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.
Richard Schultz for Knoll 1966 Collection Outdoor Coffee Table
By Richard Schultz
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A sleek and sophisticated addition to any outdoor space, this 1966 Collection Coffee Table by Richard Schultz embodies timeless modernist design. Originally created for Florence Knol...
Aluminum
Richard Schultz 1996 Series Coffee Table
By Richard Schultz, Knoll
Located in Chicago, IL
Richard Schultz outdoor coffee table for Knoll. This table has a white powder-coated cast and extruded aluminum frame with white enameled porcelain on steel tabletop. The table has a...
Steel
Midcentury Knoll Hannah Morrison Coffee Table
By Bruce Hannah & Andrew Morrison, Knoll
Located in Pasadena, TX
4 Ft Mid Century Knoll Hannah & Morrison Coffee Table Andrew Morrison and Bruce Hannah defined their design philosophy as an attempt to "round all the c...
Chrome
Vintage 1966 Richard Schultz Outdoor Square Dining Table for Knoll
By Knoll, Richard Schultz
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage 1966 Richard Schultz Outdoor Square Dining Table for Knoll. Executed in white enameled metal with an attractive vintage patina. Unmarked. In the late 1950s, Richard Schultz received an envelope filled with rusted bolts from Florence Knoll, who was spending time at her Florida home...
Metal, Enamel
Original Richard Schultz for Knoll 1966 Series Coffee Table
By Richard Schultz, Knoll
Located in Peabody, MA
An outdoor coffee table with blue enamel top from Richard Schultz’s 1966 aluminum Leisure Collection for Knoll,
Aluminum, Enamel
$2,500 / item
H 15.5 in W 48 in D 24 in
1970s Richard Schultz for Knoll 1966 Collection Coffee Table 24 x 48
By Knoll, Richard Schultz
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a 1966 Collection Outdoor Rectangular Coffee Table, initially designed by Richard Schultz for Knoll in 1966. These particular tables date to the 1970s, and have been freshly re-powder coated. The listed price includes one 1966 table...
Aluminum, Enamel, Steel
Mid-Century Modern Richard Schultz Coffee Table for Knoll
By Knoll, Richard L.F. Schulz
Located in Antwerp, BE
A rectangular coffee table with chromed steel and clear glass top coffee table.This midcentury modern coffee table will fit any classic or modern home and a real treasure for your in...
Stainless Steel
Florence Knoll T-Bar Coffee Table
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Kalamazoo, MI
This Florence Knoll T-Bar Coffee Table was designed for Knoll International in the 1960s. Its base is crafted from steel, and it boasts a Formica top that is in good shape for its ag...
Steel
Mid Century Richard Schultz Outdoor Coffee or Side Table
By Richard Schultz
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful and minimal design by Richard Schultz for Knoll in 1966. This is part of an outdoor collection that’s still being made and used for 50 years. The table top is made of porce...
Aluminum, Enamel, Steel
$1,600 / item
H 15.5 in W 28 in D 28 in
1970s Richard Schultz for Knoll 1966 Collection Square Coffee Table with Frame
By Richard Schultz, Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a 1966 Collection Outdoor Square Coffee Table, initially designed by Richard Schultz for Knoll in 1966. These particular tables date to the 1970s, and have been freshly re-po...
Aluminum, Enamel, Steel
Knoll T Angle Side Table by Florence Knoll
By Florence Knoll
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A very nice simple side table with satin black T angled steel frame and with a white Laminate top . A very early production piece having the big fabric label to the bottom from Knoll...
Steel
George Nelson Herman Miller Swag Leg Coffee Table
By George Nelson
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A white Laminate topped Swag leg coffee table by the iconic designer Geroge Nelson who's simple, yet unique aesthetic is still as fresh today as it was more that 50 years ago. Having...
Aluminum
George Nelson Rare Protype Bench / Coffee Table for Herman Miller
By George Nelson
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A early and rare Nelson coffee table / bench with white rectangle Laminate top having black legs typical of the Nelson slat bench coffee table. This table was not produced in large n...
Wood
Yngve Ekstrom Flip Top Danish styled Coffee Table for Swedese Pastoe Sweden
By Yngve Ekström
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A great functional coffee table with a flipping top , one side is a well grained teak wood and the other is in white Laminate . Having a solid teak base with crisscrossing leg struct...
Laminate, Teak
Lewis Butler Walnut Coffee Table for Knoll
By Lewis Butler for Knoll
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A very well crafted walnut coffee with wonderful graining to the top surface, set back upper stretchers give the table top a floating affect. Designed by Lewis Butler and manufacture...
Walnut
Saarinen Knoll styled Tulip Dining Table by Maurice Burke
By Knoll
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A smaller round tulip dining table with X base in white with matching Laminate top designed by Maurice Burke in the manner of Eero Saarinen and Knoll. Manufactured by the Burke furni...
Metal
