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 for Lehigh Leopold Rosewood, Leather and Granite Executive Desk
By Warren Platner, Lehigh Leopold
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Warren Platner for Lehigh Leopold Mid Century Rosewood, Leather and Granite Executive Desk This desk measures: 96 wide x 40 deep x 30 high, with a chair clearance of 28 inches Good...
Granite
Warren Platner for Lehigh Leopold Mid Century Rosewood and Chrome Executive Desk
By Warren Platner, Lehigh Leopold
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Warren Platner for Lehigh Leopold Mid Century Rosewood and Chrome Executive Desk This desk measures: 95.75 wide x 39.5 deep x 29.75 high, with a chair clearance of 27.5 inches Good...
Chrome
1979 Warren Platner for Knoll Executive Desk in Leather, Oak, and Chromed Steel
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Large Executive Desk, designed by Warren Platner for Knoll International in 1973. The desk features a minimalist design, having a chromed-steel cantilever base. It has an i...
Steel, Chrome
Monumental Ebony and Chrome Executive Desk
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage executive desk designed in the United States, circa 1970s. This refinished desk is extremely attractive to any viewer due to the versatility of the design and the elegance of...
Steel, Chrome
Alma Mid Century Rosewood and Leather Executive Desk
By Alma Desk Company
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Alma Mid Century Rosewood and Leather Executive Desk This desk measures: 78 wide x 36 deep x 29.5 high, with a chair clearance of 28 inches Fair Vintage Condition - Desk has Stain ...
Leather, Rosewood
Midcentury Executive Boomerang Desk
Located in Esperance, NY
For sale is this very unique large executive boomerang desk. The top is made out of laminate and the bottom is solid wood.
Walnut
Alma Style Mid Century Leather and Chrome Executive Desk
By Alma Desk Company
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Alma Style Mid Century Leather and Chrome Executive Desk This desk measures: 72 wide x 38.5 deep x 28.5 high, with a chair clearance of 26 inches We take our photos in a controlled...
Chrome
$4,245
H 29.5 in W 76 in D 38 in
Romweber Mid-Century Modern Burl Wood and Brass Executive Desk, Circa 1970s
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional mid-century modern Hollywood Regency executive desk By Romweber USA, Circa 1970s Gorgeous burled Carpathian elm wood, with brass trim and hardware. Measures: 76"W ...
Brass
1968 Executive Desk
By Warren Platner
Located in Hanover, MA
Executive desk formerly belonging to noted architect George M. Notter, (1933–2007) of the Boston firm Anderson Notter Finegold (now known as Finegold Alexander Architects). Current institutional memory at the firm suggests it was a special order from Herman Miller for the then new New York offices of MGM, however Herman Miller's archivist was unable to confirm. Styling, particularly the distinctive slim milled aluminum tracks through which the entire drawer carriage glides is clearly similar to Warren Platner's designs for Lehigh-Leopold which were then among the most costly of executive office furnishings. The bent flat bar chromed steel base with its distinctive pigeon toe splay is somewhat similar to a table base in Stow Davis' Electa Series, designed by Alexis Yermakov circa 1971. Walnut laminate top is very clean with no issues. One corner edge shows a small separation. The only identifying markings are within the milled aluminum channel: G.P. F.I. 2 And the date Dec. 20, 1968. See image 18. Between the rectangular laminate top and the chrome base is a heavy blackened steel plate. Underneath the bent chrome pigeon toe feet are bars of a thick phenolic material which act as floor protector. We can have keys made to fit the two locking drawers. Tim Anderson...
Aluminum, Steel, Chrome
Dillingham Mid Century Walnut Executive Desk
By Dillingham Manufacturing Company
Located in Esperance, NY
For sale is this nice vintage desk made by Dillingham
Walnut
$7,500
H 29 in W 71.75 in D 83 in
George Nelson for Herman Miller Executive Office desk and Return 1955
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Chicago, IL
George Nelson for Herman Miller Executive Office Desk and Return, 1955 Walnut case with laminate top and aluminum “H” base legs. The long cabinet is finished on all sides, featuring ...
Aluminum
Florence Knoll Mid Century Walnut Executive Desk
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Florence Knoll Mid Century Walnut Executive Desk This desk measures: 66 wide x 32 deep x 29 high, with a chair clearance of 27.75 inches Fair Vintage Condition - Desk has Stain Wea...
Walnut
$5,775Sale Price|30% Off
H 29 in W 68 in D 36 in
Large Rosewood Executive Desk, Jens Risom, Y Pulls, 1960's
By Jens Risom
Located in Culver City, CA
This desk doesn’t whisper mid-century sophistication; it growls it through a cloud of cigar smoke and a well-poured glass of whisky. Designed by Jens Risom, this executive desk in ri...
Steel
$7,895
H 29 in W 65 in D 31.5 in
Expertly Restored -Danish Modern Executive Sculpted Rosewood Desk by H.P. Hansen
By H.P. Hansen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing history back to life, and we take this journey with passion and precision. With over 17 years of artisanal exper...
Rosewood
Danish Executive Desk in Rio Rosewood, Mid-Century Modern, c1950s
Located in San Francisco, CA
Danish executive desk in richly grained Rio rosewood, made in the 1950s or 1960s. The front includes a central drawer and two cupboards with interior pull-out trays, all key-operated...
Rosewood
Warren Platner Executive Desk
By Lehigh Leopold, Warren Platner
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning executive desk by American designer Warren Platner. Features an elegant Cherry Wood body floating atop a singular modern chrome pedestal base. Newly refinished.The desk top ...
Chrome
Sold
H 30 in W 78 in D 42 in
Warren Platner Desk Mid-Century Modern on a Rosewood, Brass and Marble Base
By Warren Platner
Located in Stamford, CT
Warren Platner for Knoll desk. Mid-Century Modern on a rosewood, brass and marble base. This large and impressive spectacular executive d...
Marble, Metal
Warren Platner Cantilever Sideboard
By Knoll, Warren Platner
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Handsome black oak sideboard designed by Warren Planter and manufactured by Knoll International, in 1973. Entire piece rests on top of two cantilev...
Chrome
Sold
H 29.75 in W 78.75 in D 43.32 in
Warren Platner Steel Grey Cerused Oak and Black Leather Executive Desk
By Warren Platner
Located in Chicago, IL
Large custom desk by Warren Platner for Knoll International, impeccably upgraded for the modern executive. The former "golden oak" bull nose surround is now in steel grey with ebony ...
Steel
Warren Platner Custom Desk
By Warren Platner
Located in Chicago, IL
Platner architectural commissioned and manufactured for Lehigh-Leopold desk; exceptional bookmatched highly figured rosewood veneers. Composed of double hanging and removable pull-...
Granite, Bronze