Florence Knoll

American, 1917-2019

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.

Average Sold Price

$5,013

Styles

Materials

Related Creators

Iconic Designs from Florence Knoll

Explore timeless pieces that have earned their place in history.

Florence Knoll Sofa

Florence Knoll Lounge Chair

Florence Knoll Bench

Relaxed Sofa

Mid century Florence Knoll Black & White Cabinet Credenza leather pulls

$3,200Sale Price|20% Off

H 28 in W 72 in D 18 in

Mid century Florence Knoll Black & White Cabinet Credenza leather pulls

By Florence Knoll, Knoll

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Mid Century Florence knoll Black & White Credenza. Beautiful practical credenza for living or office space. Has (4) White laminate front Sliding doors with leather pulls that rev...

Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Florence Knoll

Materials

Chrome

Florence Knoll for Knoll International Sideboard with Marble Top

$7,450

H 25.91 in W 75.12 in D 18.71 in

Florence Knoll for Knoll International Sideboard with Marble Top

By Florence Knoll, Knoll

Located in Waalwijk, NL

Florence Knoll for Knoll International, sideboard, lacquered oak, metal, Carrara marble, United States, 1960s. Credenza with chromed base designed by Florence Knoll for Knoll Inter...

Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Florence Knoll

Materials

Marble, Metal

Florence Knoll for Knoll International Sofa in Blue Upholstery and Steel

$3,300

H 29.93 in W 88.59 in D 27.56 in

Florence Knoll for Knoll International Sofa in Blue Upholstery and Steel

By Florence Knoll, Knoll

Located in Waalwijk, NL

Florence Knoll for Knoll International, sofa, model '67A', steel, fabric, United States, design 1958, production 1960s/70s This sofa model 67A is designed by Florence Knoll for Knol...

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Florence Knoll

Materials

Steel

Florence Knoll for Knoll Associates Compact Three Drawer Teak Dressers, A Pair

$3,775 / set

H 33 in W 36 in D 19.25 in

Florence Knoll for Knoll Associates Compact Three Drawer Teak Dressers, A Pair

By Florence Knoll, Knoll

Located in New Windsor, NY

A pair of Florence Knoll three drawer teak cabinets on brushed steel bases. Both dressers retain the Knoll Associates Inc., 320 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022 paper labels. Circa 19...

Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Florence Knoll

Materials

Steel, Nickel

Florence Knoll Credenza Marble Knoll International Mid Century

$26,325Sale Price|20% Off

H 26.38 in W 187.41 in D 18.12 in

Florence Knoll Credenza Marble Knoll International Mid Century

By Florence Knoll, Knoll

Located in Berlin, BE

This exceptional pair of Florence Knoll credenzas represents an extraordinarily rare opportunity to acquire two perfectly matching examples that can be displayed either together or i...

Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Florence Knoll

Materials

Marble

Florence Knoll for Knoll Model 116 Walnut and Cane Sliding Door Credenza

$7,795

H 31 in W 72 in D 18 in

Florence Knoll for Knoll Model 116 Walnut and Cane Sliding Door Credenza

By Florence Knoll, Knoll

Located in Franklin Park, IL

Florence Knoll for Knoll Model 116 Mid Century Walnut and Cane Sliding Door Credenza This credenza measures: 72 wide x 18 deep x 31 inches high Good Vintage Condition - Credenza ha...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Florence Knoll

Materials

Walnut, Cane

Florence Knoll for Knoll Mid Century Walnut Chest of Drawers Dresser - Pair

$5,195 / set

H 29.5 in W 36 in D 19.5 in

Florence Knoll for Knoll Mid Century Walnut Chest of Drawers Dresser - Pair

By Florence Knoll, Knoll

Located in Franklin Park, IL

Florence Knoll for Knoll Mid Century Walnut Chest of Drawers Dresser - Pair Each chest of drawers measures: 36 wide x 19.5 deep x 29.5 inches high Good Vintage Condition - Chests h...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Florence Knoll

Materials

Walnut

Florence Knoll for Knoll International Sofa in Teak and Grey Upholstery

$9,450

H 29.93 in W 90.56 in D 31.5 in

Florence Knoll for Knoll International Sofa in Teak and Grey Upholstery

By Florence Knoll

Located in Waalwijk, NL

Florence Knoll for Knoll International, sofa, model '2557', fabric, teak, 1955 This sofa model 2557 is designed by Florence Knoll for Knoll International in 1955. This sofa is simpl...

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Florence Knoll

Materials

Fabric, Teak

Browse all Furniture from Florence Knoll

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Florence Knoll Sale Prices

Sold Date

Sold Price

Category

Material

Creation Year

2026	$4,300	Benches	Steel, Leather, Plastic, Foam	2016
2026	$5,656	Credenzas	Metal, Leather, Iron, Maple	1950s
2026	$5,000	Credenzas	Maple, Walnut	1950's
2026	$9,414	Cabinets		1950
2026	$3,800	Slipper Chairs, Lounge Chairs	Upholstery, Chrome	1960-1969
2026	$3,995	Desks and Writing Tables	Steel, Chrome, Walnut	1960s
2026	$13,300	Credenzas	Steel, Marble, Rosewood	1970s
2026	$4,675	Credenzas	Leather, Birch	1950s
2026	$9,000	Dressers	Rosewood, Plywood, Steel, Plastic, Rubber	1960
2026	$395	Side Tables	Chrome, Walnut	1970
2026	$4,576	Sideboards	Steel, Chrome, Walnut	1990
2026	$4,500	Sofas	Fabric	circa 2000
2026	$2,000	Coffee and Cocktail Tables, Side Tables	Metal, Formica	circa 1950
2026	$8,400	Dining Room Tables	Rosewood	1960s
2026	$8,075	Cabinets, Credenzas	Stainless Steel, Marble, Mahogany	1990s
2026	$3,000	Coffee and Cocktail Tables	Iron, Walnut	1960
2026	$6,525	Benches	Steel, Leather, Chrome	2000's
2026	$2,500	Dressers	Chrome, Walnut	1956
2026	$7,000	Dining Room Tables	Steel, Marble	Circa 1980
2026	$4,000	Sofas	Leather, Chrome	2008

$5,013

Average sold price of items in the past 12 months

$395-$13,300

Sold price range of items in the past 12 months

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More Florence Knoll Designs

Florence Knoll Sofa

Average Price

$9,050

Number Available

Florence Knoll Sofa

By Florence Knoll

Materials

Metal, Fabric, Chrome, Upholstery

Styles

Mid Century Modern

Although Michigan native Florence Knoll (1917–2019) modestly described her furniture as “meat and potatoes” designs that were largely “fill-in pieces” for the Knoll Associates catalog, works like the Florence Knoll sofa demonstrate her artful expression of modern proportions. Introduced in 1954, the sofa was made during the American designer and entrepreneur’s direction of the Knoll Planning Unit, the company’s pioneering “design consultant service” that would define the look of the postwar w...

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Florence Knoll Lounge Chair

Average Price

$6,881

Number Available

Florence Knoll Lounge Chair

By Florence Knoll

Materials

Fabric, Upholstery, Metal, Steel, Wood

Styles

Mid Century Modern

It doesn’t get more timeless or starkly modern than the boxy chrome-footed Florence Knoll lounge chair.Designed in 1954 by Florence Knoll Bassett (1917–2019) for the legendary furniture manufacturer Knoll Inc. that she helped establish with her husband Hans Knoll, the chair is representative of all her signature gestures, from the sturdy construction to the button tufting, and like the rest of her work, it embodies the very essence of modernism.In many ways, Knoll was destined to become a hou...

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Florence Knoll Bench

Average Price

$8,173

Number Available

Florence Knoll Bench

By Florence Knoll

Materials

Metal, Chrome, Fabric, Steel, Wood

Styles

Mid Century Modern

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Relaxed Sofa

Average Price

$1,410

Number Available

Relaxed Sofa

By Florence Knoll

Materials

Fabric, Walnut, Wood

Styles

Mid Century Modern

Shop All

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Florence Knoll furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Florence Knoll furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Florence Knoll furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Florence Knoll were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Adrian Pearsall, Harvey Probber, and Craft Associates. Prices for Florence Knoll furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $600 and can go as high as $30,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $4,800.

Questions About Florence Knoll

Who is Florence Knoll?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
Florence Knoll was an architect and furniture designer who greatly influenced mid-century design. She established the furniture company Knoll, Inc., which continues to manufacture pieces inspired by her designs. Knoll died on January 25, 2019, at the age of 101. Find a collection of Florence Knoll furniture on 1stDibs.
How do I pronounce Florence Knoll?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
To pronounce Florence Knoll, say "FLO-rens Noll." The "K" in the designer's last name is silent. Florence Knoll's maiden name was Florence Marguerite Schust, pronounced "shusht." She changed her name after marrying Hans Knoll in 1946. Find a range of Florence Knoll furniture on 1stDibs.
Where does Florence Knoll live?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
Florence Knoll lived in the U.S. throughout her life. She was born in Saginaw, Michigan, on May 24, 1917, and she died in Coral Gables, Florida, on January 25, 2019. From 1940 to 1941, she attended the Chicago Armour Institute in Chicago, Illinois. After that, she lived and worked in New York City for many years. On 1stDibs, find a range of Florence Knoll furniture.
What furniture did Florence Knoll make?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
Florence Knoll made a number of well-known furniture designs and founded the company Knoll, Inc. Some of her most acclaimed pieces include the Florence Knoll lounge chair, the Florence Knoll sofa, the Florence Knoll bench and the Florence Knoll settee. Shop a variety of Florence Knoll furniture on 1stDibs.
What did Florence Knoll call the Womb chair?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024
What Florence Knoll called the Womb chair after it was created is unknown. However, its creator Eero Saarinen stated that Knoll inspired him to make the piece by asking him to design the most comfortable chair ever, saying specifically that she wanted something that felt like "a basket full of pillows." Presented with the challenge, Saarinen went primal. What, the designer figured, better signifies the very essence of comfort than the womb? "It was designed on the theory that a great number of people have never really felt comfortable and secure since they left the womb,” the designer said of his chair. Find a selection of vintage Womb chairs on 1stDibs.
Did Florence Knoll put a number on her pieces?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
No, Florence Knoll didn't usually put a number on her pieces. To identify Florence Knoll furniture, look for a tag or mark that bears the name "Knoll" or "Knoll, Inc." On chairs, the labels are usually on the bottom cushion. On 1stDibs, find a collection of expertly vetted Florence Knoll furniture.