Pair of Mid-Century Modern Vostra Chairs by Walter Knoll - Germany
About the Item
- Creator:Walter Knoll (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 33.47 in (85 cm)Width: 21.66 in (55 cm)Depth: 27.56 in (70 cm)Seat Height: 18.51 in (47 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:Reupholstered. Refinished. Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Girona, ES
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1037613406911
Walter Knoll
Inspired by the Bauhaus — founded in 1919 by Walter Gropius — Walter Knoll decided to bet big on modernism. He launched his eponymous German furniture maker in 1925, and the company has been going strong ever since.
Most design lovers are familiar with Knoll, the manufacturer of furniture by Eero Saarinen, Harry Bertoia, Marcel Breuer, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and other modernist giants. It was founded by Hans Knoll in 1941 and led after his death by his wife, Florence Knoll, the doyenne of postwar American office interiors. In recent years, the company has added collections by Maya Lin, Rem Koolhaas, Frank Gehry and David Adjaye, among others, and encouraged customers to do what some of them had been doing all along: use Knoll’s “office furniture” at home.
Fewer Americans are familiar with Walter Knoll, the company Hans’s father founded in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1925 and later moved to nearby Herrenberg. That company has existed in the shadow of the larger U.S.-based Knoll for decades.
Both companies descended from the German manufacturer of ornate leather goods established by Wilhelm Knoll in 1866. In 1907, Wilhelm’s sons, Willy and Walter, took over the father’s business and started producing leather club chairs. Five years later, the company introduced its Nestra line of stripped-down wood and leather seating, foreshadowing the family’s future innovations.
In 1925, when he was 50, Walter Knoll launched the Walter Knoll Company, which soon released the revolutionary Prodomo line of chairs, whose upholstered seats and backs are supported by tubular metal frames. Other lightweight Walter Knoll pieces were used in the passenger compartment of the Hindenburg zeppelin.
In 1927, Walter Knoll furnished five apartments designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe for the Weissenhof Estate, 21 prototypes of “workers’ housing of the future” constructed as part of an exhibition in Stuttgart. A decade later, Walter’s son Hans, then 24, traveled to the United States to market his father’s furniture and to make a new life for himself in the New World. But inspired by his encounters with Jens Risom — a Danish-born designer who furthered Scandinavian modernism in the United States — Hans broke away from Walter, creating Knoll Associates (now known simply as Knoll). Florence Schust (later to become Hans’s wife) joined him in the company in 1943, and soon they were working with mid-century modern icons such as Saarinen and Bertoia on new designs and licensing Mies’s Barcelona chair.
After the war, with his factories destroyed and labor and materials in short supply, Walter Knoll turned to Hans for help. Hans sent over several pieces from his Vostra line, designed by Risom. Walter replaced the web seats with upholstery and launched his version of the Vostra at the New Living exhibition in Cologne in 1949. It became hugely successful, persuading many Germans still accustomed to traditional furniture to give modernism a go.
Walter Knoll retired in 1964, but his namesake firm continued growing in Germany. Just like the American Knoll, Walter Knoll has found that some customers want to use pieces originally meant as office furniture in their houses. In fact, these pieces give living and dining rooms a crispness that almost no residential furniture can match.
Find vintage Walter Knoll lounge chairs, sofas, tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Girona, Spain
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Pair of Mid-Century Modern Chiavarine Chairs, Solid Maple, Taupe Velvet - ItalyLocated in Girona, ESPair of "Chiavarine" chairs, varnished solid maple, new fillings and new taupe moire velvet upholstery. Italy, circa 1940.Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
MaterialsVelvet, Maple
- Pair of Mid-Century Modern Low Chairs in Green, Beige and White Wool - ItalyLocated in Girona, ESPair of low chairs, wood structure reupholstered in green, beige and white wool. Beech feet, finishing and color by command. Italy, circa 1940.Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
MaterialsBeech, Wool
- Pair of Mid-Century Modern Bridge Armchairs in Stained Beech, Fibreguard- FranceLocated in Girona, ESPair of bridge armchairs with oval arms, stained and French polished beechwood, new upholstery with fibreguard rusty fabric, France, circa 1950.Category
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsFabric, Beech
- Low Mid-Century Modern Bedroom Chair in Oak and Pierre Frey's Fabric - BarcelonaLocated in Girona, ESLow bedroom chair, waxed solid oakwood. New stuffing and feather cushion, new upholstery with "Petit Voyage" fabric by Maison Pierre Frey, Paris. ...Category
Vintage 1960s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Oak, Feathers
- Pair of low chairs – Italy 1940Located in Girona, ESPair of low chairs with wooden structure, new fillings and new upholstery in lemon yellow velvet. Dark stained oak legs. Italy circa 1940.Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
MaterialsVelvet, Oak
- Pair of Small Mid-Century Modern Furry Chairs - France 1960Located in Girona, ESPair of small furry chairs with polished brass legs, wooden seats and backs filled with foam (new), original synthetic covers. France c. 1960.Category
Antique 1660s French Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsBrass
- Pair of Walter Knoll “Vostra” Chairs for Knoll, Germany, 1947By Walter Knoll, KnollLocated in Amsterdam, NLA rare pair of “Vostra” chairs designed by Walter Knoll, manufactured by Knoll in Germany around 1947. A highly recognizable chair after Jens Risom...Category
Vintage 1940s German Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Jens Risom, Vostra Easy Lounge Chair, Design 1941 for Walter Knoll, GermanyBy Jens Risom, Walter Knoll, KnollLocated in Munster, NRWJens Risom for Walter Knoll - Easychair Vostra, 1941 Design from 1941 - model of the 50s, beech frame. This Easychair comes from the private property of an art dealer in Cologne,...Category
Vintage 1940s German Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsBeech
- Jens Risom, Vostra Easy Lounge Chair for Walter KnollBy Knoll, Walter Knoll, Jens RisomLocated in Brooklyn, NYDesigned for Knoll circa 1950, this Vintage Jens Risom Vostra Chair is modern and elegant with its curved lines. This chair is in the mid-century mod...Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsCotton, Maple
- Desk Office Armchair Designed by Walter Knoll, 1970sBy Rudolf Bernd Glatzel, Walter KnollLocated in Antwerp, BEA beautiful brown leather armchair designed by Rudolf Bernd Glatzel for Walter Knoll, from the Art collection series. Structure made of heavy stainless steel, brushed frame and orig...Category
Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Mid Century Modern Model 350 Chairs By Arno Votteler For Walter Knoll GermanyBy Walter Knoll, Arno VottelerLocated in Almelo, NLMid Century Modern Model 350 Chairs By Arno Votteler For Walter Knoll, Germany 1950s These are a pair of original model 350 chairs designed by Arno V...Category
Vintage 1950s German Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsSteel
- Pair of Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs by Gunlocke Chair Co.By GunlockeLocated in Brooklyn, NYThis stunning pair of vintage modern armchairs boast a dark walnut frame with sculpted armrests and upholstered backrests. A wonderful design that ensures comfort without sacrificing...Category
Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsWalnut, Upholstery