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.
$4,210 / set
Set of six early Jens Risom chairs. France 1950.
By Jean Prouvé, Florence Knoll, Marcel Gascoin, Jens Risom
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
Set of six chairs designed by Jens Risom. The oldest model features a solid oak structure and natural reed weaving for both the backrest and seat. The chairs have developed a beautif...
Oak
$8,200 / set
Pair of Lounge Chairs
By Florence Knoll
Located in New York, NY
These are classic and good condition chairs! The upholstery is original and in pretty acceptable condition if one does not want to re-upholster. Hard to find this originality. Flor...
Steel
Pair of Jens Risom Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
By Jens Risom
Located in New York, NY
Danish Jens Risom attributed Mid-Century Modern armchairs with new wool felt upholstery, circa 1960s . Button tufted. Tapered legs with minor loses and fading to wood. Good original ...
Wool
Jens Risom C-120 Armchair
By Jens Risom
Located in Brooklyn, NY
For your consideration is this handsome 1950's model C-120 Jens Risom armchair in exceptional all-original condition. The chair features an exposed, solid walnut frame with an elegan...
Upholstery, Walnut
Pair of Faux Bamboo Lounge Chairs New Upholstery
By Paul Frankl
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Pair of very sharp looking Mid-Century Modern lounge chairs with new upholstery.
$4,210
H 25.2 in W 17.33 in D 16.93 in
Early edition of the 666 chair by Jens Risom, produced by De Coene
By De Coene Frères, Jens Risom
Located in Antwerpen, Antwerp
This early edition of the 666 chair was produced by De Coene. Since 1954 De Coene became the Benelux producer of the expensive Knoll furniture. This rare old set of chairs are in all...
Wood
Pair of Milo Baughman Chrome Frame Lounge Chairs
By Thayer Coggin, Milo Baughman
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair of iconic Flat Bar Lounge Chairs by Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin, featuring a polished steel frame with crème fabric upholstery. Circa : 20th Century, Origin : USA Chrome in ...
Steel
Pair of Lounge Chairs in Ivory Silk
By Preview
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of fully upholstered Art Deco inspired lounge chairs by Preview. Ivory silk upholstery, fixed cushions.
Silk, Upholstery
$2,880Sale Price / set|40% Off
H 31.75 in W 24 in D 26 in
Pair of Handsome Jens Risom Leather and Walnut Chairs
By Jens Risom
Located in Minneapolis, MN
Here is a very handsome pair of chairs in solid walnut and leather designed by Jens Risom and made by Marble. Each chair retains a Marble label. The pair is in good condition--the ch...
Leather, Walnut
Early Chair Attributed to Jens Risom for Knoll
By Jens Risom, Knoll
Located in South Charleston, WV
A very early chair that is attributed to Jens Risom for Knoll. The chair features a vinyl type finish that is in good condition with a few marks and light staining. The legs have ...
Pair of Lounge Chairs by Joaquim Tenreiro
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in San Francisco, CA
A pair of chairs in Jacaranda and upholstered in black faux leather, made in Brazil, circa 1950 by Joaquim Tenreiro. A total of four chairs are available.
Faux Leather, Jacaranda
Pair of Lounge Chairs, Maison Regain, France, 1980's
By Maison Regain
Located in Austin, TX
Pair armless lounge chairs by collectible maker, Maison Regain, with solid elm frames. Notice the handsome slatted backs. Newly upholstered with foam and down cushions in luxurious C...
Wool, Elm
Pair Of Italian Modern Lounge Chairs
By Osvaldo Borsani, Ico Parisi, Marco Zanuso, Gio Ponti, Paolo Buffa
Located in Houston, TX
Pair Of Italian Modern Lounge Chairs. Offered is a sculptural pair of Italian Gio Ponti style lounge chairs professionally upholstered in a plush leopard print cut velvet fabric. The...
Iron
$4,800 / set
H 33.75 in W 26.25 in D 22 in
Jens Risom Design Pair of Oiled Walnut & Leather Upholstered Armchairs, c.1965
By Jens Risom
Located in Miami, FL
Offered for sale is an original pair of Jen Risom Design oiled walnut and leather upholstered armchairs. The chairs have upholstered oval backs on a sculptural walnut base, c.1965. A re-edition of the chair is currently being retailed at John Roselli for $3600 per chair. This pair is in good original condition and has the Jens Risom label...
Leather, Walnut
Sold
H 31.5 in W 31.89 in D 32.29 in
Pair of Lounge Chairs in Chocolate Brown Leather by Florence Knoll
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Dronten, NL
Matching pair of Lounge Chairs designed by Florence Knoll in 1954 for Knoll International in the most exclusive vegetal tanned dark brown Spinneybeck leather. Marked with Knoll logo...
Steel, Chrome
Sold
H 30.5 in W 24.5 in D 29.5 in
Pair Blue Fabric VIntage Florence Knoll Parallel Bar Chrome Accent Lounge Chairs
By Florence Knoll
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A pair of Florence Knoll blue parallel bar accent chairs. A classic set of mid century modern design chairs featuring a beautiful blue fabric upholstery. This classic design features a heavy metal chrome frame with rectangular shapes. The seat sits on an angle that appears to float. Both the seat and the back are one piece featuring a tufted fabric seat. These pieces are in very good condition. They measure 30.5 inches tall, 24.5 inches wide, and 29.5 inches deep. They have a seat...
Chrome
Sold
H 24.5 in W 24.5 in D 20.5 in
Florence Knoll Mid Century Modern Red Fabric Parallel Bar Accent Lounge Chair
By Florence Knoll
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A Florence Knoll red parallel bar accent chair. A classic mid century modern design chair featuring a beautiful red fabric upholstery. This classic ...
Chrome
Sold
H 31 in W 23 in D 23 in
Pair of Florence Knoll Slipper Chairs in Black Leather Brushed Stainless Steel
By Florence Knoll
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A pair of “Slipper Chairs” designed by Florence Knoll. Circa 1960s. Brushed stainless steel frames upholstered in black leather. Classic mid-century modern design feature sturdy fram...
Chrome
Florence Knoll Model 31 Lounge Chair
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in New Windsor, NY
Early Florence Knoll (Florence Knoll Bassett) designed Model 31 lounge chair, circa 1958-62. She designed the chair in 1954 and it was in production until 1968. Black enameled steel ...
Steel
Florence Knoll Model 31 Lounge Chairs
By Florence Knoll
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Florence Knoll for Knoll model 31 lounge chairs in light shell pink circa early 1950's. These examples have been newly upholstered and the tubular metal...
Metal
Sold
H 28.75 in W 24.41 in D 27.17 in
Set of Two Florence Knoll Model 31 Lounge Chairs for Knoll International, 1954
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Echt, NL
Rare set of model 31 lounge chairs in very good condition. Designed by Florence Knoll in 1954 Manufactured by Knoll International These minimalist lounge chairs have a blac...
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs by Florence Knoll
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Stunning vintage lounge chairs designed by Florence Knoll for Knoll Associates, Inc. in the United States, circa 1960s. This lounge chairs have a clean design around its edges and an...
Steel
Florence Knoll 51W Lounge Chair in Leather
By Florence Knoll
Located in Kalamazoo, MI
A Mid-Century Modern classic, this minimalist 1955 design by Florence Knoll for Knoll Associates provides the look and comfort you'd expect. A sleek walnut frame with distinctive joi...
Leather, Walnut
Sold
H 28.75 in W 24.41 in D 27.17 in
Set of Two Florence Knoll Model 31 Lounge Chairs for Knoll International, 1954
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Echt, NL
Rare set of model 31 lounge chairs in very good condition. Designed by Florence Knoll in 1954 Manufactured by Knoll International These minimalist lounge chairs have a black lacq...
Metal
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
Beautiful 1950’s off white leather with parallel bar stainless steel legs lounge chairs designed by Florence Knoll for Knoll. This came out o...
Stainless Steel
Florence Knoll Desk and Charles and Ray Eames Chair
By Knoll, Florence Knoll, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Atlanta, GA
Improve your work from home situation! Clean lined "Mini" model desk, designed by Florence Knoll, paired with an "Aluminum Group" Model chair designed by Charles and Ray Eames for He...
Metal