear on one corner, a...

Category

Vintage 1960s British Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Fiberglass

Set of four Arkana 116 dining chairs by Maurice Burke, 1960

$2,269 / set

H 31.5 in W 24.41 in D 22.84 in

Maurice Burke Set of 8 Fibreglass Armchairs 1960s Saarinen Tulip Style

By Burke, Inc., Maurice Burke

Located in Buffalo, NY

Midcentury / Space Age Modernist set of 8 fiberglass shell dining/armchairs by Maurice Burke .. Eero Saarinen Tulip Style. circa 1960s. **** NOTE *** PRICED PER CHAIR !! Offered ...

Category

Vintage 1960s American Space Age Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Metal

Maurice Burke Set of 8 Fibreglass Armchairs 1960s Saarinen Tulip Style

$640 / item

H 28.5 in W 24 in D 20 in

Burke Saarinen Style Tulip Chair, circa 1965

By Arkana Furniture, Eero Saarinen, Maurice Burke

Located in Van Nuys, CA

Modeled after Eero Saarinen's Tulip series, The Arkana shell chair was designed by Maurice Burke in 1965 for the Arkana company in England. It features the classic aluminum hourglass...

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Aluminum

Burke Saarinen Style Tulip Chair, circa 1965

$552 Sale Price / item

31% Off

H 32 in W 19.5 in D 23 in

Set of 2 Tulip Swivel Armchairs by Maurice Burke for Arkana, England, 1960 s

By Arkana Furniture, Maurice Burke

Located in Steenwijk, NL

The 'Tulip' dining chair was designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana in England in the early 1960's. It is an iconic Space Age design, inspired by the Eero Saarinen design for Knoll fro...

Category

Vintage 1960s British Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Metal

Set of 2 Tulip Swivel Armchairs by Maurice Burke for Arkana, England, 1960 s

$1,441 / set

H 31.5 in W 22.84 in D 21.66 in

Set of 6 Mid-Century Tulip Side Chair Model 103 by Maurice Burke for Arkana

By Arkana Furniture, Maurice Burke

Located in Van Nuys, CA

The Tulip Chair 103 (and the Tulip Chair 115/116), designed by Maurice Burke of Dallas, Texas, for Arkana, are the bedrock of Star Trek. The Burke Tulip chairs are the first cousins ...

Category

Vintage 1960s American Side Chairs

Materials

Steel

Set of 6 Mid-Century Tulip Side Chair Model 103 by Maurice Burke for Arkana

$3,510 Sale Price / set

40% Off

H 31 in W 20 in D 21.5 in

Set of Mid-Century Tulip Chairs by Burke

By Burke, Inc.

Located in Baltimore, MD

This set of six mid-century modern armless, side, dining chairs, manufactured by Burke reflect the strong influence of the iconic “Tulip Chair” by Eero Saarinen. The chairs feature a...

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Aluminum

Set of Mid-Century Tulip Chairs by Burke

$3,735 / set

H 32 in W 20 in D 18.5 in

Pair of Maurice Burke Tulip Style Pedestal Chairs

By Maurice Burke

Located in Ferndale, MI

Not the usual Saarinen Knoll knock off chair from Burke . This pair of pedestal chairs are a more original design . Orange vinyl on fiberglass split sea...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Fiberglass

Pair of Maurice Burke Tulip Style Pedestal Chairs

$1,155 / set

H 32 in W 19 in D 18 in

Space Age White Vintage Plastic Dining Room Set by Maurice Burke, 1960s, UK

By Maurice Burke

Located in Vienna, AT

Space age vintage white plastic dining room set designed by Maurice Burke 1960s United Kingdom and produced by Arkana Great Britain. The dining room set consists of 1 white enameled ...

Category

Vintage 1960s British Space Age Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Plastic, Fiberglass

Space Age White Vintage Plastic Dining Room Set by Maurice Burke, 1960s, UK

$5,764 / set

H 29.34 in Dm 47.25 in

More From This Seller

View All

8 Max Pearson for Knoll Mid-Century Modern Red Tulip Swivel Dining Office Chairs

By Knoll, Max Pearson

Located in Dayton, OH

8 Max Pearson for Knoll International red wool upholstered rolling swivel chairs, circa 1960s. Great for conference table or dining use. Tulip shaped padded seats over steel swivel r...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Steel

8 Max Pearson for Knoll Mid-Century Modern Red Tulip Swivel Dining Office Chairs

$3,500 Sale Price

56% Off

4 Vico Magistretti Italian Mid-Century Modern Carimate Dining Armchairs Leather

By Vico Magistretti

Located in Dayton, OH

Set of four Vico Magistretti Italian Mid-Century Modern 'Carimate' Dining Chairs. The chairs are mininmalist at its finest. Simple lines combined with innovative functionality. Ma...

Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Leather, Hardwood

4 Vico Magistretti Italian Mid-Century Modern Carimate Dining Armchairs Leather

$2,975 Sale Price

30% Off

6 Mid Century Early American Maple Rush Seat Country Farmhouse Dining Chairs

Located in Dayton, OH

Six vintage Rike-Kumler Early American style dining chairs. Made of maple featuring rush seats and turned accents. Two of the chairs of been reupholstered in a grey tweed seat. Th...

Category

Mid-20th Century American American Colonial Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Maple

6 Mid Century Early American Maple Rush Seat Country Farmhouse Dining Chairs

$1,250

4 Mid Century Modern Sune Fromell Jan Hallberg For Edsby Verken Arm Chairs

By Edsby-verken

Located in Dayton, OH

Set of 4 Swedish Modern swivel arm chairs by Sune Fromell Jan Hallberg for Edsby Verken, circa 1960s. Features a birch frame with a barrel back and...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Birch

4 Mid Century Modern Sune Fromell Jan Hallberg For Edsby Verken Arm Chairs

$2,100 Sale Price

30% Off

Set of 14 Mid Century Jens Risom Oak Orange Dining Conference Arm Chairs MCM

By Jens Risom

Located in Dayton, OH

An exquisite set of 14 Jens Risom Conference / Dining Chairs. Features an intriguing orange polkadot fabric set within an oak frame with flared arms and straight legs. Marked along...

Category