Mid-century modern design in America wouldn’t look the way it does without Knoll. The company’s acclaimed seating — lounge chairs, armchairs, office chairs and other furnishings created by a who’s who of designers and by Knoll’s pioneering cofounder, Florence Knoll (1917–2019) — helped define high-rise corporate culture and was rapidly adopted for use in living rooms, where it endures as a timeless favorite all over the world.
“Many of the designs that he had at that time were ones that I did not approve of,” Florence Knoll once recalled of her German-born husband, Hans Knoll (1914–55), the son of German modernist furniture manufacturer Walter Knoll.
A native of Michigan, Florence already had a world-class immersion in design when she met Hans. Orphaned at age 12, she was enrolled at Kingswood School, part of the Cranbrook Academy of Art, which became the go-to school for legends of mid-century design. Florence became very close with Cranbrook head Eliel Saarinen, his wife and their son, Eero. She later studied with Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and worked for Marcel Breuer and Bauhaus school founder Walter Gropius. When Florence married Hans in 1946, he had been at work since 1938 on his own eponymous furniture line in New York City.
With Florence’s design acumen, the Knolls turned the company into a powerhouse of modernist design. The Knoll Planning Unit, created by Florence in the mid-1940s, designed office spaces for the likes of GM and CBS, helping to define the postwar corporate aesthetic.
The department’s small team designed furniture with practicality, efficiency and sleekness in mind, attributes that clearly define furnishings such as Eero Saarinen’s sculptural Executive chair, which was introduced in 1948 as the Model 72 and used for the General Motors Technical Center in Warren, Michigan. (The armed version, which followed in 1950, was also specified for the campus, an architectural project of Saarinen’s.) This seating, as well as pieces designed by Florence initially for commercial clients, soon became desirable for apartments and houses.
Knoll collaborated with an all-star cast of designers, including Saarinen, whose Womb chair arose from Florence’s request for “a chair that was like a basket full of pillows.” The catalogue includes some of the century’s most recognizable forms: Saarinen’s Tulip chairs, Harry Bertoia’s wire-lattice Diamond chair, the Cyclone table by artist Isamu Noguchi and pieces by Massimo and Lella Vignelli, Jens Risom, Marcel Breuer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, who granted Knoll exclusive permission to produce his designs. The manufacturer continues to produce the only authorized version of the elegant and oft-copied Barcelona chair, which Mies created in collaboration with designer Lilly Reich, his creative and romantic partner.
By 1950 — when production for Knoll was moved to East Greenville, Pennsylvania — more than one third of the designs in the company’s portfolio were Florence’s own. She thought of her furniture as “meat and potatoes,” mere practicality.
“People ask me if I am a furniture designer,” she once said. “I am not. . . . I designed the fill-in pieces that no one else was doing.” But decades later, her own designs, like the Florence Knoll sofa, with its clean architectural lines, and her Bauhaus-inspired Lounge chair, are icons in their own right.
In 2021, Knoll was acquired by Herman Miller, another legendary American furniture manufacturer that turned a number of designers into mid-century household names. The combined company operates under the name MillerKnoll.
Find a collection of vintage Knoll dining chairs, sofas and other seating on 1stDibs.
$6,500 / set
Rare Bar Stools by Knoll Circa 1960s Set of 3
By Knoll
Located in Oakland, CA
Set of 3 Knoll modernist bar stools a very rare variant with only a handful that have ever been avaible on the open market and are not listed in any of their catalogs. Having black e...
Steel, Chrome, Enamel
Four (4) NIB Cesca Bar Stools Marcel Breuer Knoll Chromed Steel Upholstery
By Knoll, Marcel Breuer
Located in Philadelphia, PA
At the Bauhaus, Marcel Breuer married traditional craftsmanship with industrial methods and materials to help make tubular steel furniture an international sensation and a modern institution. Marcel Breuer was also the designer of the iconic Wassily chair and the Breuer Building, which now houses the Whitney Museum of American Art in the heart of NYC. This brand new set is in the super elegant "Caviar Hourglass" upholstery, and have never been used. These chairs are new in box, and have been priced near the first-party Knoll price. However, we can offer discounted and faster shipping, and are willing to reasonably negotiate. At this time, we have a total of 8 stools...
Steel, Chrome
Set Of 4 Knoll Bertoia Polished Chrome Bar Stools
By Knoll
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Set of 4 Knoll Bertoia polished chrome bar stools with a welded, chromed-steel wire seat & back, four legs conjoined with a box stretcher and resting on pad feet. The pieces have the...
Other, Chrome
Midcentury Chrome Bar Stools by Harry Bertoia for Knoll
By Harry Bertoia, Knoll
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Mid century classic and iconic Bertoia for Knoll stools in a high chrome finish. Architectural design, clean original condition, ready to use. Very solid and sturdy showing no loss t...
Steel, Stainless Steel, Chrome
'Forest' Chrome Swivel Bar Stool by Arik Levy for Bernhardt Design Knoll Textile
By Bernhardt Design, Arik Levy, Knoll
Located in St. Louis, MO
'Forest' Bar swivel stool designed by Arik Levy for Bernhardt Design The listed price is per bar stool, and have seven stools available for purchase in same colorway. Their design fe...
Chrome, Stainless Steel
Pair of Classic Original Tulip Stools by Eero Saarinen for Knoll
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Original Tulip Stool in cast aluminum by Eero Saarinen for Knoll. Eero Saarinen vowed to address the “ugly, confusing, unrestful world” he observed underneath chairs and tables -- th...
Aluminum
Rare Mid Century Modern Drafting Stool by Eero Saarinen for Knoll Model 77S 1956
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Troy, MI
Rare drafting stool designed by Eero Saarinen Knoll USA circa 1954 Very rare draftsman chair in original yellow upholstery designed by Eero Saarinen...
Steel
Pair of Knoll Saarinen Swiveling Tulip Base Stools
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Toledo, OH
Pair of Knoll Saarinen Swiveling Tulip Base Stools. Circa 1970's. Designed by Eero Saarinen for Knoll the maker. Mid-Century Modern Style. Recovered b...
Aluminum
$660Sale Price / item|40% Off
Knoll "Tulip" Chrome Stool by Eero Saarinen w/ Nairobi Upholstery Seat
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Knoll "Tulip" Chrome Stool by Eero Saarinen with Sunbrella "Nairobi" acrylic upholstery seat making a striking black and white botanical fern pattern on the bark cloth fabric. The st...
Steel, Chrome
2020s Mies Van Der Rohe for Knoll Four Seasons Bar Stool with Hair on Hide
By Knoll, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Four Seasons Bar Stool, originally designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe for Knoll in 1958. These particular examples were produced in ...
Steel
2019 Marcel Breuer for Knoll Cesca Bar Stools in Two Tone Fabric 6x Available
By Knoll, Marcel Breuer
Located in Philadelphia, PA
These are Cesca Bar Stools, originally designed by Marcel Breuer in 1928. These particular examples were produced by Knoll in 2019. The stools are comp...
Steel
2000s Knoll / AMAT 3 Jamaica Bar Stools designed by Pepe Cortes 10x Available
By Pepe Cortés, Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a single (multiple stools are available, priced individually) Jamaica bar stool, originally designed by Pepe Cortes for AMAT-3 in 1993. These stools are a later Knoll & AMAT-...
Aluminum
Tulip Stool by Eero Saarinen for Knoll
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
The original 1970s Tulip Stool by Eero Saarinen for Knoll is a celebrated piece of mid-century modern design, characterized by its sleek and minimalist aesthetic. The stool features ...
Aluminum
Warren Platner for Knoll Nickel Finish and Fabric Stool, circa 1980s
By Knoll, Warren Platner
Located in Oakland, CA
Architect Warren Platner designed stool constructed of nickel-plated steel and fabric for Knoll. Hand crafted by Matricola of Italy for Knoll, the frame is resist welded and the plat...
Steel, Nickel
$4,250 / set
Knoll Barcelona Stools by Mies Van Der Rohe
By Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Knoll
Located in Atlanta, GA
Iconic Pair of Barcelona stools or ottomans, designed by Mies van der Rohe for Knoll, American, circa 2000s. Retains Knoll tag underneath. They have been cleaned and a leather condit...
Metal
Italian Mid Century Barcelona Pouf by Mies Van Der Rohe for Knoll, 1970s
By Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Knoll
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian Mid-Century Modern white leather Barcelona pouf or footrest by Mies Van Der Rohe for Knoll, 1970s. Pouf or footrest mod. Barcelona with polyurethane foam seat covered in whit...
Steel
1950s Andre Dupre for Knoll Bauhaus Tubular Steel and Cord Cantilever Stool
By Knoll, Andre Dupre
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Tubular Chromed Steel and White Rubber Cantilever Stool, designed by Andre Dupre for Knoll in the 1950s. The knotted rubber cord is expertly wrapped around the steel base, ...
Steel, Chrome
Early Eero Saarinen for Knoll International Stool with Original Fabric
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
An exceptional early example of Eero Saarinen’s timeless design for Knoll International, this iconic stool showcases the elegance and simplicity that define mid-century modernism. Retaining its original upholstery, the stool reflects Saarinen’s refined approach to form and function. Measuring 15 inches in diameter and 18 inches in height, the piece is perfectly scaled for use as a vanity stool...
Aluminum
Four (4) NIB Cesca Bar Stools Marcel Breuer Knoll Chromed Steel Upholstery
By Knoll, Marcel Breuer
Located in Philadelphia, PA
At the Bauhaus, Marcel Breuer married traditional craftsmanship with industrial methods and materials to help make tubular steel furniture an international sensation and a modern institution. Marcel Breuer was also the designer of the iconic Wassily chair and the Breuer Building, which now houses the Whitney Museum of American Art in the heart of NYC. This brand new set is in the super elegant "Caviar Hourglass" upholstery, and have never been used. These chairs are new in box, and have been priced near the first-party Knoll price. However, we can offer discounted and faster shipping, and are willing to reasonably negotiate. At this time, we have a total of 8 stools...
Steel, Chrome
Set of 3 Piton Stools by Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby for Knoll, Signed
By Knoll, Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of three Piton stools designed by Edward Barber and Osgerby in 2013 and manufactured by Knoll. The stools are made in die cast steel with a wooden swivel seat. All of the t...
Steel
Classic Original Tulip Stool by Eero Saarinen by Knoll
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Original Tulip Stool in cast aluminum by Eero Saarinen for Knoll. Eero Saarinen vowed to address the “ugly, confusing, unrestful world” he observed underneath chairs and tables -- th...
Aluminum
$519Sale Price|40% Off
Mid-Century Modern Pink Bar Stool By Daystrom And Knoll
By Knoll, Daystrom Furniture
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Mid-Century Modern bar stools by Daystrom. Newly powder-coated in pink and simi-orange vintage MCM chrome bar stool in original black vinyl fabric, Marked DAYSTROM on the back.
Metal
Florence Knoll, Model 75 Stools, Birch, Iron, Knoll Associates, USA, 1948
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of birch and iron stools, model 75, designed by Florence Knoll and produced by Knoll Associates, USA, 1948.
Iron
Early Jens Risom for Knoll Strap Stool
By Jens Risom, Knoll
Located in St. Louis, MO
Early Jens Risom for Knoll strap stool for Knoll, missing label, but date stamped May 15, 1952. Original finish shows age, original strap webbing wor...
Maple
Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Wire Stool by Warren Platner for Knoll C1970
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Simple yet elegant vanity stool by Warren Platner for Knoll c1970. Brand new cushion with all new foam in burnt orange color. Attached using velcro to lock in place. In excellent v...
Steel
Jamaica Barstools by Pepe Cortés for Amat-3 for Knoll, Pair
By Knoll, Amat-3, Pepe Cortés
Located in Stamford, CT
Pepe Cortés’ intention for his Jamaica Stools was ease of placement in a range of environments. Commercial grade durability paired with essential comfort for the home are both found ...
Aluminum
$9,000 / set
Set of custom ordered Florence Knoll Benches
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Amarillo, TX
Florence Knoll Pair of benches USA 1954 leather, steel Measures: 48 W x 19.5 D x 16.75 H inches Pair of custom-sized Florence Knoll benches in a custom flat steel finish wit...
Steel
Set of Four Bar Stools by Harry Bertoia for Knoll
By Harry Bertoia, Knoll
Located in Dallas, TX
Acquired from retired architects estate. Set of four early production bar stools by Harry Bertoia, designed in 1952 for Knoll. The bar stools are constructed of molded fiberglass and...
Iron
Harry Bertoia for Knoll Associates Brown Leather and Chrome Bench
By Harry Bertoia, Knoll
Located in Queens, NY
American Mid-Century rectangular bench with a two section chocolate brown leather upholstered seat resting on a square chrome tube frame. (HARRY BERTOIA FOR KNOLL ASSOCIATES).
Metal, Chrome
Jens Risom for Knoll Mid Century Strap Stool Ottoman
By Jens Risom, Knoll
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Jens Risom for Knoll Mid Century Strap Stool Ottoman This stool measures: 16.5 wide x 15.25 deep x 17.25 inches high All pieces of furniture can be had in what we call restored vin...
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
$700Sale Price|41% Off
Eero Saarinen Knoll Tulip Stool, Swivel, Blue, White, Signed
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in New York, NY
Eero Saarinen for Knoll Stool, Swivel, Blue, White Signed. According to Steven and Linda Rouland's 1999 book: "Knoll Furniture, 1938-1960", the tulip stool was originally called the pedestal stool (152 S) and was described as "foam rubber upholstered cushion on Aluminum base with fused plastic finish". Retains 320 Park Avenue label on the underside of the seat in addition to being stamped "BR 51...
Aluminum
Pair of Harry Bertoia Wire Barstools for Knoll With Red Pads, Signed
By Knoll, Harry Bertoia
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Add a touch of modern elegance to your home with this exquisite Pair of Harry Bertoia Wire Barstools for Knoll With Red Pads, Signed. Crafted with precision and artistry, these iconi...
Steel
$353Sale Price / item|50% Off
Knoll by Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby Black Piton Swivel Stool
By Knoll
Located in Basildon, London
Originally designed by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby for Knoll in 2015, the Piton stool is a fantastic example of contemporary furniture design. Perfectly balancing style and practi...
Metal
Tulip Stools by Saarinen/Knoll for the Swiss Rolex Geneva HQ, Set of 2
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Renens, CH
Set of two Knoll swivel stools designed by Eero Saarinen and produced by Knoll in Switzerland during the 1970s. This ensemble comes with the original Knoll leather. These stools c...
Metal
Set of Three Harry Bertoia Barstools for Knoll, Signed & New in Original Boxes
By Knoll, Harry Bertoia
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Enhance your home or office space with this exquisite set of three Harry Bertoia barstools for Knoll. Crafted with impeccable attention to deta...
Steel
2010s Harry Bertoia for Knoll Bar Stool in Chrome 4x Available
By Harry Bertoia, Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
These are Bertoia Bar Stools, originally designed by Harry Bertoia in 1952. These particular examples were produced by Knoll in the 2010s. The stools are comprised of welded and chro...
Steel
2010s Pair of Harry Bertoia Wire Bar Stools with Leather Pads with Chrome Frames
By Harry Bertoia, Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a pair of Bertoia Stools, originally designed in 1952 by Harry Bertoia for Knoll International. These particular examples date to the 2010s. Their design consists of a welded...
Steel
Bar Stool for Knoll, 1940s
By Knoll
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A beautifully constructed stool having an architectural blackened steel base with a floating chrome footrest supporting a sculptural walnut seat upholstered with thick patinated wove...
Steel
Mid-Century Modern Knoll Rockwell Unscripted Swivel Bar and Low Stool, Set of 2
By Knoll
Located in Chicago, IL
Mid-Century Modern Knoll Rockwell unscripted swivel bar and low stool - set of 2 The Rockwell unscripted upholstered seat offers fun punctuation to dining, living or office spaces. Mix them with Classic Knoll dining chairs to create an Eclectic statement at your table or sprinkle them around for impromptu guest seating. Make funky colorful side...
Fabric
C. 1946 Jens Risom for Knoll Stool 667-W with Original Label
By Jens Risom, Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Risom Stool, Model 667-W, originally designed by Jens Risom in 1946. This particular example was produced by Knoll in the USA C. 1946. The stools design is comprised of a m...
Fabric, Maple
$1,200
Bertoia for Knoll Stool
By Knoll, Harry Bertoia
Located in New York, NY
Classic Bertoia design counter stool manufactured by Knoll International, circa 1950s-1960s. This example is in very good original condition, showing only light cosmetic wear, normal...
Wrought Iron
C. 1951 Jens Risom for Knoll Stool 667-W in Maple and Canvas with Label
By Jens Risom, Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Risom Stool, Model 667-W, originally designed by Jens Risom in 1946. This particular example was produced by Knoll in the USA C. 1951. The stools design is comprised of a m...
Maple, Fabric
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bertoia For Knoll Wire Bar Stool
By Knoll
Located in Toledo, OH
Bertoia for Knoll wire chrome plated bar stool. Two are available. Price reflects one. Very solid and in very good condition. Remnants of a Knoll label was attached to the back of th...
Chrome
Lawrence Laske Toothpick Cactus Table for Knoll Studio, model 81TR20
By Lawrence Laske, Knoll
Located in Chicago, IL
Lawrence Laske Toothpick Cactus Table for Knoll Studio, model 81TR20 Birds-eye maple top with solid maple legs. Metal manufacturer's label to un...
Aluminum
C. 2021 Marcel Breuer Cesca Bar Stool in Crimson Fabric w/ Cantilever Base
By Knoll, Marcel Breuer
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an armless Cesca bar stool, model 51CH, originally designed by Marcel Breuer in 1928. The listed price includes one Cesca bar stool. This example was...
Steel, Chrome
Mid-Century Modern Knoll Bertoia Wire Bar Counter Stool
By Knoll, Harry Bertoia
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Single Knoll bar stool by Harry Bertoia. Seat pad labeled with tag and printed into the fabric Knoll. Has some loss to vinyl coating, pictured. Very ti...
Steel
$9,328Sale Price / set|20% Off
Knoll Charles Pfister Sofa Set in Grey Leather, USA, 1970s in Gray
By Charles Pfister, Knoll
Located in Berlin, DE
A original three-seat leather sofa design in 1971 by Charles Pfister for Knoll. Original grey color Knoll leather. Overall dimensions: 86” wide, 33” deep, 29” high, 16” seat, 24” arm...
Leather
Harry Bertoia for Knoll Mid Century Chrome Counter Stools - Set of 4
By Knoll, Harry Bertoia
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Harry Bertoia for Knoll Mid Century Chrome Counter Stools - Set of 4 Each counter stool measures: 21.25 wide x 22 deep x 39.25 high, with a seat height of 28.25 inches Excellent Vi...
Chrome
Knoll Charles Pfister Sofa Set in Grey Leather, USA, 1970s in Gray
By Knoll, Charles Pfister
Located in Berlin, DE
A original three-seat leather sofa design in 1971 by Charles Pfister for Knoll. Original grey color Knoll leather. Overall dimensions: 86” wide, 33” deep, 29” high, 16” seat, 24” arm...
Leather
Pair of Eero Saarinen Barstools for Knoll, Upholstered, Labeled & Dated
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Offered is a pair of authentic Eero Saarinen barstools for Knoll, a modernist classic that embodies the designer’s pioneering vision of organic, scul...
Fabric, Wood
David Rockwell for Knoll Easy Stools – 5 Bar Height & 1 Low Stool
By Knoll, David Rockwell
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Complete set of five bar-height stools and one low stool from the Easy Collection, designed by David Rockwell for Knoll International. Featuring a clean, contemporary design, each st...
Steel
$1,110Sale Price|40% Off
Knoll "Tulip" Chrome Stool by Eero Saarinen W/ Zebra Seat, Pair
By Knoll
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Eero Saarinen designed a chrome stool with a "tulip" shape made popular by this model in the knoll company. This steel cast stool features the original chrome finish with a Zebra pri...
Steel
Mies van der Rohe MR Stool, Knoll 1970
By Knoll, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Located in Chicago, IL
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe MR Stool, Knoll 1970’s. Original leather Measures 18” tall 19.25” wide 25” deep
Stainless Steel
2019 Marcel Breuer for Knoll Cesca Counter Stool in Gray and Black Fabric
By Knoll, Marcel Breuer
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Cesca counter stool, model 51CM, originally designed by Marcel Breuer in 1928. This particular example was manufactured by Knoll in 2019. The design features a tubular chro...
Steel
Mid-Century Pair of Stools Model 75 by Florence Knoll, 1950
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Saarbruecken, DE
Mid-Century Pair of Stools Model 75 by Florence Knoll, designed 1948 for Knoll Associates, USA.
Metal
Florence Knoll stool / bench in leather for Knoll Associates
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Amarillo, TX
Florence Knoll stool Knoll Associates USA 1984 leather, steel 17 h × 18 w × 18 d inches Vintage piece.
Stainless Steel
1960s Eero Saarinen for Knoll 152 Tulip Swivel Stool with Vinyl Seat
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a 152 Tulip Swivel Stool, originally designed by Eero Saarinen in 1956. This particular example was produced by Knoll in the 1960s. The stool features Saarinen's signature ca...
Aluminum
2014 Pair of Harry Bertoia for Knoll Bar Stools with Black Leather Pads
By Harry Bertoia, Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a classic pair of Bertoia bar stools, model 428C, designed in 1952 by Harry Bertoia for Knoll International. These particular examples date to 2014, and the listed price incl...
Steel
$750Sale Price|40% Off
Knoll Saarinen Stool, Yellow, White, Swivel, Signed
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in New York, NY
Knoll Saarinen stool, yellow and white, swivel, signed. Late 1960's early 1970's pedestal stool with swivel collar. Base was likely re-painted. Some signs of wear to the finish on the edges the base. Great period "Pop Art" lemon yellow vinyl seat cushion. Remnants of a Knoll Park Avenue label on underside of the cushion. Stamped BR...
Aluminum
1960s Original Four Seasons Bar Stool by Mies van der Rohe for Knoll
By Philip Johnson, Knoll, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an original Four Seasons Bar Stool, designed by Mies Van Der Rohe and Phillip Johnson in 1958 for the Four Seasons Restaurant in the Sea...
Steel, Chrome