Architect, furniture designer, interior designer, entrepreneur — Florence Knoll had a subtle but profound influence on the course of mid-century American modernism. Dedicated to functionality and organization, and never flamboyant, Knoll shaped the ethos of the postwar business world with her skillfully realized office plans and polished, efficient designs for sofas, credenzas, desks and other furnishings.
Knoll had perhaps the most thorough design education of any of her peers. Florence Schust was orphaned at age 12, and her guardian sent her to Kingswood, a girl’s boarding school that is part of the Cranbrook Educational Community in suburban Detroit. Her interest in design brought her to the attention of Eliel Saarinen, the Finnish architect and head of the Cranbrook Academy of Art.
Saarinen and his wife took the talented child under their wing, and she became close to their son, the future architect Eero Saarinen. While a student at the academy, Florence befriended artist-designer Harry Bertoia and Charles and Ray Eames. Later, she studied under three of the Bauhaus masters who emigrated to the United States. She worked as an apprentice in the Boston architectural offices of Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer; Ludwig Mies van der Rohe taught her at the Illinois Institute of Technology.
In 1941, she met Hans Knoll, whose eponymous furniture company was just getting off the ground. They married in 1946, and her design sense and his business skills soon made Knoll Inc. a leading firm in its field. Florence signed up the younger Saarinen as a designer, and would develop pieces by Bertoia, Mies and the artist Isamu Noguchi.
Florence Knoll's main work came as head of the Knoll Planning Group, designing custom office interiors for clients such as IBM and CBS. The furniture she created for these spaces reflects her Bauhaus training: the pieces are pure functional design, exactingly built; their only ornament from the materials, such as wood and marble. Her innovations — the oval conference table, for example, conceived as a way to ensure clear sightlines among all seated at a meeting — were always in the service of practicality.
Since her retirement in 1965, Knoll received the National Medal of Arts, among other awards; in 2004 the Philadelphia Museum of Art mounted the exhibition “Florence Knoll: Defining Modern” — well deserved accolades for a strong, successful design and business pioneer. As demonstrated on these pages, the simplicity of Knoll’s furniture is her work’s great virtue: they fit into any interior design scheme.
Find vintage Florence Knoll sofas, benches, armchairs and other furniture on 1stDibs.
2019 Florence Knoll Club Lounge Chair Black Leather w/ Polished Chrome 3x Avail
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
These are Florence Knoll Lounge Chairs, originally designed by Florence Knoll for Knoll in 1954. These particular examples were produced by Knoll Studio in the USA during 2019. The c...
Steel
2000s EOOS for Walter Knoll Jason 391 Armchair in Black Leather
By EOOS
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Jason 391 Armchair, initially designed by EOOS for Walter Knoll in 1997. This example dates to the 2000s and was produced in Germany. The chair features black leather uphol...
Steel
1980s Charles Pfister for Knoll Club Lounge Chair in Black Leather
By Charles Pfister
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Club Lounge Chair, originally designed by Charles Pfister for Knoll in 1971. This examples was produced in the United States and dates back to the 1980s. The design feature...
Steel
2018 Florence Knoll Three Seat Sofa in Black Leather
By Florence Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a classic Three Seat Sofa, Model 1205S3, initially designed by Florence Knoll in the United States in 1954. This example was produced by Knoll in 2018. It features smooth, tu...
Leather, Foam
1990s Nicos Zographos Model 70 lounge chair in Black Leather 6x Available
By Nicos Zographos, Zographos Designs Ltd.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is an original Nicos Zographos black Leather No. 70 lounge chair with arms. This example is fully upholstered in leather, with a ...
Stainless Steel
2013 Florence Knoll Lounge / Club Chair in Grey Leather with Chrome Base
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an original Florence Knoll Club Chair, model 1205S1. The piece was originally designed by Florence Knoll in 1954, and this particular example dates to 2013. The design featur...
Steel
Knoll Studio “Florence Knoll” Lounge Chair Armchair – In Black “Volo” Leather
Located in Barrowford, GB
On offer on this occasion is a rare, original “Florence Knoll” Lounge Chairs (one of a number of these beautiful pieces I have at present, in case more than one is required) from the...
Leather
Walter Knoll Foster 500 Armchair by Norman Foster in Black Leather
Located in Nottingham, GB
We are delighted to offer this sophisticated Walter Knoll Foster 500 armchair, designed by renowned British architect Norman Foster. The Foster 500 embodies a cosmopolitan elegance,...
Leather
Modern Maurice Villency Black Vinyl Faux Leather Button Back Cube Club Chair
By Maurice Villency
Located in Topeka, KS
Handsome vintage modern Maurice Villency button black vinyl faux leather cube armchair with chrome legs. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that this is vintage and not new so will have signs of use and wear. The bottom of the seat has been re-webbed and two small tears on the outside left arm has been repaired. There are light scuffs on the bottom apron and the front of the right arm of the chair. Please see photos and zoom in for details. We attempt to portray any imperfections. Circa, 1970’s. What a delightful, debonaire, square cube chair!!! Isn’t it gorgeous? We certainly think so!! This is a handsome cube chair by iconic designer Maurice Villency wearing a fabulous black vinyl on the frame of the chair and button tufted black faux leather on the loose seat and back cushions. It has deep wide seating capacity and features low chrome legs with a stretcher and a unique turned diagonal design with the point of the square of the legs facing out creating a diamond look…. It’s STUNNING!! It bares a timeless, classic appearance sure to bring a splash of modern excellence to any room! It will be wonderful in the corner of your bedroom, next to a lovely accent table in your sitting room, flanking the fireplace in the den, or across from your desk in the study. Maurice Villency began designing in the 1950’s at his own furniture loft in Greenwich Village, New York. He was born in Glasgow Scotland, the son of a cabinet maker and at the age of 19 he moved to the United States with his family and introduced Scandinavian Modern furniture with one of his first successes being a sectional. He worked for the Pullman Couch company where he quickly became head designer and plant manager until he relocated to Chicago in the 60’s and set up his own studio. Maurice Villency’s sectional...
Chrome
Onyx Black Leather Club Chair
Located in Westwood, NJ
Crafted of luxurious top-grain leather in simple black, this stylish and comfortable chair is perfect for your den, library, or living room. Color variation is common and acceptable ...
Leather
Karl Erik Ekselius Lounge Chair in Original Black Leather
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Karl Erik Ekselius, lounge chair, leather, chromed steel, walnut, Sweden, 1960s. This easy chair is executed in original black leather. The tufted seat and back in combination with ...
Steel, Chrome
SURGE LOUNGE CHAIR - Modern Design in Faux Lambskin Black
By Susan Hornbeak-Ortiz
Located in Laguna Niguel, CA
SURGE LOUNGE CHAIR - Modern Design in Faux Lambskin Black Introducing our iconic Surge Chair, a modern chair in black faux lambskin - the perfect addition to any contemporary living...
Upholstery
