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 Sling Loveseat Sofa By Hannah Morrison For Knoll
By Bruce Hannah & Andrew Morrison, Knoll
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This iconic Mid-Century Modern two-seat sling sofa / loveseat was designed by Bruce Hannah and Andrew Morrison for Knoll in 1971. It features a strong outline frame made of white pow...
Steel
$2,500
H 35.75 in W 55 in D 36 in
1970s Two-Seat Sling Sofa by Hannah Morrison for Knoll in Fabric and Aluminum
By Bruce Hannah & Andrew Morrison, Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Two-Seat Sling Sofa, designed by Bruce Hannah and Andrew Morrison for Knoll in 1971. It features a polished cast-steel frame, and has an upholstered seat & back. The uphols...
Steel
$5,600
H 25.5 in W 81.13 in D 19.5 in
Sling Sofa in Steel and Bouclé by Bruce Hannah and Andrew Morrison for Knoll
By Bruce Hannah & Andrew Morrison, Knoll
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage three-seat armless sofa in charcoal bouclé with an off-white powder-coated steel frame designed by Bruce Hannah and Andrew Morrison for Knoll (1971, New York, NY USA). The de...
Steel
$2,680
H 26.75 in W 80 in D 27 in
Bruce Hannah and Andrew Morrison for Knoll Sling Settee Sofa Design, 1970s
By Knoll, Bruce Hannah & Andrew Morrison
Located in Buffalo, NY
Iconic Knoll sling bench designed by Hannah Morrison, black coated aluminum frame with grey wool upholstery. Some small marks on the frame but in otherwis...
Aluminum, Steel
1970s Sling Settee by Bruce Hannah and Andrew Morrison for Knoll
By Bruce Hannah & Andrew Morrison, Knoll
Located in Sacramento, CA
1970s Sling settee designed by Bruce Hannah and Andrew Morrison for Knoll. The settee has its original black leather upholstery and a cast-steel frame finished in white. The cantilev...
Steel
$8,825
H 25.6 in W 77.96 in D 31.5 in
Rare 3-Seater Sofa by Horst Brüning for Kill International, 1960s
By Horst Bruning, Alfred Kill International
Located in Antwerpen, VAN
Super rare modernist sofa designed by Horst Brüning around 1965. It features a sculptural chrome-plated flat steel construction, upholstered with a high quality black fabric in wool....
Steel
Mid-Century Modern Jens Risom Model 37 Loveseat Sofa For Knoll
By Jens Risom, Knoll
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This early Jens Risom model 37 loveseat sofa for Knoll is a classic example of Mid-Century Modern design. The fully upholstered sofa features a high back with rounded edges and reces...
Upholstery, Birch
$5,400
H 28.35 in W 81.89 in D 29.53 in
Three-Seater Sofa by Georges van Rijck for Beaufort, Belgium, 1960s
By Beaufort, Georges van Rijck
Located in Antwerp, BE
Three-seater sofa designed by Georges van Rijck and manufactured by Beaufort in Belgium. This piece merges the timeless design aesthetics of 1960s Belgium with contemporary elegance....
Metal
$6,396Sale Price|38% Off
H 30 in W 75.5 in D 29 in
Kandidaten Three Seat Sofa in Knoll Bouclé by Ib Kofod-Larsen for Olof Person
By Ib Kofod-Larsen
Located in Deland, FL
This Kandidaten three-seater sofa was designed by Ib Kofod-Larsen and manufactured in Sweden by Olof Person in 1962. Constructed from solid teak this iconic design features cylindric...
Teak
Rare No. 704 Richard Schultz Knoll International Daybed / Sofa
By Richard Schultz, Knoll
Located in Munich, DE
Convertible sofa designed by Richard Schultz for Knoll International. The seat pulls forward and up to create a flat and level bed. Wonderful and classic Mid-Century Modern design.
Metal
Expertly Restored - Early Hans J. Wegner JH-555 Sofa for Johannes Hansen
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This early Hans J. Wegner settee for Johannes Hansen carries the kind of quiet authority that only true cabinetmaker-led Danish design can deliver—refined in line, deeply considered ...
Fabric, Foam, Wood
Danish Modern Sculpted Sofa by Ib Kofod-Larsen
By Ib Kofod-Larsen, Selig
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Materials Walnut-Stained Beechwood, New Tweed Fabric, New Pirelli Webbing _____________________________ Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing history...
Upholstery, Walnut, Beech
Expertly Restored - Early Hans J. Wegner JH-555 Teak Sofa for Johannes Hansen
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Materials: Teak Wood, New Tweed Fabric, New High-Density Foam ________________________________________ Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing history b...
Fabric, Foam, Wood, Teak
Expertly Restored - H.W. Klein Teak & Tweed Love Seat Sofa for Komfort
By Komfort, H.W. Klein
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Materials: Teak Wood, New Tweed Fabric, New Pirelli Webbing, New High-Density Foam ________________________________________ Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is li...
Fabric, Foam, Wood, Teak
Expertly Restored - Folke Ohlsson Model “Tema 1” Beechwood Sofa for Dux
By Dux of Sweden, Folke Ohlsson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Materials: Beechwood, New Tweed Fabric, New High-Density Foam, New Rubber Pirelli Straps ________________________________________ Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture...
Fabric, Foam, Wood, Beech
Expertly Restored - Danish Modern Sculpted Teak Sofa
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Materials: Teak Wood, New Tweed Fabric, New High-Density Foam __________________________________ Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing history back to...
Foam, Teak, Wood, Fabric
