Early Florence Knoll Credenza from the 1950s
View Similar Items
Early Florence Knoll Credenza from the 1950s
About the Item
- Creator:Florence Knoll (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 3.75 in (9.53 cm)Width: 77.5 in (196.85 cm)Depth: 18 in (45.72 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Circa 1950s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Palm Springs, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU93801064550
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 skillfully realized office plans and polished, efficient designs for sofas, credenzas, desks and other furnishings.
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.
Florence Knoll's main work came as head of the Knoll Planning Group, designing custom office interiors for clients such as IBM and CBS. The furniture she 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.
Find vintage Florence Knoll sofas, benches, armchairs and other furniture on 1stDibs.
- Lacquered Goatskin Parchment Credenza by Karl SpringerBy Karl SpringerLocated in Palm Springs, CA1980’s goatskin parchment lacquered credenza by Karl Springer. In amazing vintage condition shows minor wear consistent with age. Constructed of wood covered with a grayish tan g...Category
Vintage 1980s American Modern Credenzas
MaterialsWood, Lacquer, Parchment Paper
- off White Leather and Stainless Steel Parallel Bar Sofa by Florence KnollBy Florence Knoll, KnollLocated in Palm Springs, CAOff white leather and brush stainless steel parallel bar sofa designed by Florence Knoll for Knoll. This came out of the Australian embassy and retains their label. This was reupholstered about 10 years ago. Was used only in winter home...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Pair of Brush stainless Steel and Granite Side Tables by Florence KnollBy Florence Knoll, KnollLocated in Palm Springs, CAIconic 1960’s pair of side tables designed by Florence Knoll for Knoll Associates. The frames are brushed stainless steel with off white granite tops. This came out of NBC Studios....Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
MaterialsGranite, Stainless Steel
- Pair of off White Leather and Stainless Steel Lounge Chairs by Florence KnollBy Florence Knoll, KnollLocated in Palm Springs, CABeautiful 1950’s off white leather with parallel bar stainless steel legs lounge chairs designed by Florence Knoll for Knoll. This came out o...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Sculptural Faux Stone and Lacquer Cabinet by Steve ChaseBy Steve ChaseLocated in Palm Springs, CAA beautiful sculptural 1980s faux green slate and silver lacquer cabinet by Steve Chase. The cabinet has four doors, the two centre ones open up to expose a drawer on the top and a a...Category
Vintage 1980s American Modern Credenzas
MaterialsLacquer
- Brass Lobster Sculpture from the 1970sLocated in Palm Springs, CAA cool 1970s solid brass lobster sculpture. Dimensions: 5.5” deep 16” wide 2” high.Category
Vintage 1970s American Modern Animal Sculptures
MaterialsBrass
- Florence Knoll Maple Credenza with Leather Pulls and Oak Drawers Early 1950sBy Florence KnollLocated in Dallas, TXEarly and rare credenza in maple by Florence Knoll for Knoll International. This classic modern icon is absolutely amazing and was constructed with a beautiful maple, oak drawers, na...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsSteel
- Early Florence Knoll For Knoll Associates Walnut And Cream Credenza C.1950By Florence KnollLocated in Bernville, PAExceptional early Florence Knoll for Knoll Associates Credenza. Beautiful walnut veneer cabinet with white lacquer doors and maple veneer inside. Cabinet has an early Knoll tag on th...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsMaple, Walnut, Lacquer
- Florence Knoll CredenzaBy Florence KnollLocated in Los Angeles, CAFlorence knoll credenza in oak and marble, USA, 1961.Category
Vintage 1960s American Credenzas
MaterialsMarble
Price Upon Request - Florence Knoll 'Model 116' Iron Leg and Grass Cloth Credenza for Knoll, 1950sBy Florence KnollLocated in Coronado, CAA maple, grasscloth and leather 'Model 116' cabinet designed by Florence Knoll in 1948 for Knoll Associates. The credenza features a pair of sliding doors with grasscloth fronts and ...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsIron
- Florence Knoll Designed CredenzaBy Knoll, Florence KnollLocated in Brooklyn, NYMid-century modern office sideboard by Florence Knoll. Walnut grain throughout with strong metal legs. Pull out tray and file cabinet. Please confirm location NY or NJCategory
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsMetal
- Florence Knoll Carrara Marble Credenza for KnollBy Knoll, Florence KnollLocated in North Hollywood, CAThis beautiful credenza designed by Florence Knoll is not only stylish and functional, but it also comes engraved with the designer's name, making it a true collector's item. The war...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsCarrara Marble, Steel, 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.