Florence Knoll Rosewood Credenza with Original Cane Doors and Leather Pulls
View Similar Items
Florence Knoll Rosewood Credenza with Original Cane Doors and Leather Pulls
About the Item
- Creator:Knoll (Manufacturer),Florence Knoll (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 27 in (68.58 cm)Width: 69 in (175.26 cm)Depth: 18 in (45.72 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:Refinished. Newly Refinished.
- Seller Location:Los Angeles, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU971122050122
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.
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.
- Mid-Century Modern Two-Tone Doors Lacquer Credenza by Florence KnollBy Florence Knoll, KnollLocated in Los Angeles, CAElegant credenza designed by architect and designer Florence Knoll and manufactured by Knoll Associates Inc, circa 1950s. This iconic design features a walnut wood case over six soli...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsWood, Walnut, Lacquer
- Hans J. Wegner "President" Brazilian Rosewood Tambour-Door CredenzaBy Hans J. Wegner, Ry MøblerLocated in Los Angeles, CAOne of the most sought after credenzas from Denmark is this iconic "President" model designed by architect Hans J. Wegner in collaboration with the famous workshop of Ry Møbler in 19...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsSteel
- Paul McCobb "Irwin Collection" Credenza with Leather Doors & Brass Accents for CBy Calvin Furniture, Paul McCobbLocated in Los Angeles, CAIntroducing the exquisite Paul McCobb “Irwin Collection” Credenza with Leather Doors & Brass Accents for Calvin Furniture. With its exceptional design and the use of high-quality mat...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsBrass
- Glenn of California Tambour-Door Credenza with Black Formica TopBy Glenn of CaliforniaLocated in Los Angeles, CAMid Century Modern Credenza designed by Glenn of California for Glenn of California in the United States c. 1950’s. This beautiful storage piece is comprised of walnut wood. The righ...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsFormica, Wood, Walnut
- Edmond J. Spence Credenza with Rush Chord Doors for Industria MuebleriaBy Edmond J. Spence, Industria Mueblera MexicoLocated in Los Angeles, CATransforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing history back to life, and we take this journey with passion and precision. With over 17 years of artisanal exper...Category
Vintage 1950s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsRush, Wood, Mahogany
- Scandinavian Modern Teak Credenza with Bi-Folding Door by Carlo JensenBy Hundevad & Co., Carlo JensenLocated in Los Angeles, CATransforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing history back to life, and we take this journey with passion and precision. With over 17 years of artisanal exper...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsWood, Birch, Teak
- Credenza with Cane Doors and Black Laminate Case by Florence KnollBy Florence KnollLocated in Dorchester, MAThis sideboard exemplifies Florence Knoll's classic clean-lined aesthetic. The black laminate case sits on a steel base and features handsome cane sliding doors with leather pulls. I...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
MaterialsSteel
- Florence Knoll designed four door credenza for KnollBy Florence Knoll, KnollLocated in Ferndale, MIVery clean and original early Florence Knoll for Knoll Associates Credenza. Teak cabinet with cream doors and maple veneer interior . Left side of cabinet holds two drawers and tw...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsWood
- Rosewood Credenza with Marble Top by Florence KnollBy Florence Knoll, KnollLocated in Dorchester, MAThis version of Florence Knoll's modernist credenza for Knoll features a gorgeous rosewood case sitting on slender chrome legs and topped with a marble slab that picks up the warmth ...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsMarble, Chrome
- Vintage Calacatta Marble and Rosewood Florence Knoll CredenzaBy Florence Knoll, KnollLocated in Miami, FLA vintage and timeless rosewood credenza with original white Calacatta marble top on chrome legs with chromed pulls and finished back. A very versatile piece, perfect for any home or...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsSteel, Chrome
- 1960s Florence Knoll Rosewood and Marble 4 Position CredenzaBy Florence Knoll, KnollLocated in Houston, TXStunning Florence Knoll marble-top rosewood credenza, c.1960s. Polished chrome base, rosewood veneer, and Olympus Calacatta marble top make this piece drop dead gorgeous, while the 4...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsCarrara Marble, Chrome
- Florence Knoll Rosewood and Marble Credenza or Sideboard, 1960sBy Florence Knoll, KnollLocated in Dallas, TXFlorence Knoll's iconic sideboard/credenza in rosewood with marble top. The sideboard features 4 bays with internal shelving in one bay and file drawers and smaller drawers in three ...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
MaterialsMarble, Steel
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.