Though vintage Warren Platner chairs, sofas and interiors are icons of mid-century modernism, the architect and furniture designer took his stylistic inspiration from as far back as 18th-century France, once saying about his seminal collection for Knoll that his design intent was to evoke “the kind of decorative, gentle, graceful kind of design that appeared in period style like Louis XV.”
Indeed, the marriage of modern sensibility and classical grace is a marker of Platner’s style across furnishings and interiors — both genres in which he left an enduring legacy.
Born in 1919 in Baltimore, Maryland, Platner studied architecture at Cornell before cutting his teeth working for design icons like Eero Saarinen and Kevin Roche, eventually serving as head of interior design in the latter’s office. In 1965, Platner opened his own office, in Greenwich, Connecticut, where he continued to hone his particular brand of graceful modernism.
Knoll released the Platner Collection of seating and tables in 1966. (Originally designed in 1962, the suite took nearly four years of development to bring to life.)
The decorative bent-metal-and-glass pieces — an armchair, a dining table and more — make certain nods to the trademarks of his former employers, but also to the shapes of historic European furniture. The sculptural elegance of his line recalls Saarinen’s iconic Tulip collection, which includes armchairs and dining tables, while his materiality aligns with Roche’s cutting-edge use of glass and metal for the headquarters of the Ford Foundation in New York.
Many of Platner’s Knoll pieces would go on to find homes in a certain fabled locale: the Windows on the World restaurant at the original World Trade Center, whose interiors Platner was tapped to outfit in the mid-1970s. Upon the opening of the restaurant in 1976, New York Times architecture critic Paul Goldberger dubbed its style “sensuous modernism” — an apt tagline for Platner’s oeuvre as a whole.
Platner died in 2006 at the age of 86. His furniture is still produced by Knoll, and original examples — along with idiosyncratic custom works he created for interior design clients — are coveted by collectors today.
Find vintage Warren Platner furniture on 1stDibs.
Warren Platner Long Bench for Lehigh Leopold
By Lehigh Leopold, Warren Platner
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A stunning and rare piece designed by Warren Platner and manufactured by Lehigh Leopold, c.1960s, USA. The long bench features a newly upholstered tan leather seat cushion with tufte...
Chrome
Warren Platner for Knoll Wire Stool
By Knoll, Warren Platner
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Industrial and organic steel wire stool by Warren Platner from the Platner Collection for Knoll, after 1966. Newly upholstered in a creamy, textural wool. In excellent condition. Cur...
Steel
$34,000
H 26.5 in W 92.75 in D 32 in
Warren Platner Walnut and Leather Floating Case Sofa for Lehigh Leopold, c. 1970
By Warren Platner, Lehigh Leopold
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This exceptionally rare and highly sought-after collectors piece (with celebrity provenance) is a Warren Platner Executive Leather Case Sofa designed for Lehigh Leopold in circa 1970, and features a floating Walnut case with deep brown tufted leather upholstery and cushions, over a polished steel pedestal base. When comparing to the Milo Baughman case sofa, which is very popular and in-demand, this Warren Platner sofa...
Chrome
$20,000 / set
H 30.32 in W 35.44 in D 23.63 in
Vintage Warren Platner Lounge Chairs and Table for Knoll
By Warren Platner
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Pair of lounge chairs and table designed by Warren Platner, circa 1970s. A Stunning set in original upholstery.
Wire
Warren Platner for Knoll Bronze Finish Lounge Chair, 1960's
By Knoll, Warren Platner
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Platner for Knoll Bronzed Steel Lounge Chair. Featuring his classic, 1962 designed, airy vertical Steel Wire rod construction, original Antique Bronze finish, ergonomic bucket seat, ...
Steel
Warren Platner Ottomans/Stools for Knoll
By Warren Platner
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A pair of Warren Platner Ottomans/Stools manufactured by Knoll Original velvet Upholstery
Stainless Steel
Warren Platner for Knoll Wire Ottoman
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Oversized steel wire ottoman in bouclé, designed by Warren Platner for his namesake Platner collection for Knoll. Now a Classic modern form that is at once Industrial and organic. Up...
Steel
Warren Platner Lounge Chairs for Knoll
By Warren Platner
Located in San Francisco, CA
Warren Platner design pair of chrome upholstered lounge chairs. High quality materials and construction as typical in all Knoll products. Elegant and sophisticated chairs an icon of ...
Chrome
Pair Warren Platner Lounge Chairs
By Warren Platner
Located in New York, NY
Pair Warren Platner lounge chairs. The chairs have brown upholstery with a nickeled steel frame.
Steel
Warren Platner for Knoll Easy Chair
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Warren Platner for Knoll, easy chair and ottoman, model '1705', steel, fabric, United States, design ca. 1962, production later. This iconic lounge chair by Warren Platner is create...
Steel
Warren Platner Lounge Chairs for Knoll, a Pair
By Warren Platner
Located in Greensboro, NC
A Pair of Warren Platner lounge chair for Knoll in a neutral herringbone woven fabric. Timeless, beautiful mid-century modern design, incredibly well made, very comfortable. These ...
Metal
$11,457Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 30.32 in W 36.23 in D 25.2 in
Pair of Warren Platner Lounge Chairs for Knoll
By Knoll, Warren Platner
Located in Paris, FR
Pair of Warren Platner lounge chairs for Knoll.
Steel
Warren Platner Easy Lounge Chair for Knoll, 1980s
By Knoll, Warren Platner
Located in Aachen, NW
Early Easy Lounge chair by Warren Platner for Knoll. The groundbreaking Easy chair was designed in the 1960s by Warren Platner and produced by Knoll in the 1980s. This mid-century ...
Aluminum
Pair of Benches by Warren Platner for Lehigh Leopold
By Warren Platner
Located in Dallas, TX
A rare bench in stainless steel, oak and leather designed by Warren Platner for Lehigh Leopold. Matching pair available. Priced and sold individually.
Leather
Warren Platner Bench for Lehigh Leopold
By Warren Platner
Located in Dallas, TX
A rare bronze and leather bench designed by Warren Platner for Lehigh Leopold. Pair available.