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.
$19,800 / set
Florence Knoll Armchairs in Pierre Frey Teddy Mohair
By Florence Knoll
Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
These are so beautiful and so comfortable. We love the architectural lines and geometric profile of this iconic Florence Knoll design. This pair is an early example with the walnut l...
Mohair, Walnut
Florence Knoll for Knoll International Mid-Century Upholstered Lounge Armchair
By Florence Knoll
Located in San Francisco, CA
an early 1950s production Florence Knoll for Knoll International lounge chair with loose back and seat cushions all resting on four turned tapering legs
Upholstery
C. 1958 Pair of Florence Knoll 84 ULB Lounge Arm Chairs in Fabric and Wood
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an unusual pair of Florence Knoll Armchairs, model 84 ULB, initially designed by Florence Knoll in 1956. We date this pair to C. 1958, and the listed price includes the pair....
Steel
Florence Knoll lounge chairs model 65a for Knoll International
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Langemark-Poelkapelle, BE
Florence Knoll lounge chair from 1956 model 65a. The chair is part of a seating group that consisted of an armchair, 2-seater and 3-seater with or without armrests. This series was p...
Chrome
Florence Knoll Grey Tuxedo Lounge Chair
By Florence Knoll
Located in Basildon, London
A rare, original “Florence Knoll” lounge chair from the world renown furniture house of Knoll Studio, dressed in a sublime, tactile woven-wool fabric, and with polished chrome framew...
Wool
Knoll Studio “Florence Knoll” Lounge Chair Armchair in Grey Wool
By Florence Knoll
Located in Barrowford, GB
On offer on this occasion is a rare, original “Florence Knoll” Lounge Chair, from the world renown furniture house of Knoll Studio, dressed in a sublime, tactile woven-wool fabric, a...
Metal
Eero Saarinen Upholstered Tulip Armchair for Knoll
By Eero Saarinen
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A special order upholstered tulip arm chair with nice curved back and supportive bottom seat cushion . This is a very comfortable chair for hours of relaxing at home or in the office...
Metal
$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 Knoll, Florence 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...
Steel
Pair of Armchairs Upholstered in Pure Mohair
By Guglielmo Ulrich, Paolo Buffa, Gio Ponti
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
A super pair of modern armchairs, in the manner of Guglielmo Ulrich, newly upholstered in a rust / burnt orange pure Mohair fabric. Quality handmade beech frames, traditional hand ...
Wood, Mohair
$9,303
H 29.14 in W 96.07 in D 30.71 in
Florence Knoll Sofa Knoll International 3 Seater Knoll International Model 26
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Berlin, BE
Authentic mid-century collectible with documented provenance: This spacious Florence Knoll Model 26-3KC sofa was produced in the 1960s and upholstered in an exceptionally high-qualit...
Steel, Chrome
Rare Florence Knoll Model 65 Slipper Lounge Chair, 1956
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Dronten, NL
Slipper chair designed in 1955 by Florence Knoll and produced by Knoll International. Rare Model No. 65, only produced from 1955-1973. We bought this chair directly from the family ...
Chrome
Lounge Chair by Florence Knoll for Knoll
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A lounge chair formed by an armless button-tufted upholstered seat resting on a matte steel, rectilinear architectural frame.
Steel
Tuxedo english Knole Armchair with bronze Legs
Located in Ballard, CA
The distinctive Anouk chair is a tribute to the legendary Lady Knole settee. The chair features exquisite craftsmanship, hand sculpted bronze legs and finials, and is complimented w...
Bronze
Florence Knoll for Knoll International Lounge Chair in Teak
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Florence Knoll for Knoll International, lounge chair, model '51', teak, fabric, United States, 1955 This slipper chair model 51 is designed by Florence Knoll. The teak frame of the chair is sleek in form. The angled seat is placed upon the squared-off frame. Maximum seating comfort is ensured by the wide seat and tilted backrest. Florence Knoll (1917-) was trained as an architect and had a sense of style from a very young age. In 1936 she met Alvar Aalto and was trained by Marcel Breuer, Walter Gropius and Mies van der Rohe. This meant that although she was barely out of her teens, she was educated by the best of the European modernists. When she arrived in New York Knoll worked on interior projects (being the only female) which is how she came to know Hans Knoll. When Florence joined Knoll, the planning unit started. Florence also made sure that the designs where more 'American Modernist' instead of Scandinavian, When Hans Knoll died she...
Fabric, Teak
$11,600Sale Price|20% Off
H 38.5 in W 41.3 in D 35.4 in
Newly Made Minotaure Armchair by Pierre Augustin Rose in Pierre Frey Fabric
Located in Wainscott, NY
Newly Made Minotaure Armchair by Pierre Augustin Rose in Pierre Frey fabric. Dimensions: L 35.4″ x W 41.3” x H 38.5” x SH 17.7" Materials: Pierre Frey...
Wool, Oak
Florence Knoll Tan Leather Button Tufted Lounge Chair, 1970s
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Aramits, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Florence Knoll lounge chair in tan leather with button tufted seat and back on a chrome-plated steel base. Labeled Art Metal - Knoll Corp., June 9 1971 The chair has some losses to ...
Steel
$8,643
H 27.96 in W 31.89 in D 32.29 in
Organic Gustav Bergmann Armchair in Pierre Frey Bouclé and Beech, Germany, 1960s
By Gustav Bergmann
Located in The Hague, NL
This extremely rare armchair was designed by Gustav Bergmann and produced by his company in Lippe, Germany in the early 1960s. The organic and round lines of the design give the chai...
Fabric, Wool, Bouclé, Upholstery, Beech
Pair of Barrel-Back Lounge Chairs, France, 1930s
By Jean Pascaud
Located in Split, Splitsko-dalmatinska županija
Drawn with the quiet confidence of a single, unbroken line, this pair of French barrel-back lounge chairs distills the spirit of 1930s design into a composition of curved mass and at...
Leather, Walnut, Fabric
Sold
H 30.32 in W 33.86 in D 27.56 in
Pair Of Lounge Armchairs In Black Leather By Florence Knoll For Knoll Studio
By Florence Knoll
Located in London, GB
This pair of lounge armchairs, designed by Florence Knoll for Knoll Studio are as timeless today as when they were first created. Upholstered in sleek black leather, with polished ...
Leather
Mid Century Modern Pair of Florence Knoll Tufted Armchairs
By Florence Knoll
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A pair of mid century modern Florence Knoll tufted armchairs. A fabulous set of armchairs from Florence Knoll featuring her iconic tufted design, chrome frame legs, and a rectangular silhouette. This set of accent chairs...
Fabric
Two Armchairs '65 Slipper' Florence Knoll
By Florence Knoll
Located in Milano, IT
Pair of 1970s armchairs with foam padding and newly renewed gray fabric upholstery, chrome metal base. Very good condition.
Metal
Sold
H 32.68 in W 28.35 in D 29.53 in
Florence Knoll, Pair of Lounge Chairs Model 65 for Knoll, circa 1960
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Paris, FR
Pair of lounge chairs model 65 designed by Florence Knoll and produced by Knoll International, circa 1960. This model of chair was manufactured only from 1958 to 1975. These chairs...
Steel, Chrome
Eero Sarineen Original Executive Armchairs in South African Cow Hide
By Florence Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Saint Louis, US
Featured in nearly all Florence Knoll-designed interiors, the Saarinen Executive Chair has remained one of the most popular designs for many decades. Our expert team of skilled uphol...
Cowhide
Pair of Armchairs by Florence Knoll 1968
By Florence Knoll
Located in Bruxelles, BE
Pair of Armchairs by Florence Knoll for Knoll International and made under license by Decoene in Kortrijk in 1968 see pictures of the bon de commande we find in the structure of the ...
Metal
Florence Knoll Model 65A Arm Chair by Knoll International
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Utrecht, NL
Model 65A arm chair is a design by Florence Knoll from 1956. The chair is part of a seating group that consisted of an armchair with or without armrests (slipper Chairs) and a sofa w...
Steel
Pair of Florence Knoll Leather Armchairs
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Hanover, MA
Originally designed by Florence Knoll in 1954 and in continuous production ever since, this beautiful pair was produced by Knoll in 2010 for the offices of a Boston investment bank. ...
Chrome
Florence Knoll Grey Tuxedo Lounge Chair
By Florence Knoll
Located in Basildon, London
A rare, original “Florence Knoll” lounge chair from the world renown furniture house of Knoll Studio, dressed in a sublime, tactile woven-wool fabric, and with polished chrome framew...
Wool
Pair of Mid-Century Modern 657 Lounge by Charles Pollock for Knoll
By Charles Pollock, Florence Knoll
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Original pair of 657 sling armchairs in cognac leather with seat pads. Mid-1960s version retaining labels on both the pad and the sling. Hard to find an original pair. Some pitting ...
Leather
Knoll Studio "Florence Knoll" Lounge Armchair in Mid-Grey Wool
By Florence Knoll
Located in Barrowford, GB
On offer on this occasion is a rare, original “Florence Knoll” lounge chair, from the world renown furniture house of Knoll Studio, dressed in a sublime, tactile woven-wool fabric, a...
Wool
Set of 6 Mid-Century Modern Chrome Knoll Office Chairs with Grey Fabric
By Florence Knoll
Located in Houston, TX
Sleek modern designed dining chairs or office chairs by Knoll. The chairs come in a set of six and have chrome bases with slate grey colored fabric. We would suggest that the meta...
Chrome