Florence Knoll Parallel Bar Sofa
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Chicago, IL
Florence Knoll Parallel Bar Sofa. This was reupholstered at one point in time in an off white faux
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Steel
Florence Knoll Parallel Bar Sofa
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Chicago, IL
Florence Knoll Parallel Bar Sofa. This was reupholstered at one point in time in an off white faux
Steel
$6,850
H 31 in W 84 in D 28.5 in
Florence Knoll Sofa. Expertly redone in Charcoal Robert Allen Chenille Fabric.
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Kansas City, MO
Armless Florence Knoll parallel bar sofa expertly reupholstered in Robert Allen Chenille fabric
Steel, Chrome
Parallel Bar Sofa by Florence Knoll for Knoll
By Florence Knoll
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A "parallel bar" frame sofa with a button tufted back on chromed steel legs.
Steel
1960s Florence Knoll Parallel Bar Three Seat Sofa in Black Fabric
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an early Florence Knoll Parallel Bar System Sofa, originally designed by Florence Knoll in
Steel
$1,800Sale Price|50% Off
H 30 in W 89 in D 32 in
Mid century Florence Knoll Sofa #57 Parallel Bar System - needs upholstery
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage circa 1960 Midcentury Florence Knoll Parallel Bar System sofa Model #57 three-seat sofa
Steel
$6,000
H 30 in W 84 in D 31 in
1950s Florence Knoll Parallel Bar System Three Seat Sofa for Reupholstery
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an early Florence Knoll Parallel Bar System Sofa, Model 53, initially designed by Florence
Steel
Knoll Parallel Bar Sofa Re-Upholstered in Knoll Rivington Fabric
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A lovely complete re-upholstered vintage Knoll Parallel Bar Sofa or 2 seat settee. The fabric we
Steel
Parallel Bar Sofa, Model 57, by Florence Knol, USA, 1960s.
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Barcelona, ES
Sofa Model nº57, "Parallel bar" series, designed by Florence Knoll in 1959 and produced by “Knoll
Chrome
Rare Florence Knoll “Parallel Bar” Coffee Table, 1954
Located in São Paulo, BR
A rare coffee table from Florence Knoll’s “Parallel Bar” series, designed in 1954 for Knoll
Chrome
Unavailable
H 29 in W 90 in D 29 in
Mid-Century Modern Florence Knoll Parallel Bar International Style Arm Sofa
By Knoll
Located in Miami, FL
This Mid-Century Modern sofa was designed by Florence Knoll for Knoll international known as the
Metal
Florence Knoll Parallel Bar Armchair, USA
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Denver, CO
, angular and substantial in both feel and weight. The complimenting two-seat armless Knoll parallel bar
Stainless Steel
Florence Knoll Parallel Bar Settee Sofa
Located in Salt Lake City, UT
Parallel bar settee designed in 1954 by Florence Knoll. Upholstery is all new, covered with Kvadrat
Living Room Set by Florence Knoll, USA, 1960
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Wilnis, UT
A stunning living room set from the “Parallel Bar” series, designed by Florence Knoll for Knoll
Metal
Florence Knoll 'Parallel Bar' Sofa
By Florence Knoll
Located in San Antonio, TX
Newly upholstered mid-century modern Florence Knoll 'Parallel Bar' sofa with chrome legs and back
Chrome
Sold
H 29.5 in W 90 in D 29.5 in
Florence Knoll Parallel Bar Sofa, Early Production, Restored, Excellent
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Kansas City, MO
Florence Knoll parallel bar sofa with arms. Restored and upholstered a charcoal / medium to dark
Chrome
Florence Knoll Parallel Bar sofa
Located in Chicago, IL
Classic Parallel Bar sofa by Florence Knoll. Original black leather on chrome and metal frame.
Metal
Florence Knoll Parallel Bar Sofa for Knoll
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Florence Knoll Parallel Bar Armed Sofa. Newly reupholstered in a great weave fabric in shades of
Stainless Steel, Metal
Sold
H 29.93 in W 62.21 in D 31.5 in
Early Florence Knoll Parallel Bar Sofa by Knoll International, circa 1955
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
An early production florence knoll parallel bar sofa by Knoll International. Florence Knoll did
Steel, Chrome
Florence Knoll Parallel Bar Three Seat Armless Sofa
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Kansas City, MO
Florence Knoll armless sofa with button tufted seat and back.
Chrome, Steel
Florence Knoll No. 56 Parallel Bar 2-seater sofa
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Dronten, NL
Parallel Bar Sofa designed in 1955 by Florence Knoll and produced by Knoll International. Model No
Original 1957 Florence Knoll Parallel Bar Three-Seat Sofa
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Dronten, NL
Armless three-seat sofa designed by Florence Knoll, manufactured by Knoll International. Chrome
Chrome, Steel
Sold
H 30.32 in W 57.09 in D 31.5 in
Florence Knoll, Sofa "Parallel Bar" for Knoll, 1954 / 1960. Newly upholstered.
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Paris, FR
Lovely Two seat sofa model 52 also known as ‘Parallel Bar’ designed by Florence Knoll in 1954 and
Metal, Steel, Chrome
Original Mid-Century Florence Knoll Model 57 Parallel Bar Sofa
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Las Vegas, NV
All original model 57 parallel bar sofa by Florence Knoll. A true Knoll Classic. Sofa is all
Midcentury Florence Knoll Sofa #57 Parallel Bar System Newly Restored
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Incredible rare vintage circa 1960 Midcentury Florence Knoll Parallel Bar System sofa Model #57
Steel
Sold
H 30.32 in W 57.09 in D 31.5 in
2-Seater 'Parallel Bar' Sofa by Florence Knoll for Knoll International, 1954
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Antwerpen, VAN
A 2-seater sofa with armrests from the ‘Parallel Bar’ series designed by Florence Knoll Basset
Metal
Brush Chrome Steel Parallel Bar Three Seat Couch by Florence Knoll
By Florence Knoll
Located in Ferndale, MI
Brush Chrome Steel Parallel Bar Three Seat Couch by Florence Knoll for Knoll International
Florence Knoll Parallel Bar Three-Seat Armless Sofa Red Wool Fabric
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Kansas City, MO
Florence knoll three-seat parallel bar sofa without arms. Newer, striking red wool fabric. Very
Steel, Chrome
Sold
H 30 in W 90 in D 30 in
off White Leather and Stainless Steel Parallel Bar Sofa by Florence Knoll
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Off white leather and brush stainless steel parallel bar sofa designed by Florence Knoll for Knoll
Stainless Steel
Sold
H 29 in W 90.5 in D 29.5 in
Mid-Century Modern Rare Early Florence Knoll Chrome Parallel Bar Sofa, 1950s
By Florence Knoll
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
For your consideration is a rare, early edition, circa 1950s, of the parallel bar sofa by Florence
Fabric
Florence Knoll Parallel Bar Modular Seating System
By Florence Knoll
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Classic Knoll Design. Ultra modern. Architectural base. Fairly new paired down upholstery (about
Steel
Armless Black Parallel Bar Sofa Attributed to Knoll
By Florence Knoll
Located in Redding, CT
Armless black parallel bar sofa attributed to Knoll. It is made of solid steel case construction
Steel
Florence Knoll Double Bar "parallel bar system" sofa
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Florence Knoll double bar sofa with arms in need of total redo. Stainless steel frame is perfect
Stainless Steel
Florence Knoll 1954 model 57 Sofa by Knoll International
By Florence Knoll
Located in Utrecht, NL
Lovely aqua colour 3 seat model 57 / Parallel Bar Sofa by Florence Knoll for Knoll International
Chrome, Steel
Vintage Knoll Parallel Bar "Model 53" 3-Seat Sofa
Located in Astoria, NY
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Knoll "Model 53" "Parallel Bar" sofa or couch by Florence Knoll
Steel
Sold
H 30.32 in W 90.56 in D 31.5 in
Parallel Bar Armchairs & Sofa by Florence Knoll for Knoll International
By Florence Knoll
Located in Izegem, VWV
The Model 51, beter known as the Parallel Bar series with a brushed chrome and black finish steel
Steel, Chrome
Florence Knoll Parallel Bar Chairs
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Dronten, NL
Parallel Bar Chairs designed in 1955 by Florence Knoll and produced by Knoll International. Model
Sold
H 30.32 in W 25.2 in D 30.32 in
Pair of 'Parallel Bar' Lounge Chairs by Florence Knoll for Knoll, 1954
By Florence Knoll
Located in Antwerpen, VAN
Nice pair of lounge chairs from the ‘Parallel Bar’ series designed by Florence Knoll Basset around
Metal
Sold
H 15.13 in Dm 42 in
Coffee Table by Florence Knoll for the Parallel Bar Series, Excellent Example
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Kansas City, MO
Solid walnut Florence Knoll coffee or cocktail table with chromed steel legs from the ParallelB
Chrome
Sold
H 31 in W 26 in D 30 in
Set of Three Parallel Bar White Velvet with Chrome Feet Chairs Designed by Knoll
By Florence Knoll
Located in Houston, TX
Set of velvet white chairs designed by Florence Knoll. The chairs line up perfectly to form a three
Chrome
Sold
H 31 in W 30 in D 30 in
Pair of off White Leather and Stainless Steel Lounge Chairs by Florence Knoll
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Florence Knoll for Knoll. This came out of the embassy of Australia. The sofa is also available
Stainless Steel
Settees in the manner of Milo Baughman
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Knoll parallel bar series. Leather upholstery in quilted pattern. Wide, solid flat bar steel frame
Steel
Sold
H 31.25 in W 90.5 in D 30 in
1958 Florence Knoll Parallel Bar Three Seat Sofa, Model 57 in Green Fabric
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an extremely early Florence Knoll ‘Parallel Bar’ Sofa, Model 57, designed by Florence Knoll
Steel
Handsome Florence Knoll Parallel Bar Armless Sofa, Mid-Century Modern
By Florence Knoll
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Handsome Florence Knoll parallel bar armless sofa. This piece will need reupholstering but that's
Steel
Florence Knoll Bronze "Parallel Bar" Loveseat, 1950's
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Florence Knoll for Knoll International Parallel Bar Systems Two Seat Settee with Cato Fabric
Bronze
Florence Knoll Double Bar Sofa for Knoll Associates
By Florence Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Armless stainless steel framed sofa with parallel bars of steel making the legs. Fabric is 6-7
Florence Knoll Parallel Bar Coffee Table
By Florence Knoll
Located in Highland, IN
This model 405 coffee table design by Florence Knoll was designed in 1955 as part of the parallel
Steel
Sold
H 29.75 in W 56 in D 29 in
Early Florence Knoll Mid Century Parallel Bar Walnut Blue Settee Love Seat Sofa
By Florence Knoll
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Early Florence knoll mid century parallel bar walnut blue settee love seat sofa. Sofa measures: 56
Upholstery, Walnut
Florence Knoll Parallel Bar Sofa
Located in Treasure Island, CA
This one is family size. This super long sofa features new upholstery.
Steel
Early Florence Knoll "Parallel Bar" Sofa, Circa 1960
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Early "Parallel Bar" sofa, Model 57, by Florence Knoll. Reference: Knoll – A Modernist Universe
Metal
Vintage Florence Knoll "Parallel Bar" Sofa Settee
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Salt Lake City, UT
Great condition newly upholstered and new foam.
Vintage Florence Knoll Parallel Bar Sofa Settee for Knoll
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Salt Lake City, UT
This settee is very clean it has been reupholstered professionally and done to exact specifications.
Parallel Bar Sofa, Model 53, by Florence Knoll
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Dorchester, MA
Florence Knoll's parallel bar sofa, model 53, places an armless angled seat upon a squared-off
Steel
Florence Knoll Parallel Bar Armless Sofa
By Florence Knoll
Located in New London, CT
Super clean sofa from 1962 with the original Knoll fabric.
Chrome
Florence Knoll Parallel Bar System Sofa, Knoll, 1955
By Florence Knoll
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A Parallel Bar System Sofa designed by Florence Knoll in 1955 for Knoll. Steel base. Reupholstered
Steel
Early Florence Knoll Parallel Bar Style Sofa
By Florence Knoll
Located in Amsterdam, NL
disassembled, you could reassemble it as a two-seat. Name: Parallel Bar Sofa Designer: Florence Knoll
Aluminum
Florence Knoll Parallel Bar Sytem Sofa Model 57
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Maastricht, NL
Steel base with brushed chrome and black finish. It seems that this is the original fabric. Absolutely perfect vintage condition! High quality wool fabric
Florence Knoll Parallel Bar System Sofa, Circa 1960's
By Florence Knoll
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Parallel Bar System Sofa designed by Florence Knoll for Knoll Associates. Production dates 1955
Steel
Sold
H 30 in W 56 in D 30.5 in
Florence Knoll 'Parallel Bar' Two-Seat Armless Sofa for Knoll Associates 'USA'
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Denver, CO
Two-seat armless sofa or settee designed by Florence Knoll recently reupholstered in 'Ash' wool
Chrome
Florence Knoll Two-Seat Sofa with Arms-Parallel Bar Frame, 1960s
By Florence Knoll
Located in New York, NY
Florence Knoll two-seat sofa with arms-parallel bar frame, 1960s.
Steel
Sold
H 29.93 in W 91.74 in D 29.14 in
Florence Knoll Parallel Bar Lounge Sofa Mod. 57 Mid-Century Modern, 1959
By Florence Knoll
Located in Hamminkeln, DE
Beautiful Florence Knoll sofa Mod. 57 parallel bar sofa from 1959 for Knoll International. Very
Metal
Knoll Parallel Bar Sofa in Gray Velvet
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Providence, RI
Completely restored Knoll Parallel Bar sofa. Minor wear to the steel, appropriate for its age. All
Steel
Parallel Bar Sofa Designed by Florence Knoll
Located in TUJUNGA, CA
Stunning Original Parallel Bar Sofa designed by Florence Knoll for Knoll International
Stainless Steel
Florence Knoll Sofa
Located in New York, NY
Rare "parallel bar" four seater sofa by Florence Knoll for Knoll International. New upholstery
Stainless Steel
Florence Knoll Parallel Bar Coffee Table, USA, 1950
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Wilnis, UT
A stunning coffee table from the “Parallel Bar” series, designed by Florence Knoll for Knoll
Metal
Pair of Parallel Bar Lounge Chairs, Model 51, by Florence Knoll
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Dorchester, MA
Florence Knoll's parallel bar lounge chair, model 51, places an armless angled seat upon a squared
Steel
Sold
H 29.93 in W 24.81 in D 29.14 in
Pair of Florence Knoll Parallel Bar Lounge Chairs, 1959, Mid-Century Modern
By Florence Knoll
Located in Hamminkeln, DE
Set of (2) Florence Knoll parallel bar modular lounge chairs for Knoll International. Very good
Metal
$5,500
H 27 in W 102 in D 32 in
Mid-Century Modern Gondola Sofa by Adrian Pearsall for Craft Associates
By Adrian Pearsall, Craft Associates
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Introducing the iconic Gondola Sofa, a masterpiece of mid-century modern design by Adrian Pearsall. With its sculptural silhouette, this sofa embodies the sleek, organic aesthetic th...
Fabric, Walnut
Sofa by Adrian Pearsall for Craft Associates
By Craft Associates, Adrian Pearsall
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A wonderfully long, low and deep upholstered sofa having a floating back and an organic sculptural walnut sled base with a floating frontal stretcher. Reupholstery is recommended.
Upholstery, Walnut
$950 / item
H 31.5 in W 22.75 in D 22.5 in
Mies Van Der Rohe for Knoll Brno Chair in Cato Upholstery 60 available
By Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Knoll
Located in Hudson, NY
Knoll Brno chair designed by Mies Van der Rohe. These chairs are upholstered in Knoll's Cato upholstery. Color is 'natural'- which reads as a pale oatmeal color. These chairs are fro...
Steel
$1,155Sale Price / item|30% Off
H 16.1 in Dm 11.5 in
'Plissé White Edition' Pleated Textile Table Lamp by Folkform for Örsjö
By Örsjö Industri AB
Located in Glendale, CA
'Plissé White Edition' pleated textile table lamp by Folkform for Örsjö. This unique table lamp was awarded “Lighting of the Year 2022” by Residence Magazine Sweden, who called it “...
Textile
Florence Knoll for Knoll Mid-Century Modern Sofa in Fuchsia
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An iconic sofa designed by Florence Knoll and produced by Knoll in the early 1960s. It features a stainless steel frame with fuchsia tweed upholstery.
Stainless Steel
$3,990 / item
H 15.75 in W 74.81 in D 29.14 in
Mustard Velvet Daybed with V-Shaped Beechwood Base, Model V
By Dusty Deco
Located in Los Angeles, CA
DD V daybed is an exclusive daybed made by hand in Bosnia and Herzegovina by skilled craftsmen with long experience in wood and upholstery. Both frame and the characteristic V-shaped...
Fabric, Beech, Velvet
On Hold|$1,598
H 28.35 in W 78.75 in D 31.5 in
Sofa by or in the Style of Martin Visser or Kho Liang Ie, Netherlands, 1960s
By 't Spectrum, Martin Visser, Kho Liang Ie, Artifort
Located in Pijnacker, Zuid-Holland
Minimalistic sofa by or in the style of Martin Visser or Kho Liang Ie. Designer: Unknown. By or in the style of Martin Visser or Kho Liang Ie Manufacturer: Unknown. By or in the sty...
Chrome
$6,583Sale Price|20% Off
H 29.14 in W 65.95 in D 29.93 in
George Nelson Desk by Herman Miller, Walnut, Mid-Century Modern, 1960s
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Berlin, DE
George Nelson Desk for Herman Miller, 1960s The Top has a very floating appearance.
Walnut
$6,995Sale Price|41% Off
H 31 in W 112 in D 33.88 in
Adrian Pearsall 1709-S Style Platform Sofa with Floating Walnut End Tables
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Soaring like a streamlined icon of mid-century modern design, the Adrian Pearsall–style 1709-S platform daybed is a rare marriage of architectural line and functional elegance. With ...
Metal
Classic Harvey Probber style 4 Seater Sofa Mid-Century Modern
By Harvey Probber
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Classic Harvey Probber style 4 seater sofa with chunky round feet. This is a designer delight in that it needs new upholstery-original is well worn and faded. We love the long low...
Upholstery, Wood
1960's California Studio Walnut Sofa Bench
By Sam Maloof
Located in Oakland, CA
1960’s California studio-craft walnut sofa hand carved of solid walnut with sculptural arms, fine joinery, slatted back, and two built-in tapered side tables. Raised on round tapered...
Walnut
$3,300Sale Price|40% Off
H 28 in W 94 in D 32 in
Midcentury American Modern Mel Smilow Solid Walnut Frame Sofa or Daybed
By Mel Smilow
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Stunning midcentury American Modern Mel Smilow Walnut frame long low sofa or daybed. Beautiful armless sofa with solid walnut sculpted frame and steel spring support insert. Has Orig...
Steel
Vintage Herman Miller Chiclet Sofa
By Herman Miller, Ray Wilkes
Located in Dallas, TX
Designed by Ray Wilkes for Herman Miller and first introduced in 1976, this eye-catching modular sofa made a lasting impression with bold, rounded-edge cushions and steel brackets th...
Metal
$9,472
H 29.93 in W 79.93 in D 29.93 in
Florence Knoll Sofa in Patterned Dedar Jacquard Velvet, De Coene, Belgium, 1950s
By Dedar, De Coene Frères, Florence Knoll
Located in The Hague, NL
A rare three-seat sofa designed by Florence Knoll for Knoll International and produced by De Coene in the late 1950s. From 1954 onwards, the renowned Belgian manufacturer De Coene pr...
Steel
$16,700
H 31.11 in W 102.37 in D 31.5 in
Adrian Pearsall Platform Sofa in Walnut and Pastel Pink Upholstery
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Adrian Pearsall, 'Platform' sofa with two drawers, fabric, walnut, United States, 1960s Adrian Pearsall is known for his rather unique sofa designs. The present model is no exceptio...
Fabric, Walnut
$11,840Sale Price|20% Off
H 26.78 in W 84.26 in D 31.5 in
Vintage Fuchsia Sofa by Luigi Caccia Dominioni for Azucena
By Azucena, Luigi Caccia Dominioni
Located in Milano, IT
Gorgeous fabric sofa designed by Luigi Caccia Dominioni for the fine manufacturer Azucena Italia. The vintage sofa is made of brown, fuchsia and purple striped fabric, which creates...
Metal
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.
With entire areas of our homes reserved for “sitting rooms,” the value of quality antique and vintage seating cannot be overstated.
Fortunately, the design of side chairs, armchairs and other lounge furniture — since what were, quite literally, the early perches of our ancestors — has evolved considerably.
Among the earliest standard seating furniture were stools. Egyptian stools, for example, designed for one person with no seat back, were x-shaped and typically folded to be tucked away. These rudimentary chairs informed the design of Greek and Roman stools, all of which were a long way from Sori Yanagi's Butterfly stool or Alvar Aalto's Stool 60. In the 18th century and earlier, seats with backs and armrests were largely reserved for high nobility.
The seating of today is more inclusive but the style and placement of chairs can still make a statement. Antique desk chairs and armchairs designed in the style of Louis XV, which eventually included painted furniture and were often made of rare woods, feature prominently curved legs as well as Chinese themes and varied ornaments. Much like the thrones of fairy tales and the regency, elegant lounges crafted in the Louis XV style convey wealth and prestige. In the kitchen, the dining chair placed at the head of the table is typically reserved for the head of the household or a revered guest.
Of course, with luxurious vintage or antique furnishings, every chair can seem like the best seat in the house. Whether your preference is stretching out on a plush sofa, such as the Serpentine, designed by Vladimir Kagan, or cozying up in a vintage wingback chair, there is likely to be a comfy classic or contemporary gem for you on 1stDibs.
With respect to the latest obsessions in design, cane seating has been cropping up everywhere, from sleek armchairs to lounge chairs, while bouclé fabric, a staple of modern furniture design, can be seen in mid-century modern, Scandinavian modern and Hollywood Regency furniture styles.
Admirers of the sophisticated craftsmanship and dark woods frequently associated with mid-century modern seating can find timeless furnishings in our expansive collection of lounge chairs, dining chairs and other items — whether they’re vintage editions or alluring official reproductions of iconic designs from the likes of Hans Wegner or from Charles and Ray Eames. Shop our inventory of Egg chairs, designed in 1958 by Arne Jacobsen, the Florence Knoll lounge chair and more.
No matter your style, the collection of unique chairs, sofas and other seating on 1stDibs is surely worthy of a standing ovation.