Skip to main content

Warren Platner Chairs

American, 1919-2006

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.

13
to
1
7
6
13
13
13
9
4
13
8
5
6
4
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
9
5
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
12
11
6
4
2
9
9
1
1
117
373
347
302
269
Creator: Warren Platner
Warren Platner for Knoll classic armchair designed 1966
By Knoll, Warren Platner
Located in London, GB
Warren Platner studied at Cornell University, graduating in 1941 with a degree in architecture. He went on to work with legendary architects Raymond Loewy, Eero Saarinen, and I. M. P...
Category

Late 20th Century American Modern Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Steel, Chrome

Warren Platner for Knoll Nickel Lounge Chair Reupholstered in Your Fabric
By Knoll, Warren Platner
Located in Atlanta, GA
Sculptural modern lounge chair in nickel finish, designed by Warren Platner for Knoll, circa 1970s. This chair is currently being reupholstered and can be completed in your fabric. S...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Metal, Nickel

Set Of Four Chairs Designed By Warren Platner, 1960's
By Knoll, Warren Platner
Located in Madrid, ES
Set of 4 chairs designed by Warren Platner between 1968 and 1970, featuring a chrome-plated steel structure and bouclé fabric upholstery. First edition, produced by Knoll. Warren P...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Steel

Side Chair by Warren Platner for Knoll International
By Knoll, Warren Platner
Located in Barcelona, ES
Side chair designed by Warren Platner in 1966 for Knoll Internationel, USA. Sculptural structure made of steel wire rods with velvet fabric upholstery. Labelled with manufacturer log...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Steel

Warren Planter for Knoll Wire Chairs (single)
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Single Warren Platner Arm chair made by Knoll. Distinctive wire design with pedestal motif and rounded back. Comfort and design from the mid-century! Please specify how many of 3 you...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Metal, Wire

Lounge Chair and Footstool by Warren Platner, 1966
By Warren Platner
Located in Berlin, Berlin
VINTAGE Easy chair and footstool designed by Warren Platner. U.S.A, Knoll International, 1966. The lounge chair, model number 1725. Welded curved steel and wool upholstery. Beautifu...
Category

1960s American Modern Vintage Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Metal

Warren Platner for Knoll Wire Stool
By Warren Platner, Knoll
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...
Category

1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Steel

American modern metal and red fabric chairs by Warren Platner for Knoll, 1970s
By Knoll, Warren Platner
Located in MIlano, IT
American modern metal and red fabric chairs by Warren Platner for Knoll, 1970s Cockpit chairs with a round base. The structure follows curved and rounded lines and makes up the backr...
Category

1970s American Modern Vintage Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Metal

Vintage Modern Pair of Knoll Warren Platner Chairs
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A set of beautiful mid-century modern wired steel chairs. The frame features wire rods that are perfectly bent to create the structure of a beautifully sculpted chair. A seat cushion...
Category

1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Steel

Pair Of Two Chairs Designed By Warren Platner, 1960's
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of chairs designed by Warren Platner and published by Knoll. Structure with a sculptural shape made of steel wire. Upholstered in bouclé fabric. USA 60s. Measurements: W 93 x D...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Steel

Mid-Century Modern Warren Platner Easy Chair, Pair
By Warren Platner
Located in Lake Worth, FL
Pair of vintage easy chairs by Warren Platner for Knoll. Great high back lounge chair design with nickel metal cage frames. Upholstery does not look original and must have been repla...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Metal

Leather Platner Chair by Warren Platner for Steelcase
By Warren Platner, Steelcase
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 1970s. USA. Upholstered cushions with leather back.
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Leather, Upholstery

Usa modern Black fabric metal Cockcit chairs by Warren Platner for Knoll, 1970s
By Knoll, Warren Platner
Located in MIlano, IT
Usa modern Black fabric and metal Cockcit chairs by Warren Platner for Knoll, 1970s Pair of iconic and vintage cockcit chairs with round base. The structure is made up of curved nickel-plated metal rods welded to rounded frames and the base. The backrest, armrests and seat follow the shapes of the structure and are padded and covered in black fabric. The rounded seat cushion...
Category

1970s Italian Modern Vintage Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Metal

Related Items
Set of Six Dining Chairs Designed by Warren Platner for Knoll, 20th Century
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in Hamburg, PA
An exquisite set of six dining chairs designed by Warren Platner for Knoll. These iconic dining room chairs would look great in any Contemporary, Transitional, or Traditional interio...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Steel

1970s Vintage Warren Platner Occasional Chair Knoll Beige Knobby Wool
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in Hyattsville, MD
The perfect glamorous vanity chair. Very sculptural wire armchair designed by Warren Platner and produced by Knoll in the 1970s. Dingy original wool blend woven KNOLL knobby biege ...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Stainless Steel

Warren Platner for Knoll Lounge Chair
By Knoll
Located in New York, NY
Sculptural and graceful iconic lounge chair model 1705 by Warren Platner designed in 1962 for Knoll International. Upholstered in luxurious rust ...
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Metal

Warren Platner for Knoll Wire Stool
By Warren Platner, Knoll
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...
Category

1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Steel

Warren Platner Dining Chairs Set of 4
By Warren Platner
Located in London, GB
American architect and interior designer Warren Platner was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1919. Platner attended Cornell University, graduating with a degree in architecture in 1941...
Category

1960s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Steel

Warren Platner Dining Chairs Set of 4
Warren Platner Dining Chairs Set of 4
H 29.14 in W 27.17 in D 21.26 in
Warren Platner for Knoll Mid Century Lounge Chair
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in Countryside, IL
Warren Platner for Knoll Mid Century Lounge Chair This chair measures: 36 wide x 27 deep x 30.5 high, with a seat height of 20 and arm height/chair clearance 26 inches All pieces o...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Pair of Warren Platner style Steel Barrel Back Chairs, C. 1980s
By Warren Platner
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of Warren Platner Style Steel Barrel Back Chairs, Circa 1980s—Vintage Modern Seating Ready for Reupholstery A pair of iconic Warren Platner-style steel barrel back chairs, craf...
Category

20th Century American Modern Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Steel

Pair of Warren Platner Lounge Chairs for Knoll International
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in Little Burstead, Essex
This pair of Platner chairs are in great condition, the chrome rods are not at all rusty or bent and the upholstery has just been done in a Salm...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Chrome

Warren Platner for Knoll Bronze Finish Lounge Chair, 1960's
By Warren Platner, Knoll
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, ...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Steel

Warren Platner for Knoll Lounge Chair. Red Fabric, Bronze Frame Finish
By Knoll, Warren Platner
Located in Kansas City, MO
Warren Platner Lounge Chair in red Knoll fabric with the more expensive bronze frame. Frame is in great condition with no rust. Foam padding is good with the fabric inside back sho...
Category

1990s American Mid-Century Modern Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Upholstery

Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Wire Stool Warren Platner for Knoll C1970
By Knoll, Warren Platner
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...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Steel

1960s Warren Platner Dining Arm Chair in Bronze Finish w/ Hopsack Upholstery
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Platner Dining Armchair, model 1725, initially designed by Warren Platner for Knoll in 1966. This is an early example, dating to the late 1960s. The frame of this chair is ...
Category

1960s American Modern Vintage Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Steel

Previously Available Items
Chairs by Warren Platner for Knoll International, 1960s, set of 2
By Knoll, Warren Platner
Located in bruxelles, BE
Pair of Chairs by Warren Platner in metal and with original red fabric. Knoll edition. Seat height: 47 cm. Wear due to time and age of the armchair.
Category

1960s Central American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Metal

Pair of chairs, fabric metal Cockcit, by Warren Platner for Knoll, 1970s
By Knoll, Warren Platner
Located in Nice, FR
View in original language These are a pair of Platner armchairs, designed by Warren Platner for Knoll in 1966. These are old examples, dating from the late 1960s. The legs of these c...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Nickel

Pair of Warren Platner for Knoll Mid Century Modern Wire Lounge Arm Chairs
By Knoll, Warren Platner
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A pair of Warren Platner for Knoll wire lounge chairs. A gorgeous set of original Platner arm chairs for Knoll. These beautiful, iconic chairs feature a nickel plated metal wire desi...
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Metal

Pair of Bronze Warren Platner Lounge Chairs for Knoll
By Warren Platner
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of bronze lounge chairs designed by Warren Platner for Knoll. Newly upholstered in Holly Hunt / Teddy / Winter White fabric.
Category

1970s Vintage Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Bronze

1970s Warren Platner Easy Chairs - a Pair
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in Roanoke, VA
Incredible vintage pair of Easy chairs designed by Warren Platner for Knoll in 1966. Chairs feature the welded curved steel bases in the original bold kelly green textured upholstery...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Stainless Steel, Chrome

Warren Platner Dining Chairs for Knoll
By Knoll, Warren Platner
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
UNIQUE WIRE BASE AND SMOOTH CURVES. In the 1960s, Warren Planner transformed steel cable into a collection of sculptural furniture, creating a design icon of the modern age. The frame features wire rods that are perfectly bent to create the frame of a beautifully sculpted chair. The lounge chair...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Bronze

Warren Platner Dining Chairs for Knoll
Warren Platner Dining Chairs for Knoll
H 29.01 in W 27.01 in D 22.01 in
4 Chairs, Warren Platner, Knoll Edition, 2021
By Warren Platner
Located in Saint ouen, FR
Armchairs by Warren platner Suite of 4 platner armchairs knoll edition Black edition Black velvet / blackened steel Limited edition Perfect condition 2021 Price: 12900 12...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Other Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Metal

4 Chairs, Warren Platner, Knoll Edition, 2021
4 Chairs, Warren Platner, Knoll Edition, 2021
H 29.93 in W 28.75 in D 22.45 in
Warren Platner for Knoll Nickel Lounge Chair Reupholstered in Your Fabric
By Knoll, Warren Platner
Located in Atlanta, GA
Sculptural modern lounge chair in nickel finish, designed by Warren Platner for Knoll, circa 1980s. Signed with Knoll label. This chair is currently being reupholstered and can be co...
Category

1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Metal

Pair of Vintage Warren Platner Dining Chairs for Knoll, c. 1960's
By Knoll, Warren Platner
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pair of Warren Platner arm chairs featuring the award winning iconic design for Knoll. Made of nickel plated steel and upholstered in a muted brown...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Steel

Set of Four Warren Platner Chairs for Knoll
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Set of 4 Mid-century Modern Warren Platner Arm Chairs with Nickel finish for Knoll. Recent production. Showing no rust or tarnish to wire frames. Be...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Steel, Nickel

4 chairs - Warren Platner - Knoll Edition - 2021
By Warren Platner
Located in Saint ouen, FR
4 chairs - Warren Platner Knoll Edition Kvadrat mottled beige and nickel-plated metal H76 x W73 x D57 cm 2021 - New (sold new on average €14,000)
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Other Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Metal

4 chairs - Warren Platner - Knoll Edition - 2021
4 chairs - Warren Platner - Knoll Edition - 2021
H 29.93 in W 28.75 in D 22.45 in
Warren Platner Occasional Chair
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in Minneapolis, MN
Sculptural wire framed armchair designed by Warren Platner and produced by Knoll. Newer purple upholstery. Foot glide on bottom has missing materia...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Warren Platner Chairs

Materials

Metal

Warren Platner Occasional Chair
Warren Platner Occasional Chair
H 29.5 in W 27 in D 20 in

Warren Platner chairs for sale on 1stDibs.

Warren Platner chairs are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Warren Platner chairs, although beige editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 9 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 1 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original chairs by Warren Platner were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider chairs by Widdicomb Furniture Co., Michael Taylor, and Richard Schultz. Prices for Warren Platner chairs can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $2,890 and can go as high as $20,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $12,300.

Recently Viewed

View All