Warren Platner Desks and Writing Tables
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.
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Creator: Warren Platner
Warren Platner for Knoll Writing Desk in Oak and Black Leather
By Florence Knoll, Warren Platner
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Warren Platner for Knoll, writing desk, oak, chrome-plated metal, black leather, United States, 1970s.
This writing table with two drawers and an extendable panel was designed by W...
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Mid Century Desk, Warren Platner for Knoll, Steel, Oak, Chrome, 1970s
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Mid Century Desk, Warren Platner For Knoll, Steel, Oak, 1970s, Office, Executive Desk, Chrome, Unique Design
Vintage from the 1970s
Measurements: 22.5" D x 76.5" L x 29" H
The top ...
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Mid-century American Desk in Zebra Wood By Warren Platner
By Warren Platner
Located in Houston, TX
The desk is made of zebra wood. The table top is reupholstered with brown cowhide. There is a wide drawer for files on the left side and a smaller drawer on the right. The desk is el...
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Custom Order Executive Desk and Wall Mounted Cabinet by Warren Platner for Knoll
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Located in Sagaponack, NY
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G.P.
F.I.
2
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See image 18.
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Warren Platner desks and writing tables for sale on 1stDibs.
Warren Platner desks and writing tables 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 desks and writing tables, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original desks and writing tables by Warren Platner were created in the mid-century modern style in united states during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider desks and writing tables by Mastercraft, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Charles and Ray Eames. Prices for Warren Platner desks and writing tables can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $2,800 and can go as high as $36,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $9,225.