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 Bronze Wire Easy Chair for Knoll International, c 1966, Signed
By Knoll, Warren Platner
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A collectors example early production Warren Platner 'Easy' chair for Knoll International, United States, circa 1966. This iconic high-back lounge chair, often affectionately referre...
Bronze
$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
$22,000 / set
H 39.5 in W 41 in D 36 in
1974 Knoll Warren Platner Sensational Off-White Easy Lounge Chair Pair
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, Pair of easy lounge chairs designed by Warren Platner for Knoll. Metal design fabric with fresh new upholstery Original label present 1974 39.5 tall x 41 w x...
Metal
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
$2,055Sale Price|64% Off
H 17 in W 27 in D 27 in
Warren Platner 1705Y Easy Ottoman, Gray Leather and Nickel, Knoll, 1966
By Knoll, Warren Platner
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Warren Platner 1705Y Easy Ottoman, Gray Leather and Nickel, Knoll, 1966 Custom gray leather (original); original nickel finish. Ottoman retains original clear acrylic feet. The maste...
Stainless Steel, Nickel
$3,850
H 30.25 in W 36.5 in D 25.5 in
Warren Platner for Knoll Lounge Chair. Red Fabric, Bronze Frame Finish
By Warren Platner, Knoll
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...
Upholstery
$18,500
H 38.75 in W 39.87 in D 37 in
Warren Platner for Knoll Bronze Easy Chair and Ottoman in Alpaca
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in Dallas, TX
Gorgeous Warren Platner for Knoll Easy Chair and Ottoman in a bronze frame. This chair has been reupholstered in a beautiful alpaca mohair in burnt orange. Chair measure 38.75"H x ...
Metal
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
Easy Lounge Chair by Warren Platner for Knoll International, 1980
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in New York, NY
Model 1715 easy chair, designed by Warren Platner for Knoll. Zinc steel wire rods are bent and welded to form a graceful, sculptural Silhouette. A generously sized lounge chair, the ...
Metal
$9,348 / set
H 30.32 in W 36.62 in D 26.38 in
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...
Chrome
1960s Knoll Warren Platner Easy Chairs in Sheepskin, Pair
By Knoll, Warren Platner
Located in Raleigh, NC
Pair of Warren Platner Easy Chairs produced by Knoll in the 1960s, featuring the designer's signature wire rod base construction. Hundreds of steel rods are welded to circular frame...
Steel, Chrome
Pair of Warren Platner for Knoll Easy Chairs in Blue Mohair
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in Dallas, TX
Warren Platner's iconic Easy chair for Knoll. We have reupholstered this in a high-quality mohair.
Nickel
Warren Platner for Knoll Big Easy Lounge Chair
By Warren Platner
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A beautiful Warren Platner for Knoll Big Easy Lounge chair in a nickel finish. The chair has been reupholstered recently in a Knoll Wool blend and looks great. This iconic chair desi...
Chrome