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 Marble and Brass Wall-Mount Console
By Warren Platner
Located in Chicago, IL
WARREN PLATNER (1919 – 2006) Custom curvilinear console in Rosso Alicante marble, raised on a trio of lacquered brass wall-mount brackets. Execu...
Marble, Bronze
$2,200
H 4.5 in W 21 in D 8.62 in
Italian Designer, Wall Mounted Console, Bamboo, Rattan, Italy, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A bamboo and rattan wall mounted console designed and produced by a Italian designer, Italy, 1950s.
Bamboo, Rattan
Adnet Style Saddle Stitched Leather Cantilevered Wall Console
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Hanover, MA
A wall console wrapped in saddle leather supported by two L shaped brackets with a top stitch detail in the manner of Jacques Adnet. One drawer with a piece of leather serving as the...
Leather
$6,750 / set
H 8 in W 3 in D 12 in
Set Paul Evans for Directional Chrome Brass Cityscape Shelf Brackets Console
By Paul Evans
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Stunning set signed Paul Evans for Directional shelf brackets or console tables. The glass is not pictured but is included and is 12" w x 48" l and is brand new. This set is truly fa...
Brass, Chrome
Paul Evans Cityscape Brass and Glass Wall Mount Shelf
By Paul Evans
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Paul Evans Cityscape wall shelf features two sculptural brass bracket supports constructed from the designer's signature faceted, geometric panel work — the defining visual language ...
Brass
$2,274Sale Price|20% Off
H 4.14 in W 27.96 in D 10.04 in
Venetian Modern Wall-Mounted Console Table, Pink Purple Mirrors & Brass Details
Located in Barcelona, ES
Cool Venetian style Hollywood Regency wall-mounted mirrored console table with iridiscent and mirror glass panels. Spain, 1960s This glamorous piece features a wall console with two ...
Metal, Brass
Lines Wall Console
Located in Paris, FR
Wall console lines all in solid walnut wood with 2 drawers.
Walnut
$2,550
H 10.75 in W 38.75 in D 11.75 in
Danish Modern Teak Wall Mounted Console Table and Arched Mirror with Brass Trim
By Mogens Kold Møbelfabrik, Arne Hovmand-Olsen
Located in Atlanta, GA
Danish Modern Teak Wall Mounted Floating Console Table and Arched Mirror, design attributed to Arne Hovmand-Olsen for Mogens Kold, Denmark, circa 1960s. Perfect place to store your k...
Brass
$6,500
H 13.78 in W 35.44 in D 10.24 in
Guglielmo Ulrich Wall Mounted Console for S.A.F.F.A. Milano, 1960s
By Guglielmo Ulrich
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Guglielmo Ulrich wall-mounted console for S.A.F.F.A. Milano, Wood, 1960s This wall-mounted console by Guglielmo Ulrich floats clear of the wall on a pair of angled brackets, its sli...
Wood
$1,760Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 32 in W 21 in D 17.25 in
Mezzo Customizable Side Table Shelving or Console Table in Handcrafted Metal
By Laylo Studio
Located in Chicago, IL
Tiered surfaces are precision welded to leveling legs creating an open shelving system that can be customized for any space or use. Shown in acid blackened steel with hand-turned and...
Steel
$9,877 / item
H 29 in W 66 in D 14 in
Mezzo Customizable Metal Console Table with Solid Wood Shelves by Laylo Studio
By Laylo Studio
Located in Chicago, IL
Shown in acid blackened steel with solid walnut shelving Measures: 66" wide x 29" high x 14" deep Gently contoured, tiered metal surfaces are hand-refined and precision welded to leveling legs creating an open shelving system that can be customized for any space or use. Constructed using Laylo Studio's proprietary metal joinery and solid wood to ensure generational longevity. Available in custom dimensions and finishes in "all metal," "metal with wood shelving" (as shown), or "metal with stone shelving...
Steel
$1,900 / set
H 9 in W 48 in D 12 in
Mid Century Paul Evans Cityscape Floating Shelf or Console Table Glass & Brass
By Paul Evans, Directional
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An incredible design, a cityscape wall shelf designed by Paul Evans in the 1970's. The set features fine heavy construction with brass clad patchwork design. Includes two L shaped wa...
Brass
$1,566
H 15.36 in W 22.45 in D 12.8 in
Mid-century Wall-mounted console in wood with brass details, Italy 1960s
Located in Meulebeke, BE
A refined example of Italian mid‑century design, this wall‑mounted console combines clean architectural lines with the warmth of beautifully finished wood and the subtle elegance of ...
Brass
Wall Mounted Shelving Unit by Warren Platner
By Warren Platner
Located in Long Island City, NY
Wall mounted shelving Unit by Warren Platner featuring 6 shelves with brass enclosures.
Brass