Midcentury Florence Knoll Armless Sofas, a Pair
View Similar Items
Midcentury Florence Knoll Armless Sofas, a Pair
About the Item
- Creator:Florence Knoll (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 30.5 in (77.47 cm)Width: 84 in (213.36 cm)Depth: 26.25 in (66.68 cm)Seat Height: 16.75 in (42.55 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:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1569211255041
Florence Knoll
Architect, furniture designer, interior designer, entrepreneur — Florence Knoll had a subtle but profound influence on the course of mid-century American modernism. Dedicated to functionality and organization, and never flamboyant, Knoll shaped the ethos of the postwar business world with her polished, efficient design and skillfully realized office plans.
Knoll had perhaps the most thorough design education of any of her peers. Florence Schust was orphaned at age 12, and her guardian sent her to Kingswood, a girl’s boarding school that is part of the Cranbrook Educational Community in suburban Detroit. Her interest in design brought her to the attention of Eliel Saarinen, the Finnish architect and head of the Cranbrook Academy of Art. Saarinen and his wife took the talented child under their wing, and she became close to their son, the future architect Eero Saarinen. While a student at the academy, Florence befriended artist-designer Harry Bertoia and Charles and Ray Eames. Later, she studied under three of the Bauhaus masters who emigrated to the United States. She worked as an apprentice in the Boston architectural offices of Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer; Ludwig Mies van der Rohe taught her at the Illinois Institute of Technology.
In 1941, she met Hans Knoll, whose eponymous furniture company was just getting off the ground. They married in 1946, and her design sense and his business skills soon made Knoll Inc. a leading firm in its field. Florence signed up the younger Saarinen as a designer, and would develop pieces by Bertoia, Mies and the artist Isamu Noguchi. Her main work came as head of the Knoll Planning Group, designing custom office interiors for clients such as IBM and CBS. The furniture Florence created for these spaces reflects her Bauhaus training: the pieces are pure functional design, exactingly built; their only ornament from the materials, such as wood and marble. Her innovations — the oval conference table, for example, conceived as a way to ensure clear sightlines among all seated at a meeting — were always in the service of practicality.
Since her retirement in 1965, Knoll received the National Medal of Arts, among other awards; in 2004 the Philadelphia Museum of Art mounted the exhibition “Florence Knoll: Defining Modern” — well deserved accolades for a strong, successful design and business pioneer. As demonstrated on these pages, the simplicity of Knoll’s furniture is her work’s great virtue: they fit into any interior design scheme.
- Midcentury Florence Knoll Style Settee by PatricianBy Patrician Furniture Co, Florence KnollLocated in New York, NYOriginally made in the 1970s, this two-seater settee by Patrician Furniture Company takes after the iconic Florence Knoll sofa, with its combination of angular and soft lines. The se...Category
Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Settees
MaterialsChrome
- Midcentury James Mont Velvet Mohair SofaBy James MontLocated in New York, NYMid-20th century sofa designed by James Mont. It is newly reupholstered in a taupe-toned velvet mohair. The elegant design is one of smooth lines and curves. We particularly love the...Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsMohair, Wood
- 1950s Danish Modern Model AP18 Sofa by Hans WegnerBy Hans J. Wegner, A.P. StolenLocated in New York, NYBeautiful Danish Modern Model AP18 Sofa by Prolific Mid-Century Furniture Designer Hans Wegner for AP Stolen. This Model AP18 Sofa is characterized by its sleek profile, three seats,...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather, Oak
- 1940s Danish Banana Style Sofa in Taupe Leather and Chocolate BoucléBy Slagelse Mobelvaerk, Flemming LassenLocated in New York, NYThis 1940s Danish sofa in the style of Flemming Lassen and Slagelse Mobelvaerk is a one of a kind addition to any home. Designed with a curved backrest in newly reupholstered chocola...Category
Vintage 1940s Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather, Bouclé, Mahogany
- Børge Mogensen Leather Coupé Sofa Model 2192By Børge Mogensen, Fredericia StolefabrikLocated in New York, NYThis semi-aniline brown leather coupé sofa was designed by Børge Mogensen for Fredericia in the 1960s. Structurally, the sofa has a high, cushioned back, reminiscent of a wingback ar...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Settees
MaterialsLeather, Walnut
- 1940s Danish Modern Sofa by Frits HenningsenBy Frits HenningsenLocated in New York, NYThis 1940s Frits Henningsen sofa is newly reupholstered in an ivory-white bouclé from Schumacher. The mahogany frame is refinished in a warm red-brown tone that complements the leath...Category
Vintage 1940s Danish Sofas
MaterialsLeather, Bouclé, Mahogany
- Early Florence Knoll Armless Sofa and Chair SetBy Knoll, Florence KnollLocated in Los Angeles, CAThis is an early and rare Knoll sofa and chair set. This sets one and only home was non-other then a Richard Nuetra estate in the Hollywood Hills. N...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Florence Knoll Midcentury Walnut SofaBy Florence KnollLocated in Countryside, ILFlorence Knoll midcentury walnut sofa. This sofa measures: 90.75 wide x 28.5 deep x 31.5 inches high, with a seat height of 15.5 and arm height of...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsUpholstery, Walnut
- Florence Knoll Sofa SetBy Florence KnollLocated in Munich, DEan early and hard to find sofaset . complete restored to perfect condition !Category
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Living Room Sets
$13,000 / set - Modern Armless Curved SofaLocated in Greenwich, CTThe Aprés sofa is a curved bench style sofa and has hand tied coil spring foundation wrapped in high-density foam. Shown in Pierre Frey Cocoon/Zephyr, a wool blend that is soft and d...Category
2010s North American Modern Sofas
MaterialsCotton, Fabric, Maple
$12,250 / item - Florence Knoll SofaBy Florence KnollLocated in Dallas, TXVery early Florence Knoll sofa circa 1950 completely restored including all new 8 way hand tied springs, all new high grade foam cushions and new ...Category
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsMaple, Textile
$5,400 Sale Price32% Off - Parallel Bar Armchairs & Sofa by Florence Knoll for Knoll InternationalBy Florence KnollLocated in Izegem, VWVThe Model 51, beter known as the Parallel Bar series with a brushed chrome and black finish steel frame were designed by Florence Knoll in 1955 for Knoll International. This set, ...Category
Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Living Room Sets
MaterialsSteel, Chrome
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
10 Trailblazing Female Designers
From pioneering visionaries to contemporary talents, get to know some of the most important women in design.
Remembering Design Visionary Florence Knoll Bassett (1917-2019)
A loving look back at the life and career of a doyenne of mid-century-modern style, who died last week at the age of 101.