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.
$3,080Sale Price|43% Off
Florence Knoll Mid-Century Modern Oval Marble Top Chrome Dining Conference Table
By Florence Knoll
Located in Dayton, OH
An iconic Florence Knoll dining / conference table or desk. Features a beautiful oval Marquina marble top over a chrome plated steel tripod base, circa 1960s.
Marble, Chrome
Mid-Century Modern Oval Dining Table or Desk by Florence Knoll in Carrara Marble
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An elegant executive table designed by Florence Knoll and produced by Knoll. It features a beautiful polished white & gray Carrara marble top and a chrome-plated star base. This ...
Marble, Chrome
Florence Knoll Oval Dining Table Marble Knoll International
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Berlin, BE
Oval dining table by Florence Knoll with a beautiful black Nero Marquina marble top. Dimensions: 244 cm wide, 137 cm deep. The tabletop, crafted from elegant Nero Marquina marble wit...
Marble, Steel, Chrome
SOLD 03/24/26 Florence Knoll Mid Century Walnut and Chrome Dining Table
By Florence Knoll
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Florence Knoll Mid Century Walnut and Chrome Dining Table This dining table measures: 78 wide x 48 deep x 28 inches high, with a chair clearance of 26.75 inches Excellent Vintage C...
Chrome
Vintage Joe D’urso for Knoll Dining Table
By Florence Knoll, Joe D'Urso
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This iconic dining table, designed by Joseph Durso for Knoll International, is a masterclass in minimalist design and the "High Tech" aesthetic of the 1980s. Featuring a sleek, circu...
Steel, Chrome
Restored Vintage Florence Knoll Oval Top Rosewood Dining or Conference Table
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in St. Louis, MO
Restored Mid-Century Modern vintage Florence Knoll oval top dining table / conference or desk in rare book matched rosewood veneer on chrome star...
Chrome
Florence Knoll Walnut & Chrome Model 580 Dining Table for Knoll, 20th Century
By Florence Knoll
Located in NICE, FR
An iconic piece of American modernism, this sleek boat-shaped dining table was designed by Florence Knoll for Knoll Associates in the 1950s. Showcasing Knoll’s signature balance of s...
Metal
Florence Knoll Dining Table for Roche Bobois - 1960s
By Roche Bobois, Florence Knoll
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Measures : 188x107,5cm H:73,5cm Materials : Arabescato marble - Chrome This magnificent table was designed by pioneering American designer and entrepreneur Florence Knoll. She crea...
Marble, Chrome
Florence Knoll Rosewood Dining Conference Table, 96", Oval
By Florence Knoll
Located in Toledo, OH
Florence Knoll Rosewood table. This table is 96" long, so it would be great as a dining table or as a conference room table. Oval shape and would ...
Rosewood
Mid Century Rosewood Oval Dining/Conference Table by Florence Knoll, c1960s
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Chino Hills, CA
Introducing a stunning mid-century modern oval dining table designed by the legendary Florence Knoll for Knoll, dating back to the 1960s. This exquisite piece showcases an insane gra...
Rosewood
Florence Knoll Walnut & Chrome Oval Dining Conference Table
By Florence Knoll
Located in New York, NY
Florence Knoll Walnut & Chrome Oval Dining Conference Table. Excellent vintage condition with age appropriate wear. Walnut top has been professionally refinished.
Steel
Mid-Century Modern Walnut Oval Executive Desk & Table by Florence Knoll
By Florence Knoll
Located in Stafford, TX
Versatile table designed by Florence Knoll for Knoll International in the United States circa 1960s. This iconic design features a solid oval walnut wood top that sits over a chromed...
Chrome
A Florence Knoll Walnut and Chrome Oval Dining Table by G.M. Proctor & Sons
By Florence Knoll
Located in San Francisco, CA
of sturdy construction consisting of a solid oval walnut top in a chevron pattern resting on a chrome quadruped base; a versatile piece that can be used as a desk, conference table o...
Walnut
Dining Table by Florence Knoll for Knoll International
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautiful dining table designed by Florence Knoll for Knoll International. Table features a teak top with a chromed steel base and is in excellent condition.
Teak
Mid-Century Modern Oval Dining Table by Florence Knoll, 1960s
By Florence Knoll
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Oval Dining Table by Florence Knoll, 1960s.
Wood
2019 Florence Knoll Polished Black Marble Dining Table w/ Chrome Base 78x48 inch
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Florence Knoll Dining / Conference Table (or desk), Model 2480T, initially designed in 1961. This particular piece was produced by Knoll International in 2019. It has a sat...
Marble, Steel
Mid-Century Dining Table by Florence Knoll for Roche Bobois - 1960s
By Roche Bobois, Florence Knoll
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Dining Table by Florence Knoll for Roche Bobois - 1960s Florence Knoll - Roche Bobois - Vintage !! non-original table top !! Measures : 160cmx99.5cm H:73cm Materials : Chrome - Mar...
Marble, Chrome
Florence Knoll 78" Oval Dining Table in Gray Marble
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Stamford, CT
Florence Knoll's transformative influence on Mid-Century design is reflected in every piece of furniture that bears her name, including this elegant dining table. As a pioneer in int...
Marble, Steel
Oval Burgundy Marble Dining Table by Florence Knoll, United States, 1960s
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Antwerp, BE
Oval burgundy marble dining table by Florence Knoll, manufactured in the United States during the 1960s. The tabletop, hewn from solid bur...
Marble, Steel
Florence Knoll Mid Century Walnut and Chrome Dining Table
By Florence Knoll
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Florence Knoll Mid Century Walnut and Chrome Dining Table This dining table measures: 78 wide x 48 deep x 28 inches high, with a chair clearance of 26.75 inches Excellent Vintage C...
Chrome
Florence Knoll large Dining Table in walnut, 1960s
By Florence Knoll
Located in ABCOUDE, UT
Impressive large Florence Knoll dining table made with walnut veneer, and steel leg, 1960s An architectural example of midcentury American design, this large version of the Model 24...
Steel, Chrome
Florence Knoll Oval Dining Table / Desk in Oak
By Florence Knoll
Located in Dallas, TX
A Florence Knoll for Knoll Oak and chrome elliptical table desk.
Oak
104" Florence Knoll Verde Custom Granite Dining/Conference Table
By Florence Knoll
Located in Pasadena, TX
This table can serve as a dining or conference table. It's designed by Florence Knoll and made by Knoll Furniture. The table has a large oval highly veined black granite top with a f...
Granite, Steel
Large oval table in marble and chrome by Florence Knoll Knoll Intl US circa 1961
By Florence Knoll
Located in Paris, FR
Largest model of the Florence Knoll 2480 dining table, designed in 1961 for Knoll International. The frame and legs are made of heavy gauge welded steel with a chromed finish. Arabes...
Marble, Steel, Chrome
1960s Florence Knoll Conference or Dining Table in Walnut / Steel 96 x 42 inches
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Walnut Conference or Dining Table, designed by Florence Knoll and produced by Knoll in the USA in the 1960s. It has a hint of a surfboard shape (also called the boat shape)...
Steel
Florence Knoll Walnut & Chrome Model 580 Dining Conference Table for Knoll, 1960
By Florence Knoll
Located in Deland, FL
Knoll International dining / conference table designed by Florence Knoll, walnut, chrome, table model 580, produced from 1958-1976. Large dining table with boat shaped top const...
Walnut
Florence Knoll 96" Oval Dining Table in Polished Carrara Marble
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Stamford, CT
Florence Knoll's transformative influence on Mid-Century design is reflected in every piece of furniture that bears her name, including this elegant dining table. As a pioneer in interior design, Knoll founded the renowned "Planning Unit," serving illustrious clients like IBM and CBS while reshaping the modern American home and workspace. Knoll’s commitment to functionality and aesthetics often led her to design furniture for spaces that lacked suitable options, resulting in the creation of her now-iconic furniture collection. From sofas and lounge chairs to tables, each piece embodies her timeless vision of modernism and continues to grace homes and offices with understated elegance. This visually weightless 96...
Marble, Carrara Marble, Steel
Florence Knoll Oval Teak Table 78", Circa 1960s
By Florence Knoll
Located in San Antonio, TX
Florence Knoll oval teak table with steel base, circa 1960s Dimensions:78" x 48" x 28" "The elegant 2480 Pedestal Table Desk, introduced in 1961, exudes executive quality and epit...
Steel
2007 Florence Knoll 78 in Calacatta Marble Dining Conference Table 2x Available
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an original circa 2007 production Florence Knoll marble dining / conference table. The table was produced by Knoll international and is in very nice condition. The top has no...
Marble
Florence Knoll T-Angle Coffee Table with Marble Top for Knoll International
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Berlin, DE
Florence Knoll T-Angle coffee table with marble top, Knoll International. Black enameled steel base with the signature architectural “T” profile, paired with a white marble slab. Ori...
Marble, Metal
Florence Knoll Dining Table with Cherry Wood Beveled Edge Top
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Chicago, IL
Florence Knoll dining table with Cherry Wood beveled edge top, features comb figured veneer with bird peck accents on a four-star chrome base legs solid...
Chrome
Florence Knoll for Knoll Studio Carrara Marble Oval Dining / Conference Table
By Florence Knoll
Located in New York, NY
A Florence Knoll for Knoll Studio this oval dining table with a Carrara white marble top supported by a polished chrome plated pedestal base. Signed on leg.
Marble, Chrome
$7,464 / item
Florence Knoll Dining Table with Marble Top
By Florence Knoll
Located in Basildon, London
Designed by the iconic Florence Knoll, this piece is celebrated for its clean lines, impeccable proportions, and enduring sophistication. It features a refined marble top that brings...
Marble
1960s Florence Knoll T Angle 34-49 inch Extension Dining Table, Model 310
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Florence Knoll T Angle Extension Dining Table, Model 310, originally designed in 1954. This particular example retains its 320 Park Avenue label, dating it to the 1960s. It...
Steel
1972 Florence Knoll Custom 72 inch Dining Conference Table in Walnut and Steel
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an original custom Florence Knoll Dining or Conference Table, featuring a walnut top and a chromed-steel base. The table was manufactured in the USA by Knoll in 1972. The p...
Steel
Florence Knoll "T" Angle Mahogany Table
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Stockton, NJ
A Florence Knoll "T" angle square table with iron frame and mahogany top. The newly finished top is treated to be used indoor or outside.
Iron
Florence Knoll Italian Carrara Marble & Chrome Dining Table or Desk
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Materials: Italian Carrara Marble, Steel Chrome This Florence Knoll Italian Carrara marble dining table or desk exemplifies the refined modernist aesthetic that defined mid-century ...
Marble, Steel
Florence Knoll Mid Century Walnut and Chrome Oval Dining Table
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Florence Knoll Mid Century Walnut and Chrome Oval Dining Table This dining table measures: 78 wide x 48 deep x 28 inches high, with a chair clearance of 26.75 inches Excellent Vint...
Chrome
1960s Florence Knoll Walnut Dining / Conference Table Chromed Steel Legs 34x72in
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Florence Knoll dining or conference table, initially designed by Florence in 1950. The table features a rectangular walnut top and has a chromed-steel base. This example re...
Steel, Chrome
Rare Early Florence Knoll Rosewood Dinning Table
By Florence Knoll
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Dated 1973, We offer this Rare Early Florence Knoll Rosewood Dinning Table, designed to furnish the new interiors of postwar America, this table is a scaled-down translation of the l...
Steel
1960s Florence Knoll Dining Table
By Florence Knoll
Located in New York, NY
1960s Florence Knoll Dining Table with an oval shaped marble top. The marble is supported by a wooden oval top on a solid chrome-plated steel base with 4 splayed legs. Can also be u...
Marble, Steel, Chrome
$8,236
'FK23' by Florence Knoll
By Florence Knoll
Located in Brussels, BE
The iconic Oval FK23 designed in 1961 by Florence Knoll for Knoll. Fitting for 8 people as a dinning table or also used as an executive desk. The top is made of Calacatta marble and...
Carrara Marble, Chrome
10' Florence Knoll Custom Monumental Dining Table in Absolute Black Granite MCM
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Virginia Beach, VA
A 1960s mid century modern monumental double pedestal dining /conference table designed by Florence Knoll for Knoll spanning over 10’. This table features two chrome pedestal bases ...
Granite, Chrome
$4,122Sale Price|31% Off
Florence Knoll Oak and Re-Chromed Steel Base Dining or Conference Table
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Florence Knoll-designed oak dining table. This table features a 7' foot long top and a newly re-chromed steel base. This table was also sold as a conference table. The top was recently refinished along with the base being re-plated in chrome. This appears to be an original Knoll table...
Steel, Chrome
Early Vintage Florence Knoll Dining Table or Desk
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Chicago, IL
Early vintage Florence Knoll dining table. Model 301 Literature: Knoll Furniture 1938-1960, Rouland and Rouland, pg 105 Comes with 1 (18") leaf. Measures: 60" wide without le...
Wood
2005 Florence Knoll Oval Dining Table with Steel Base and Wood Top
By Florence Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Florence Knoll X-Base Dining Table that dates back to the year 2005. The table was produced by Knoll in Canada. The design features an oval wood top, paired with a sculptur...
Steel
1950s Florence Knoll T Angle Square Dining Table with Black Laminate/Formica Top
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a T Angle dining table, Model 309, designed by Florence Knoll for Knoll International in 1952. This particular example dates to the 1950s. It features a square top of black l...
Steel
1963 Florence Knoll "T" Angle Dining Table, Model 309 in White Laminate
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an original T Angle dining table, Model 309, designed by Florence Knoll for Knoll International in 1952. It features a square top of white laminate, and has black enameled st...
Steel
2019 Florence Knoll Oval Dining Table with Satin Carrara Marble Top 48 x 78 Inch
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Florence Knoll Dining Conference Table, Model 2480T, initially designed in 1961. This particular piece was produced by Knoll International in 2019. It has a polished steel ...
Carrara Marble, Steel