If you love vintage furniture, consider purchasing Florence Knoll furniture for your home. This collection of classic American designs was made famous by Florence Knoll, a proponent of the Bauhaus method of furniture design. Knoll also advocated royalties for designers to encourage their creativity. These qualities have made Knoll’s designs incredibly popular with collectors. Read on to learn more about this iconic designer and her career. Listed below are some of her most famous pieces.
Florence Knoll Bassett
The late architect, furniture designer, and entrepreneur Florence Marguerite Knoll Bassett revolutionized office design and office interiors. Her modernist designs have influenced office interiors around the world today. Her designs were popular with architects, corporate executives, and business owners. Read on to learn more about the life and work of this influential American. In this article, we take a look at her most famous designs. And remember, there is always room for improvement!
The Florence Knoll Bassett papers cover over two linear feet and document her career and the development of her company. The papers include correspondence, sketches, photographs, and subject files. Her bio provides context for the objects she designed. The papers also showcase some of her personal projects and collections. Ultimately, this archive is a testament to Florence Knoll Bassett’s unique style and contribution to modern design. This renowned architect and designer was a true visionary, a pioneer, and a pioneer.
While still a child, Florence Knoll Bassett developed an interest in architecture. She met the late Eero and Eliel Saarinen, who were renowned architects at the time. Eventually, the two women became friends and accompanied them on their travels throughout Europe. She even visited the Saarinens’ home outside Helsinki. They were lifelong friends. And they became partners in business and in life.
The American architect Florence Knoll Bassett was born on May 24, 1917, in Saginaw, Michigan. As a child, she was orphaned. She went to the Kingswood School for girls, which is part of the Cranbrook community of schools. After graduating from Cranbrook Academy of Art, Florence was influenced by the work of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Eliel Saarinen. She studied architecture until her graduation in 1939, and worked for Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer.
Florence Knoll
When her husband passed away in 1955, Florence Knoll stepped in to become the company’s president and continued the legacy of her husband’s work. The widow of a former ice cream maker, Florence Knoll was instrumental in the rise of modern design in America and helped to shape contemporary design for decades. The Knoll Company continues to produce iconic furniture, including her famous ‘Lindbergh Chair’ and ‘Linden Hall’.
Designed in the 1950s, Florence Knoll was a protégé of Eero Saarinen and influenced the design world. Her design principles encompassed total design, encompassing architecture, industrial production, textiles, graphics, and advertising. While the practice was novel and innovative in 1950s America, it quickly caught on and remains widely used today. The company’s furniture remains a popular choice amongst both architects and interior decorators, thanks in large part to the strong connections between Florence Knoll and her protégées.
In 1946, Florence Knoll married Hans Knoll, a prominent furniture-making family from Detroit. Together, they started a furniture company, Knoll Associates, and she became the company’s design director. In 1950, they moved their base of operations to Pennsylvania and incorporated Knoll textiles into the company. In 1958, the Knoll company had three regional showrooms in the United States and abroad. The Knoll furniture company also expanded its design capabilities and introduced the fabric swatch as a way to communicate ideas.
The Florence Knoll furniture is widely collected, including the Tulip Table, Barcelona chair, Diamond Chair, and Diamond Table. These designs are now displayed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Louvre, and the Smithsonian. Many of her pieces have been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art, including the Partner table desk, and the 1961 Executive Collection, which is still in production today. They are a testament to Knoll’s creativity, and a reflection of the quality of her work.
Florence Knoll’s 1954 lounge collection
The iconic designs from Florence Knoll’s 1954 lounge collection include the classic sofa, two-seater bench, and three-seater couch. Each piece features heavy steel legs and a wood inner frame. The pieces also feature the signature Knoll Studio logo stamped in the base of the frame. These classic designs have been in production for decades and remain as timeless classics. Today, these pieces are available for purchase.
The original Lounge Chair, designed by Florence Knoll in 1954, was a scaled-down companion to the lounge sofa. It provided versatile seating in a meeting room. Knoll’s 1954 lounge collection offers a new size and softer version of this timeless classic. The angular profile is reminiscent of the International Style of the 1950s, but its soft, comfortable nature is completely modern. The modern ottoman adds an extra layer of comfort to the pieces.
The first chairs and tables of the Florence Knoll Lounge Collection were designed as fill-ins for reception areas and executive offices. The designs slowly started seeingp into residential spaces, though Shu still preferred larger institutional projects. This collection, which featured iconic chairs and sofas, became an instant classic of mid-century modern design. The rectilinear shapes and forms were a staple of the mid-century style. These chairs were a part of the Knoll family for many years.
The Florence Knoll Lounge Collection was aimed at the residential market, incorporating sculptural offerings. This collection will continue to evolve into new designs, with the Relaxed Lounge Seating adding softer, deeper cousins to classic Knoll furniture. The chairs come in many different materials and fabrics. You can even order your furniture with BS5852 foam. If you want to create the ultimate retreat, the Florence Knoll Lounge collection is a great place to start.
Florence Knoll’s career
The first part of Florence Knoll’s furniture career began when she joined forces with Hans Knoll, a fellow architect. The two soon became partners, expanding the Knoll business into interior design. They later married, and together they became the arbiters of style. Florence Knoll was also a pioneering female in modernist design and architecture. She won numerous awards and received high praise for her work, including the Pritzker Prize for Design.
The two met while working for the Knoll Planning Unit, a pioneering enterprise of the time. The Knoll Planning Unit incorporated various activities into a single organization, and the two worked together to integrate them into a single enterprise. Knoll’s goal was to put well-designed equipment for living within the reach of a large consumer base. They also collaborated with numerous other firms, including the International Style Council and the renowned architect Philip Johnson.
The Knoll Planning Unit, formed in 1944, was the first research/design unit. The Knolls wanted to prepare for the dramatic change in furnishing style that would follow World War II. Knoll believed that closer collaboration between designers and production was needed to make modern furniture affordable to the masses. To accomplish this, Knoll and Florence Schust Knoll sought out top-notch designers from Cranbrook. Rapson and Charles Eames were chosen to serve in the Knoll Planning Unit.
The papers of Florence Knoll Bassett span 2 linear feet. They document Knoll’s education, business philosophy, and international reputation. The papers also contain a portfolio of sketches, photographs, and subject files. Moreover, they contain printed materials, and a biography about her. The Knoll Bassett papers document the designer’s career and her mission. It is worth exploring Florence Knoll’s work in order to understand the woman behind the furniture that inspired so many.
Florence Knoll’s legacy
The first pieces of Florence Knoll furniture were introduced around 70 years ago. They’ve been re-released in celebration of Florence Knoll’s centennial and are now known as the Hairpin Stacking Table. The inspiration for these pieces came from the work Florence Knoll did as a student at the Cranbrook Academy of Art. In honor of her centennial, Knoll released new residential designs inspired by her work.
Her husband Hans Knoll was an entrepreneur who wanted to introduce European modernism to the United States. They met in a design seminar and began working together. Knoll Associates began to grow and Florence became a full partner. The Knoll name stuck, and Knoll furniture continued to carry the names of the designers who had influenced her vision. The company was eventually re-launched as Knoll International.
In her later years, Knoll became acquainted with many of the leaders of the mid-century modern movement. She became friends with Eero Saarinen, a professor at the Cranbrook School of Design, and Mies van der Rohe, who taught Knoll about architectural history. Other influential figures were Marcel Breuer and Walter Gropius, who later helped Knoll launch her furniture company. The enduring legacy of Florence Knoll’s work has been a testament to her talent and the impact of her work on the design world.
One of the most influential modern designers of all time, Florence Knoll was able to create sleek geometric furnishings and seating pieces that have been used for decades. Knoll’s designs are still popular today and can command a premium price. The beauty of the Knoll furniture design combines spare lines with luxurious textures and colors. During her lifetime, Knoll worked with private clients as well as public institutions and saw her designs become mainstream.