Charles Pollock for Knoll "Terracotta" Leather Executive Swivel Tilt Armchairs
View Similar Items
Charles Pollock for Knoll "Terracotta" Leather Executive Swivel Tilt Armchairs
About the Item
- Creator:Charles Pollock (Designer),Knoll (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 33 in (83.82 cm)Width: 26.25 in (66.68 cm)Depth: 28.25 in (71.76 cm)Seat Height: 19 in (48.26 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1990
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Hudson, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU106287961183
Charles Pollock
Charles Pollock was a renowned but reclusive furniture designer. He rarely spoke to the media and instead preferred to let his iconic designs speak for themselves. Pollock’s name is ubiquitous with mid-century modern office furniture — while vintage furniture obsessives know the office chairs he made for Knoll, he designed armchairs and lounge chairs for domestic interiors as well.
Pollock was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1930. When his family moved to Michigan, he attended Detroit's Cass Technical High School, whose alumni includes artist-designer Harry Bertoia. For his extraordinary work at Cass, Pollock earned a full scholarship to Pratt Institute in New York City.
Industrial designer Lucia DeRespinis had been a classmate of Pollock’s at Pratt and got a job in architect George Nelson’s studio after graduation. Nelson, the design director at legendary mid-century furniture manufacturer Herman Miller, was always looking for new design talent. DeRespinis was struck by Pollock’s sculptures at Pratt and recommended Nelson hire him. Pollock, who had been working for Donald Deskey’s firm, took a job with Nelson and helped create the Swag Leg armchair (a full Swag Leg collection debuted at Herman Miller in the late 1950s). Soon afteward, Pollock opened his own studio and shared his portfolio with pioneering designer Florence Knoll at the modernist behemoth she cofounded with her husband Hans.
Pollock’s 657 Sling chair for Knoll debuted in 1960 and earned him a substantial contract with the brand. This paved the way for his most famous design: the Executive chair. Introduced in 1963, the Executive chair became one of the best-selling and most recognizable office chairs in history. Pollock devoted five years to perfecting the seat, and his patented rim technology allowed for simple assembly, which contributed to its success and popularity.
Pollock later returned to sculpting and explored other pursuits but never stopped designing furniture. In 1982, he created the Penelope chair for the Italian furniture maker Castelli. At 82 years of age, Pollock was commissioned by American manufacturer Bernhardt Design to create the CP Lounge chair, which was launched at the London Design Festival 2012. Pollock died a short while later, in 2013, but his seating is still produced by Bernhardt Design today.
Pollock received much acclaim throughout his career. He earned several awards, including the prestigious Red Dot Design Award and Pratt Institute's Rowena Reed Kostellow Award for outstanding work in industrial design. His Executive chair has been exhibited at museums around the world, including the Louvre Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Charles Pollock seating and other furniture today.
Knoll
As a company that produced many of the most famous and iconic furniture designs of the 20th century, Knoll was a chief influence in the rise of modern design in the United States. Led by Florence Knoll, the firm would draw stellar talents such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Eero Saarinen into its compass. Their work would help change the face of the American home and office.
The company was formed in 1938 by the German immigrant Hans Knoll. He first worked with his fellow ex-pat, the Danish designer Jens Risom, who created furniture with flowing lines made of wood. While Risom served in World War II, in 1943 Knoll met his future wife, Florence Schust. She had studied and worked with eminent emigré leaders of the Bauhaus, including Mies, Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer. She won Knoll over with Bauhaus notions of industrial arts, and an aesthetic that featured flat and tubular metal frames and angular forms. When Hans died in a car crash in 1955, Florence Knoll was appointed head of the company. It was as much through her holistic approach to design — a core division of the firm was dedicated to planning office systems — as Knoll's mid-century modern furnishings themselves that she brought about the sleek and efficient transformation of the American workplace.
Today, classic Knoll furnishings remain staples of modern design collections and decor. A history of modern design is written in pieces such as the elegant Barcelona chair — created by Mies and Lilly Reich — Saarinen’s pedestal Tulip chair, Breuer’s tubular steel Wassily lounge chair and the grid-patterned Diamond chair by Harry Bertoia.
As you can see from the collection of these designs and other vintage Knoll dining chairs, sofas and tables on 1stDibs, this manufacturer's offerings have become timeless emblems of the progressive spirit and sleek sophistication of the best of modernism.
- Eero Saarinen for Knoll Executive Armchairs in Heavy Weave Knoll Upholstery BlueBy Knoll, Eero SaarinenLocated in Hudson, NYExecutive armchairs designed by Eero Saarinen and manufactured by Knoll. Have original labels as well as Knoll ticking on underside of each chair. These chairs are all in very good o...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsChrome
- Roger Lee Sprunger for Dunbar Elegant Leather Office Chairs 10 AvailableBy Roger Sprunger, Dunbar Furniture, Edward WormleyLocated in Hudson, NY10 available Absolutely stunning butter soft leather Roger Sprunger for Dunbar office chairs on smooth gliding casters. All original chairs are in very good condition - ready to ...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
MaterialsMetal
$2,240 Sale Price / item20% Off - Sleek Ward Bennett for Lehigh Naugahyde Barrell Back Desk ChairsBy Ward Bennett, Lehigh Furniture CompanyLocated in Hudson, NYWard Bennett amazingly sleek designed office chair on aluminium star base. 3 available. All good condition with the exception of the naugahyde upholstery. All have some small tears a...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
MaterialsAluminum
- Mies Van Der Rohe for Knoll Brno Chair in Cato Upholstery 60 availableBy Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, KnollLocated in Hudson, NYKnoll Brno chair designed by Mies Van der Rohe. These chairs are upholstered in Knoll's Cato upholstery. Color is 'natural'- which reads as a pale oatmeal color. These chairs are fro...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Set of 4 Mies Van Der Rohe for Knoll Brno Chairs in Cato Upholstery 60 availableBy Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, KnollLocated in Hudson, NYSet of 4 Knoll Brno chairs designed by Mies Van der Rohe. These chairs are upholstered in Knoll's Cato upholstery. Color is 'natural'- which reads as a pale oatmeal color. These chai...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsSteel
$2,880 Sale Price / set20% Off - Vintage Fulvio Bianconi for Venini Pezzato VaseBy Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini, Fulvio Bianconi, VeniniLocated in Hudson, NY'Paris' colorway of red, blue, green, and hay yellow glass. One of Bianconi's major contributions to the art of glassmaking, the Pezzato series premiered at the 1950 Venice Biennale...Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsArt Glass
- 1 Knoll Pollock Executive Swivel Armchair Black LeatherBy Knoll, Charles PollockLocated in Pasadena, TXKnoll Pollock Executive Swivel armchair black leather 1956 Design Charles Pollock’s 1965 executive chair, now considered one of Knoll’s most memorable designs, features a chrome rim that supports the chair both structurally and visually Stainless steel cap over steel armature base on casters or glides. Tufted leather with polyurethane and polyester padding over molded shell...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
MaterialsLeather
- Executive Chair by Charles Pollock for KnollBy Knoll, Charles PollockLocated in BROOKLYN, NYCharles Pollock for Knoll office desk chair featuring brown leather upholstery. When you think of the perfect Pollock chair this one probably comes to mind. This executive office cha...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Set 4 Charles Pollock Armchairs Designed by Charles Pollock for KnollBy Charles Pollock, KnollLocated in Brooklyn, NYSet of four executive armchairs design by Charles Pollock for Knoll International. These chairs are signed and dated 1977 with original fabric. All chairs are in good vintage conditi...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsChrome
- Charles Pollock Executive Chairs for KnollBy Charles PollockLocated in Los Angeles, CAExecutive Chairs by Charles Pollock for Knoll in black leather. These beautiful black leather executive chairs are incredibly comfortable...Category
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
MaterialsEnamel, Steel, Chrome
$1,200 / item - Mid-Century Modern Charles Pollock Executive Chair for Knoll in Black LeatherBy Charles Pollock, KnollLocated in BROOKLYN, NY(1) Charles Pollock chair for Knoll featuring a chrome frame with black leather Upholstery. Pollock chairs are icons of Mid-Century Modern design. Pollock revolutionized office seating with the introduction of this chair in the 1960s. The chair has proven so popular that it is still manufactured by Knoll to this day. This chair is from the Mid 1990s. No missing buttons and the leather is soft and supple. Has height adjustment (manual). 5 Star base...Category
1990s American Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
MaterialsChrome
$900 Sale Price25% Off - Charles Pollock Leather Desk Chair for KnollBy Charles Pollock, KnollLocated in Brooklyn, NYVintage leather desk for office chair by Charles Pollock for Knoll. In good vintage condition. All wheels work as does swivel base. Height adjusta...Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
MaterialsLeather