Pair Warren Platner Lounge Chairs
By Warren Platner
Located in New York, NY
Pair Warren Platner lounge chairs. The chairs have brown upholstery with a nickeled steel frame.
Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Steel
Though vintage Warren Platner chairs, sofas and interiors are icons of mid-century modernism, the architect and furniture designer took his stylistic inspiration from as far back as 18th-century France, once saying about his seminal collection for Knoll that his design intent was to evoke “the kind of decorative, gentle, graceful kind of design that appeared in period style like Louis XV.”
Indeed, the marriage of modern sensibility and classical grace is a marker of Platner’s style across furnishings and interiors — both genres in which he left an enduring legacy.
Born in 1919 in Baltimore, Maryland, Platner studied architecture at Cornell before cutting his teeth working for design icons like Eero Saarinen and Kevin Roche, eventually serving as head of interior design in the latter’s office. In 1965, Platner opened his own office, in Greenwich, Connecticut, where he continued to hone his particular brand of graceful modernism.
Knoll released the Platner Collection of seating and tables in 1966. (Originally designed in 1962, the suite took nearly four years of development to bring to life.)
The decorative bent-metal-and-glass pieces — an armchair, a dining table and more — make certain nods to the trademarks of his former employers, but also to the shapes of historic European furniture. The sculptural elegance of his line recalls Saarinen’s iconic Tulip collection, which includes armchairs and dining tables, while his materiality aligns with Roche’s cutting-edge use of glass and metal for the headquarters of the Ford Foundation in New York.
Many of Platner’s Knoll pieces would go on to find homes in a certain fabled locale: the Windows on the World restaurant at the original World Trade Center, whose interiors Platner was tapped to outfit in the mid-1970s. Upon the opening of the restaurant in 1976, New York Times architecture critic Paul Goldberger dubbed its style “sensuous modernism” — an apt tagline for Platner’s oeuvre as a whole.
Platner died in 2006 at the age of 86. His furniture is still produced by Knoll, and original examples — along with idiosyncratic custom works he created for interior design clients — are coveted by collectors today.
Find vintage Warren Platner furniture on 1stDibs.
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.
Pair Warren Platner Lounge Chairs
By Warren Platner
Located in New York, NY
Pair Warren Platner lounge chairs. The chairs have brown upholstery with a nickeled steel frame.
Steel
Warren Platner for Knoll Mid Century Lounge Chair
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Warren Platner for Knoll Mid Century Lounge Chair This chair measures: 36 wide x 27 deep x 30.5 high, with a seat height of 20 and arm height/chair clearance 26 inches All pieces o...
Metal, Chrome
Warren Platner Easy Lounge Chair for Knoll, 1980s
By Knoll, Warren Platner
Located in Aachen, NW
Early Easy Lounge chair by Warren Platner for Knoll. The groundbreaking Easy chair was designed in the 1960s by Warren Platner and produced by Knoll in the 1980s. This mid-century ...
Aluminum
Pair of Warren Platner Bronze Finish Lounge Chairs
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A beautiful pair of Warren Platner designed wire lounge chairs for Knoll in bronze finish. there have been re-upholstered in a Knoll velvet. In good overall condition., The fabric is...
Steel
Warren Platner Easy Lounge Chair for Knoll, 1980s
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in Aachen, NW
Early Easy Lounge chair by Warren Platner for Knoll. The groundbreaking Easy chair was designed in the 1960s by Warren Platner and produced by Knoll in the early 1980s. This mid-ce...
Aluminum
$7,840Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 30.25 in W 36.5 in D 25.5 in
Pair of Warren Platner for Knoll Lounge Chairs in Sapphire Velvet
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in Culver City, CA
Available right now we have 2 pairs of Warren Platner Lounge Chairs. Priced per pair these chairs are a sublime fusion of opulence and iconic design that are timelessly chic. Crafted to perfection, these lounge chairs are not merely pieces of furniture; they are functional pieces or art. Enveloped in a sumptuous deep sapphire velvet, these lounge chairs redefine comfort and style. The allure of the plush upholstery beckons you to sink into a world of indulgence, with the rich velvety texture against your skin, a tactile symphony that will elevate your relaxation to an art form. Warren Platner was a luminary in the world of modern design, Platner's career was marked by a relentless pursuit of innovation and elegance. Trained as an architect, he seamlessly transitioned into the realm of furniture design, leaving an indelible mark with his distinctive creations. Platner's ingenuity was particularly evident in his collaboration with Knoll, a legendary name in the world of modern furniture. Founded in 1938 by Hans Knoll and later joined by his wife Florence Knoll, the company became synonymous with cutting-edge design and a commitment to quality craftsmanship. Knoll became a trailblazer, collaborating with visionaries like Warren Platner to create pieces that would go on to define an era. The Platner Lounge Chairs, with their unique design and quality materials, stand as a testament to the enduring legacy of both Warren Platner and Knoll. These chairs aren't just pieces of furniture; they are collectors' items, highly sought after by those who appreciate the intersection of art and functionality. In a world where trends come and go, the Platner Lounge Chairs stand the test of time. They aren't just a place to sit; they are an experience, a visual and tactile journey into the lap of luxury. Owning these chairs isn't just a choice; it's an affirmation of a lifestyle that values the finer things – where comfort meets design, and every piece of furniture is a statement. These chairs would look incredible in any mid century modern, contemporary or modern environment. We currently have these chairs in our gallery alongside other iconic pieces, and Arne Jacobsen egg chair, and Eero Saarinen dining set...
Nickel
Pair of Warren Platner Easy Lounge Chairs and Ottoman
By Knoll, Warren Platner
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A pair of Model 1705 easy chairs with ottoman, designed by Warren Platner for Knoll. Zinc steel wire rods are bent and welded to form a graceful, sculptural Silhouette. A generously ...
Zinc
Warren Platner for Knoll Bronze Finish Lounge Chair, 1960's
By Knoll, Warren Platner
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Platner for Knoll Bronzed Steel Lounge Chair. Featuring his classic, 1962 designed, airy vertical Steel Wire rod construction, original Antique Bronze finish, ergonomic bucket seat, ...
Steel
Warren Platner for Knoll Mid Century Easy Lounge Chair
By Knoll, Warren Platner
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Warren Platner for Knoll Mid Century Easy Lounge Chair This lounge chair measures: 41.25 wide x 34 deep x 39.5 high, with a seat height of 17 and arm height/chair clearance 21 inche...
Metal, Chrome
$9,185 / set
H 30.32 in W 36.62 in D 26.38 in
Pair of Warren Platner Lounge Chairs for Knoll International
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in Little Burstead, Essex
This pair of Platner chairs are in great condition, the chrome rods are not at all rusty or bent and the upholstery has just been done in a Salm...
Chrome

Warren Platner Lounge Chairs, Restored in Loro Piana Leather and Linen, Pair
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
Icons. Released by Knoll, Platner’s lounge chair lends mid-century cool to any room. The famous lounge chair is created by welding curved steel rods to circular and semi-circular fra...
Steel

Warren Platner Easy Lounge Chair and Ottoman in Dedar Mohair Velvet
By Warren Platner
Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
An icon! Released by Knoll, Platner’s large Easy Chair lends mid-century cool to any room. The iconic lounge chair is created by welding curved steel...
Steel

Forsyth Bespoke Eero Saarinen Womb Chair in Zebra
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
A favorite of the Forsyth design team! We have an incredible collection of vintage chairs and design icons waiting for a new life. Our upcycled Womb Chairs are some of our most popul...
Zebra Hide

Eero Saarinen Womb Chair and Ottoman in Zebra
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
We have an incredible collection of vintage chairs and design icons waiting for a new life. Please allow 10-12 weeks for re-upholstery and restoration of a vintage Womb Chair and Ott...
Zebra Hide
Forsyth Ottoman in Zebra Hide
Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
A new addition to our Originals collection. This bespoke ottoman is perfect for a variety of uses, ottoman, coffee table, bench at the end of a bed, et...
Steel
Forsyth Bespoke Eero Saarinen Womb Chair in Australian Sheepskin
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
We have an incredible collection of vintage chairs and design icons waiting for a new life. Our upcylced womb chairs are some of our most popular designs. This womb chair will be made to order with the finest Australian sheepskins...
Sheepskin