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.
1960s Warren Platner for Knoll Side Table in Bronzed Steel and Glass
By Knoll, Warren Platner
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Platner Side Table, model 3710T, originally designed by Warren Platner for Knoll in 1966. This particular example features a bronzed-steel base and has a glass top. It date...
Steel
1975 Warren Platner for CI Designs Oak & Dark Tan Fabric Dining Arm Chair
By Warren Platner
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a circa 1975 production oak and dark tan fabric armchair designed by renowned architect and furniture designer Warren Platner. This piece was part of a series that Platner designed for CI Designs...
Oak, Fabric
1975 Warren Platner for CI Designs Oak and Brown Leather Dining Arm Chair
By Warren Platner
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a circa 1975 production oak and leather armchair designed by renowned architect and furniture designer Warren Platner. This piece was part of a series that Platner...
Leather, Oak
$9,198 / set
H 29.93 in W 29.53 in D 22.45 in
Set of Four Warren Platner Dining Armchairs for Knoll, 1960s
By Knoll, Warren Platner
Located in Paddock Wood Tonbridge, GB
Warren Platner Dining chairs An iconic set of four Warren Platner dining armchairs for Knoll, designed in the 1960s and instantly recognisable for their sculptural elegance and archi...
Steel
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
Mario Bellini Tan Cab Side Dining Chair for Cassina
By Cassina, Mario Bellini
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This iconic design by Mario Bellini for Cassina designed 1977, Italy, features the original natural toned saddle leather which is wrapped atop a steel frame. The back of each leg fea...
Steel
$19,500 / set
H 39 in W 41 in D 36 in
Warren Platner for Knoll Original Bronzed Easy Lounge Chair in Boucle Pearl
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Luxurious Model 1705 Easy Chair in the highly sought-after bronze finish, designed by Warren Platner for Knoll. The sculptural silhouette is achieved through gracefully bent and weld...
Steel
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
$6,500 / set
H 29.25 in W 27 in D 21.75 in
Vintage Pair of Mid Century Warren Platner Dining Chairs for Knoll
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in North Hollywood, CA
[Pair of Mid Century Warren Platner Dining Chairs for Knoll] This sophisticated set of mid-century dining chairs, crafted by Warren Platner for Knoll, features gracefully curved, ni...
Metal
$7,000 / set
H 29 in W 27 in D 21.75 in
Vintage Pair of Warren Platner Chairs in Bronzed Steel for Knoll
By Knoll, Warren Platner
Located in North Miami, FL
An outstanding PAIR of sculptural armchairs by Warren Platner for Knoll. These are in the classic bronze finish. The upholstery has been redone in a blue mohair. Retain the original...
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
$12,850 / set
H 29 in W 27 in D 19 in
Vintage MCM Warren Platner for Knoll Chrome Dining Chairs - Set of 4
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This iconic set of four Warren Platner dining chairs for Knoll is a masterclass in Mid-Century Modern architectural design. Conceived in 1966, the Platner Collection transformed indu...
Chrome
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 Nickel Chrome Lounge Chair for Knoll
By Warren Platner
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A sculptural nickel chrome wire framed small lounge chair with upholstered seat and back edge in the original fabric still retaining the bottom fabric ticking with the Knoll mark. A ...
Metal
Sold
H 29.34 in W 27.37 in L 29.34 in
Matched Set 4 Warren Platner Dining / Side Chairs, Knoll, circa 1974
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in Buffalo, NY
Stunning set 4 modernist wire dining chairs designed by Warren Platner manufactured by Knoll, retains original blue wool fabric, also retains original Knoll Label, large "K" dated 19...
Metal
Warren Platner Pair of Side Chairs
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of nickel frame side chairs newly upholstered in blue velvet. Designed by Warren Platner for Knoll.
Nickel
One Warren Platner Knoll Dining/Side Chair
By Warren Platner
Located in Pasadena, TX
Warren Platner Architect and designer Warren Platner (1919-) was born in Baltimore and graduated from the Cornell University School of Architecture in 1941. He got his professional start working in some of the most prominent and interesting architecture practices in the country. Between 1945 and 1950 he worked for Raymond Loewy and I.M. Pei. He was a part of Eero Saarinen's office from 1960-1965, participating in the designs for the Dulles International Airport in Washington D.C., the Repertory Theater at Lincoln Center and several dormitories at Yale University. It was after this extensive exposure to many innovative modern designers of the period, and having gathered a great deal of experience, that Platner opened his own office, Platner Associates, in Connecticut in 1967. Warren Platner Bronze Dining...
Wire
Set of Two Midcentury Chairs by Warren Platner for Knoll Chairs
By Warren Platner
Located in Denton, TX
Set of two chrome nickel chairs recently polished new upholstery recommended.
Chrome, Nickel
Burgundy Velvet Warren Platner Wire Chair for Knoll
By Warren Platner
Located in Utrecht, NL
Sculptural and iconic wire side/dining chair by Warren Platner for Knoll International. Nickel-plated steel wire frame executed from as many as a 1000 welds with a mohair 'Knoll Ve...
Chrome, Steel
Four Iconic Warren Platner Armchairs for Knoll
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in Miami, FL
SOLD Four steel wire Warren Platner armchairs from Knoll in cafe con leche moleskin velvet. Excellent original condition with new fabric. For trade pricing please contact dealer....
Warren Platner Pair of Side Chairs
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of nickel frame side chairs in original green mohair. Designed by Warren Platner for Knoll.
Nickel
Warren Platner Nickel Side Chair
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in Hanover, MA
Warren Platner sculptural wire side chair in nickel plated steel by Knoll.