Charles Pollock was a renowned but reclusive furniture designer. He rarely spoke to the media and instead preferred to let his iconic designs speak for themselves. Pollock’s name is ubiquitous with mid-century modern office furniture — while vintage furniture obsessives know the office chairs he made for Knoll, he designed armchairs and lounge chairs for domestic interiors as well.
Pollock was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1930. When his family moved to Michigan, he attended Detroit's Cass Technical High School, whose alumni includes artist-designer Harry Bertoia. For his extraordinary work at Cass, Pollock earned a full scholarship to Pratt Institute in New York City.
Industrial designer Lucia DeRespinis had been a classmate of Pollock’s at Pratt and got a job in architect George Nelson’s studio after graduation. Nelson, the design director at legendary mid-century furniture manufacturer Herman Miller, was always looking for new design talent. DeRespinis was struck by Pollock’s sculptures at Pratt and recommended Nelson hire him. Pollock, who had been working for Donald Deskey’s firm, took a job with Nelson and helped create the Swag Leg armchair (a full Swag Leg collection debuted at Herman Miller in the late 1950s). Soon afteward, Pollock opened his own studio and shared his portfolio with pioneering designer Florence Knoll at the modernist behemoth she cofounded with her husband Hans.
Pollock’s 657 Sling chair for Knoll debuted in 1960 and earned him a substantial contract with the brand. This paved the way for his most famous design: the Executive chair. Introduced in 1963, the Executive chair became one of the best-selling and most recognizable office chairs in history. Pollock devoted five years to perfecting the seat, and his patented rim technology allowed for simple assembly, which contributed to its success and popularity.
Pollock later returned to sculpting and explored other pursuits but never stopped designing furniture. In 1982, he created the Penelope chair for the Italian furniture maker Castelli. At 82 years of age, Pollock was commissioned by American manufacturer Bernhardt Design to create the CP Lounge chair, which was launched at the London Design Festival 2012. Pollock died a short while later, in 2013, but his seating is still produced by Bernhardt Design today.
Pollock received much acclaim throughout his career. He earned several awards, including the prestigious Red Dot Design Award and Pratt Institute's Rowena Reed Kostellow Award for outstanding work in industrial design. His Executive chair has been exhibited at museums around the world, including the Louvre Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Charles Pollock seating and other furniture today.
Charles Pollock Leather Executive Office Desk Chair for Knoll
By Charles Pollock, Knoll
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Classic Charles Pollock executive desk chair for Knoll. Camel leather in good condition with no tears or missing buttons. Signed and guaranteed authentic. Height adjustable. Swivels ...
Leather
Black Leather Knoll Desk Chair designed by Charles Pollock
By Charles Pollock, Knoll
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Classic black leather desk chair by Charles Pollock and manufactured by Knoll. Executed in black leather and steel base. No tears or missing buttons or screws. Leather in good condit...
Metal
Venetian Purple Palazzo Arm Chair by Charles Pollock for William Switzer
By Charles Pollock
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Venetian purple palazzo arm chair by Charles Pollock for William Switzer. Additional information: Materials: Giltwood, silk Color: Purple Brand: William Switzer Designer: Charles...
Giltwood
Mid-Century Modern Charles Pollock/Knoll Executive Chairs, Black Leather, USA
By Knoll, Charles Pollock
Located in San Francisco, CA
Stunning authentic mid-century modern Pollock Executive Arm Chair for Knoll. Designed in 1963 by Charles Pollock, this chair has become one of Knoll’s most recognizable and enduring ...
Aluminum, Stainless Steel
Executive Armchair by Charles Pollock for Knoll Black Leather & 4 Prong Base
By Charles Pollock, Knoll
Located in Topeka, KS
Timeless MCM (Mid-Century Modern) to Modern Executive armchairs by Charles Pollock for Knoll. Chair is comprised of a black leather seat and back with button detail, aluminum band, c...
Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Chrome
Charles Pollock Desk Chair by Knoll in Burnt Orange
By Knoll, Charles Pollock
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage Charles Pollock for Knoll executive chair in burnt orange. This leather executive desk chair has swivel base with adjustable height. Base with all wheels in working condition...
Metal
Black Leather Knoll Desk Chair designed by Charles Pollock
By Knoll, Charles Pollock
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Classic black leather desk chair by Charles Pollock and manufactured by Knoll. Executed in black leather and steel base. No tears or missing buttons or screws. Leather in good condit...
Metal
Charles Pollack Executive Office Chair for Knoll International. 4 Star Base.1965
By Charles Pollock
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Charles Pollock Executive Office Chair for Knoll International. Mid Century Modern Design. Classic. Rolling and Swiveling and Super Comfortable. Used for Dining Chairs, Library C...
Aluminum, Chrome
Charles Pollock Leather Executive Desk Chair in Brown
By Charles Pollock, Knoll
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage Charles Pollock for Knoll leather executive chair redone in medium brown color. This executive desk chair has a swivel base with adjustable height. Swivel base with all wheel...
Chrome
Very Comfortable Office Chair by Charles Pollock for Comforto, 1960s
By Comforto, Charles Pollock
Located in Nürnberg, Bayern
12 chairs available. Very comfortable and elegant desk chairs from Comforto. Design by Charles Pollock. The classic par excellence. Measures: ...
Metal
Set 4 Charles Pollock Armchairs Designed by Charles Pollock for Knoll
By Knoll, Charles Pollock
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Set of four executive armchairs design by Charles Pollock for Knoll International. These chairs are signed and dated 1977 with original fabric. All chairs are in good vintage conditi...
Chrome
Knoll Pollock Executive Chair in Original Navy Blue, Leather, Matte Black Frame
By Charles Pollock
Located in Wilton, CT
Offering the classic Pollock Executive Chair in its original rare navy blue leather, black steel frame, and vintage 5-star base, in very good condition. Charles Pollock was a master...
Stainless Steel
Penelope Chair by Charles Pollock for Anonima Castelli
By Charles Pollock, Anonima Castelli
Located in Athens, Attiki
Penelope chair designed in 1982 by Charles Pollock for Anonima Castelli. Steel-wire sled base supports a seat permeable to air which consists in a steel...
Metal
Knoll Pollock Executive Desk Office Chair in Gunmetal Gray Mohair
By Charles Pollock, Knoll
Located in Stamford, CT
Although only a handful of Charles Pollock’s designs were produced for Knoll’s Studio Collection, the pieces that did make it into production have become enduring icons of modern des...
Aluminum
Charles Pollock Executive Desk Chairs for Knoll
By Charles Pollock, Knoll
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of 5 1980's vintage, Charles Pollock black executive desk chair for Knoll. The ultimate ergonomic, office desk chair designed by this George Nelson apprentice, Charles Pollock. S...
Chrome
Set of 4 Mid Century Modern Charles Pollock Knoll Black Leather Executive Chairs
By Charles Pollock, Knoll
Located in Portland, OR
An authentic set of four Mid Century Modern Charles Pollock black leather Executive Arm Chairs, for Knoll International, designed in 1963. This iconic set of four original Pollak ch...
Chrome, Steel
1980s Charles Pollock Executive Chairs for Knoll in grey fabric
By Charles Pollock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of iconic 1980s Charles Pollock Executive Chairs by The Knoll Group in grey fabric. Pair is in really good vintage condition with very minimal signs of use - some very light s...
Steel
1 OF 2 VINTAGE UNIQUE CHARLES POLLOCK KNOLL RESTORED BROWN LEATHER OFFICE CHAiRS
By Charles Pollock, Knoll
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale one of two original vintage fully restored hand dyed Cigar Brown leather Charles Pollock Knoll Inc Executive...
Chrome
1984 Charles Pollock for Knoll Desk Chair in Charcoal Grey Fabric, 5x Available
By Charles Pollock, Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Pollock Executive Chair designed by Charles Pollock for Knoll in 1963. These particular examples date to 1984. We currently have five chairs available for purchase in this ...
Aluminum
ViNTAGE UNIQUE CHARLES POLLOCK FOR KNOLL BROWN LEATHER OFFICE ARMCHAIR
By Knoll, Charles Pollock
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely original vintage lightly restored Brown leather Charles Pollock Knoll Inc Executive office armch...
Chrome
4 Executive Armchairs by Charles Pollock for Knoll Black Leather & 4 Prong Base
By Charles Pollock, Knoll
Located in Topeka, KS
Fabulous MCM (Mid-Century Modern) to Modern Executive armchairs by Charles Pollock for Knoll set of 4. Each chair is comprised of a black leather seat and back with button detail, al...
Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Chrome
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Lounge Chairs "657" Charles Pollock Knoll
By Knoll, Charles Pollock
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous pair of 657 chairs by Charles Pollock for Knoll. C1960 design signed in two places by Knoll. In excellent vintage condition with minimal wear. Some ...
Chrome
Charles Pollock, Set of Height Penelope Chairs in Chrome and Meshed Metal
By Charles Pollock
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Charles Pollock, set of height chairs in chrome and meshed metal. Penelope model. Edition Castelli, 1982.
Metal, Chrome
Pair of Lounge Chairs by Charles Pollock for Knoll
By Charles Pollock
Located in Grenoble, FR
Charles Pollock Pair of Lounge Chairs by Charles Pollock for Knoll Pair of armchairs from the 60s by Charles Pollock in leather and chrome. cracking on the leather of the seat cushio...
Chrome
1979 Charles Pollock for Knoll Burnt Orange Single Executive Chair
By Knoll, George Nelson, Charles Pollock
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Single vintage 1979 Executive Chair designed by Charles Pollock for Knoll. The chair comes in its original burnt orange upholstery, a perfect mid-century modern color! It is truly a ...
Stainless Steel
Desk Chair by Charles Pollock for Knoll, 1963
By Charles Pollock, Knoll
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A vintage Pollack executive chair on five leg pedestal base featuring his ‘rim technology’ of metal edge banding around the chair’s periphery s...
Aluminum
Stunning pair of Pollock Armchairs in leather by Charles Pollock for KNOLL Int.
By Charles Pollock
Located in Buggenhout, Oost-Vlaanderen
Pair of Charles Pollock Lounge Chairs for Knoll – Cognac Saddle Leather & Polished Chrome (1960s) A confident blend of American modernism and refined minimalism, this pair of lounge...
Leather
Charles Pollock for William Switzer William Kent Bench Giltwood Bench
By Charles Pollock
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Charles Pollock for William Switzer William Kent Bench Giltwood Bench
Giltwood
Mid Century Knoll Charles pollock All black leather tufted scoop desk chair
By Knoll, Charles Pollock
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid Century Knoll Charles pollock All black leather tufted scoop desk chair. Charles Pollock black executive Leather desk chair for Knoll. The ultimate ergonomic, office desk chair d...
Metal
Pair of Vintage Mid-century Fabric Desk Chairs by Charles Pollock for Comforto
By Comforto, Charles Pollock
Located in Warszawa, Mazowieckie
This pair of office armchairs was designed by Charles Pollock for the German manufacturer Comforto during the 70s. The seats are made of durable brown plastic and high-quality olive-...
Fabric, Plastic
Charles Pollock Executive Chair for Knoll, 1963
By Charles Pollock
Located in Catania, IT
1963. Charles Pollock project for Knoll. Charles Pollock challenged himself and created a chair inspired by a single line. An evergreen object that has overcome the challenge of time and continues to be part of the American company's production line, as well as being exhibited in the prestigious collections of the Louvre in Paris and the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. The 'secret' design of the Executive Chair...
Metal
1 Knoll Pollock Executive Swivel Armchair Black Leather
By Knoll, Charles Pollock
Located in Pasadena, TX
Knoll Pollock Executive Swivel armchair black leather 1956 Design Charles Pollock’s 1965 executive chair, now considered one of Knoll’s most memorable designs, features a chrome rim that supports the chair both structurally and visually Stainless steel cap over steel armature base on casters or glides. Tufted leather with polyurethane and polyester padding over molded shell...
Leather
1984 Charles Pollock for Knoll Desk Chair in Black Leather and Chrome
By Charles Pollock
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Pollock Executive Chair, designed by Charles Pollock for Knoll in 1963. This particular example dates to 1984. The design features an aluminum frame, and has a padded seat ...
Aluminum
Pair of 657 Armchair by Charles Pollock for Knoll
By Knoll, Charles Pollock
Located in Stockton, NJ
A pair of early 657 armchairs by Charles Pollock for Knoll. This 1970's pair features chromed steel and wood frames with black leather seat and cushion. O...
Steel
4 x Castelli "PENELOPE" Dining Chairs By Charles Pollock Italy 1980
By Charles Pollock, Anonima Castelli
Located in DE MEERN, NL
Introducing a captivating set of four vintage Penelope Chairs by Charles Pollock for Anonima Castelli, Italy 1980. These iconic chairs exude timeless elegance and impeccable craftsma...
Metal, Chrome
12 Executive Armchairs by Charles Pollock for Knoll Black Leather & 4 Prong Base
By Charles Pollock, Knoll
Located in Topeka, KS
Timeless MCM (Mid-Century Modern) to Modern Executive armchairs by Charles Pollock for Knoll set of 12. Each chair is comprised of a black leather seat and back with button detail, a...
Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Chrome
1974 Charles Pollock for Knoll Desk Chair in Black 6x Available
By Charles Pollock
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Pollock Executive Chair designed by Charles Pollock for Knoll in 1963. These particular examples date to 1974. Their design features an aluminum frame, and has a padded sea...
Aluminum
10 Executive Armchairs by Charles Pollock for Knoll Black Leather & 4 Prong Base
By Charles Pollock, Knoll
Located in Topeka, KS
Incredible MCM (Mid-Century Modern) to Modern Executive armchairs by Charles Pollock for Knoll set of 10. Each chair is comprised of a black leather seat and back with button detail,...
Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Chrome
Charles Pollockk Penelope Stacking or Stack Chairs
By Charles Pollock, Anonima Castelli
Located in Kansas City, MO
Charles Pollock (Pollack) for Castelli sturdy wire mesh and chromed steel stacking chairs with arms. We took each of these chairs apart and replaced the inner screws that break with ...
Chrome
Set of Four Charles Pollock Chairs
By Charles Pollock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
These hand crafted chairs and hand painted chairs have hand rushed seats and in fine sturdy condition.This set of four chairs are two arm chairs and two regular chairs.
Wood
8 Executive Armchairs by Charles Pollock for Knoll Black Leather & 4 Prong Base
By Charles Pollock, Knoll
Located in Topeka, KS
Classic MCM (Mid-Century Modern) to Modern Executive armchairs by Charles Pollock for Knoll set of 8. Each chair is comprised of a black leather seat and back with button detail, alu...
Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Chrome
1980s Charles Pollock for Knoll Executive Chair
By Charles Pollock
Located in Victoria, BC
This authentic 1980s Charles Pollock Executive Chair for Knoll exemplifies timeless design and comfort. Featuring Pollock’s signature “rim technology”—a single aluminum band encircli...
Metal
6 Executive Armchairs by Charles Pollock for Knoll Black Leather & 4 Prong Base
By Knoll, Charles Pollock
Located in Topeka, KS
Marvelous MCM (Mid-Century Modern) to Modern Executive armchairs by Charles Pollock for Knoll set of 6. Each chair is comprised of a black leather seat and back with button detail, a...
Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Chrome
One Red Executive Knoll Pollock Chair
By Knoll, Charles Pollock
Located in Pasadena, TX
First designed in 1963, Charles Pollock’s timeless design continues to be produced by Knoll in a variety of finishes. The Pollock executive chair features what the designer describ...
Metal
Black & Chrome Plated Metal Penelope Armchair by C. Pollock for A. Castelli, 80s
By Anonima Castelli, Charles Pollock
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Chair with chromed metal, plastic structure and metal mesh shell. Very good condition. Available total 3 items.
Metal, Chrome, Wire
2014 Charles Pollock Bernhardt Design CP1 Lounge Chairs, Purple Fabric (Pair)
By Charles Pollock
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a pair of CP1 Chairs, originally designed by Charles Pollock for Bernhardt Design in 2012. These particular examples were produced in 2014. The design features a purple hand ...
Steel
Italian Eames style Swivel Arm Chair Charles Pollock for Comforto Orange Fabric
By Comforto, Charles Pollock
Located in Markington, GB
Italian executive armchair by Charles Pollock for Comforto, stunning orange fabric swivel desk chair, This plastic / metal framed chair is in very good vintage condition, A classic c...
Metal