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Walter Knoll Furniture

German

Inspired by the Bauhaus — founded in 1919 by Walter GropiusWalter Knoll decided to bet big on modernism. He launched his eponymous German furniture maker in 1925, and the company has been going strong ever since.

Most design lovers are familiar with Knoll, the manufacturer of furniture by Eero Saarinen, Harry Bertoia, Marcel Breuer, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and other modernist giants. It was founded by Hans Knoll in 1941 and led after his death by his wife, Florence Knoll, the doyenne of postwar American office interiors. In recent years, the company has added collections by Maya Lin, Rem Koolhaas, Frank Gehry and David Adjaye, among others, and encouraged customers to do what some of them had been doing all along: use Knoll’s “office furniture” at home.

Fewer Americans are familiar with Walter Knoll, the company Hans’s father founded in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1925 and later moved to nearby Herrenberg. That company has existed in the shadow of the larger U.S.-based Knoll for decades.

Both companies descended from the German manufacturer of ornate leather goods established by Wilhelm Knoll in 1866. In 1907, Wilhelm’s sons, Willy and Walter, took over the father’s business and started producing leather club chairs. Five years later, the company introduced its Nestra line of stripped-down wood and leather seating, foreshadowing the family’s future innovations.

In 1925, when he was 50, Walter Knoll launched the Walter Knoll Company, which soon released the revolutionary Prodomo line of chairs, whose upholstered seats and backs are supported by tubular metal frames. Other lightweight Walter Knoll pieces were used in the passenger compartment of the Hindenburg zeppelin.

In 1927, Walter Knoll furnished five apartments designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe for the Weissenhof Estate, 21 prototypes of “workers’ housing of the future” constructed as part of an exhibition in Stuttgart. A decade later, Walter’s son Hans, then 24, traveled to the United States to market his father’s furniture and to make a new life for himself in the New World. But inspired by his encounters with Jens Risom — a Danish-born designer who furthered Scandinavian modernism in the United States — Hans broke away from Walter, creating Knoll Associates (now known simply as Knoll). Florence Schust (later to become Hans’s wife) joined him in the company in 1943, and soon they were working with mid-century modern icons such as Saarinen and Bertoia on new designs and licensing Mies’s Barcelona chair.

After the war, with his factories destroyed and labor and materials in short supply, Walter Knoll turned to Hans for help. Hans sent over several pieces from his Vostra line, designed by Risom. Walter replaced the web seats with upholstery and launched his version of the Vostra at the New Living exhibition in Cologne in 1949. It became hugely successful, persuading many Germans still accustomed to traditional furniture to give modernism a go.

Walter Knoll retired in 1964, but his namesake firm continued growing in Germany. Just like the American Knoll, Walter Knoll has found that some customers want to use pieces originally meant as office furniture in their houses. In fact, these pieces give living and dining rooms a crispness that almost no residential furniture can match.

Find vintage Walter Knoll lounge chairs, sofas, tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.

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Creator: Walter Knoll
Cordovan Leather and Chrome-Steel Sofa by Preben Fabricius for Walter Knoll
By Walter Knoll, Preben Fabricius
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Three-seater sofa designed as part of the "710 Series" by Preben Fabricius for Walter Knoll (Germany, 1972). Featuring loose cushions retaining their original down feather filling an...
Category

1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Knoll Furniture

Materials

Steel, Chrome

Early Pair of Bauhaus Chrome Armchairs KF-406 by Walter Knoll for Thonet, 1930s
By Walter Knoll, Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
- 1930 - extremely rare - maker: Thonet (marked) - design:L Walter Knoll - publicated (see the pictures) - original condition suitable for new upholstery - chrome with patina.
Category

1920s German Bauhaus Vintage Walter Knoll Furniture

Materials

Chrome

Midcentury Armchairs by Walter Knoll, 1960s
By Walter Knoll
Located in HEVERLEE, BE
These elegant armchairs designed by Walter Knoll. Beautifully crafted beech wooden frames with newly upholstered cushions in an olive green color. Very good condition. 1960s...
Category

1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Knoll Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Beech

Newly Upholstered Model 350 Lounge Chair by Arno Votteler for Walter Knoll 1950s
By Walter Knoll, Arno Votteler
Located in Berlin, DE
Model 350 lounge chair by Arno Votteler for Walter Knoll, Germany, 1950s. Newly upholstered in a steelcut kvadrat fabric.  
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Walter Knoll Furniture

Materials

Metal

Walter Knoll Black Leather Armchairs, Line Jason, Austria, 1997
By Walter Knoll
Located in Paris, FR
Four Walter Knoll armchairs line Jason (1997) design by the Austrian studio EOOS, in black grained leather with anodized aluminum structure. The armchairs are in like new- condition...
Category

1990s Austrian Modern Walter Knoll Furniture

Materials

Aluminum

Knoll Sessel 369 for Walter Knoll
By Walter Knoll, Knoll
Located in Belmont, MA
Walter Knoll Sessel 369 for Walter Knoll Underframe of tubular steel, yellowish plush fabric, 1956.
Category

1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Knoll Furniture

Materials

Steel

Newly Upholstered Model 350 Lounge Chair by Arno Votteler Walter Knoll
By Walter Knoll, Arno Votteler
Located in Berlin, DE
Newly upholstered model 350 lounge chair by Arno Votteler Walter Knoll Rare Arno Votteler chair model 350 for Walter Knoll. Newly upholstered in Kvadrat Hallingdal Fabric. Arno Vott...
Category

1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Knoll Furniture

Materials

Fabric

Armchair by Preben Fabricius & Jørgen Kastholm, Walter Knoll
By Walter Knoll, Jørgen Kastholm & Preben Fabricius
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Armchair by Preben Fabricius & Jørgen Kastholm, Walter Knoll.
Category

1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Walter Knoll Furniture

Materials

Steel

Newly Upholstered Pair of Model 350 Lounge Chair by Arno Votteler in Army Green
By Walter Knoll, Arno Votteler
Located in Berlin, DE
Rare pair of Arno Votteler chairs model 350 for Walter Knoll. Newly upholstered in Kvadrat Fabric.
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Walter Knoll Furniture

Materials

Chrome

Walter Knoll Logos Neckleather Chair Bernd Münzebrock
By Walter Knoll, Bernd Münzebrock
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Bernd Münzebrock designed this office chair model Logos for Walter Knoll The seat is made of strong thick brown neckleather, the quality as known fro...
Category

1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Knoll Furniture

Materials

Aluminum

Rare Cubic Livingroom/Sofa Set by Walter Knoll, 1970s
By Walter Knoll
Located in Schagen, NL
This wonderful set consists of a two seat sofa, an armchair and a coffee table and was manufactured in Germany during the 1970s. However the designer remains unknown, the name of ...
Category

1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Knoll Furniture

Materials

Leather, Wood

Two-Seat Leather Sofa by Preben Fabricius & Jørgen Kastholm, Walter Knoll
By Jørgen Kastholm & Preben Fabricius, Walter Knoll
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Two- seat leather sofa by Preben Fabricius & Jørgen Kastholm, Walter Knoll edition. 2 sofas available.
Category

1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Walter Knoll Furniture

Materials

Steel

Pair of Armchairs by Knoll, Cherrywood, Blue/Silver Fabric, Germany, 1950s
By Walter Knoll
Located in Regensburg, DE
Mid-Century Mair of armchairs from Knoll. (labeled at the bottom). Cherry solid wood frame, recently hand-polished with shellac (French Polish). New blue silver upholstery with fa...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Walter Knoll Furniture

Materials

Steel

Pair of Mid-Century Modern Vostra Chairs by Walter Knoll - Germany
By Walter Knoll
Located in Girona, ES
Pair of Vostra low chairs, new upholstery, button padding grey felt, beechwood feet, French polish. Model: Vostra. Design: Walter Knoll Team. Manufacturer: Walter Knoll. ...
Category

1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Knoll Furniture

Materials

Felt, Beech

Two-Seat Leather Sofa by Preben Fabricius & Jørgen Kastholm, Walter Knoll, Pair
By Jørgen Kastholm & Preben Fabricius, Walter Knoll
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of two-seat leather sofa by Preben Fabricius & Jørgen Kastholm, Walter Knoll edition. Two sofas available.
Category

1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Walter Knoll Furniture

Materials

Steel

Set of 4 German Art Deco Brown Leather Arm Chairs
By Walter Knoll
Located in New York, NY
Set of 4 German Art Deco (1930s) chrome arm chairs with brown leather tufted seat and back connected with straps. (by WALTER KNOLL)
Category

1930s German Art Deco Vintage Walter Knoll Furniture

Materials

Chrome

Walter Knoll Friedrich Hill Sectional Sofa Dark Brown Leather, Germany, 1972
By Walter Knoll
Located in Pijnacker, Zuid-Holland
Sectional sofa model 144 by Friedrich Hill for Walter Knoll Collection in dark brown (almost black) leather, Germany – circa 1970. The sofa consists of...
Category

1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Knoll Furniture

Materials

Leather

Preben Fabricius & Jørgen Kastholm Set of 10 Chairs "Bird" Armchairs Model-FK672
By Jørgen Kastholm & Preben Fabricius, Walter Knoll
Located in The Hague, NL
A set of 11 armchairs- office chairs designed by Preben Fabricius & Jørgen Kastholm for Walter Knool International manufacture in 1960s period, Denmark. Model no: FK6725 as well as mostly called...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Knoll Furniture

Materials

Aluminum

Walter Knoll Model Studio Black Leathersofa Design Jürgen Lange
By Jürgen Lange, Walter Knoll
Located in Munich, Bavaria
This sofa was designed by Jürgen Lange in the late 1970s and was manufactured by Walter Knoll. Model Studio with black semianilne leather. A great Germa...
Category

1970s German Modern Vintage Walter Knoll Furniture

Materials

Upholstery, Leather

Walter Knoll furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Walter Knoll furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of animal skin and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Walter Knoll furniture, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Walter Knoll were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Burkhard Vogtherr, Luigi Colani, and Gerd Lange. Prices for Walter Knoll furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $281 and can go as high as $16,173, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $3,195.

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