Florence Knoll

Florence Knoll

Born to an affluent baker and orphaned at age twelve, Florence Schust grew up Saginaw, Michigan. Schust demonstrated an early interest in architecture and was enrolled at the Kingswood School for Girls, adjacent to the Cranbrook Academy of Art.

While at Kingswood, Florence befriended Eilel Saarinen, whom she would later study under at Cranbrook. Warmly embraced by the Saarinen family, Florence vacationed with them in Finland, enjoyed the company of their accomplished friends, and formed a very close relationship with Eliel’s son, Eero. The connections she made and the skills she developed while at Cranbrook were the foundations of Florence Schust’s incredible design education and pioneering career. With recommendations from Eliel Saarinen and Alvar Aalto, Florence went on to study under some of the greatest 20th century architects, including Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer in Cambridge, Massachusetts and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe at the Illinois Institute of Technology.

In 1941 Florence moved to New York where she met Hans Knoll who was establishing his furniture company. With Florence’s design skills and Hans’ business acumen and salesmanship, the pair, who married in 1946, grew the nascent company into an international arbiter of style and design. Florence also seeded contributions with her friends Eero Saarinen, Harry Bertoia, and Mies van der Rohe.

In creating the revolutionary Knoll Planning Unit, Florence Knoll defined the standard for the modern corporate interiors of post-war America. Drawing on her background in architecture, she introduced modern notions of efficiency, space planning, and comprehensive design to office planning. Florence ardently maintained that she did not merely decorate space. She created it. The Planning Unit rigorously researched and surveyed each client - assessing their needs, defining patterns of use and understanding company hierarchies - before presenting a comprehensive design, informed by the principles of modernism and beautifully executed in signature Knoll style. Florence and the Planning Unit were responsible for the interiors of some of America’s largest corporations, including IBM, GM and CBS.

As part of her work with the Planning Unit, Florence frequently contributed furniture designs to the Knoll catalog. She humbly referred to her furniture designs as the “meat and potatoes,” filler among the standout pieces of Bertoia, Mies, and Saarinen. However, with her attention to detail, eye for proportion, and command of the modern aesthetic, many of her designs have become as revered and celebrated as those of her colleagues.

After the tragic death of Hans Knoll in 1955, Florence Knoll led the company as president through uncertain times. In 1960 she resigned the presidency to focus on directing design and development, and in 1965 she retired from the company. Her contributions to Knoll, and to the rise of modernism in America, are immeasurable.

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Medium Brown Mahogany Ebonized Oak
KnollFlorence Knoll Executive Desk
Sale price$8,412.80 Regular price$10,516.00
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Satin Coated Carrara Marble Top Polished Carrara Marble Top
KnollFlorence Knoll Oval Table Desk
Sale price$7,338.40 Regular price$9,173.00
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Satin Coated Arabescato Marble Top White Laminate Top
KnollFlorence Knoll Round Table Desk
Sale price$5,848.80 Regular price$7,311.00
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Glass Top Satin Coated Carrara Marble Top
KnollFlorence Knoll Mini Desk
Sale price$2,174.40 Regular price$2,718.00
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Florence Knoll Dining Table | Rectangular Polished Carrara Marble Top
KnollFlorence Knoll Dining Table | Rectangular
Sale price$8,204.00 Regular price$10,255.00
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Florence Knoll Square Dining Table in Polished Carrara Marble Polished Carrara Marble Top
KnollFlorence Knoll Dining Table | Square
Sale price$7,892.80 Regular price$9,866.00
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Florence Knoll 2 Position Credenza Ebonized Oak with Satin Coated Carrara Marble TopFlorence Knoll 2 Position Credenza Ebonized Oak with Polished Carrara Marble Top
KnollFlorence Knoll Credenza 2-Position
Sale price$6,050.40 Regular price$7,563.00
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Florence Knoll Credenza with Satin Arabescato Marble TopPolished Arabescato Marble Top
KnollFlorence Knoll Credenza 4-Position
Sale price$11,804.00 Regular price$14,755.00
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Florence Knoll Bench Knoll Velvet Espresso
KnollFlorence Knoll Bench
Sale price$2,796.80 Regular price$3,496.00
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Florence Knoll Side Tables Carrara Marble and Polished Chrome Polished Carrara Marble Top
KnollFlorence Knoll Side | End Tables
Sale price$817.60 Regular price$1,022.00
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Polished Carrara Marble Top Clear Glass Top
KnollFlorence Knoll Coffee Table
Sale price$1,176.80 Regular price$1,471.00
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Summit Skyline Florence Knoll Relaxed Sofa in Summit Vista
KnollFlorence Knoll Relaxed Sofa
Sale price$10,474.40 Regular price$13,093.00
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Florence Knoll Relaxed Settee in Summit Skyline Florence Knoll Relaxed Settee Detail
KnollFlorence Knoll Relaxed Settee
Sale price$7,582.40 Regular price$9,478.00
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Florence Knoll Sofa Silver Velvet Florence Knoll Sofa Volo Black Leather
KnollFlorence Knoll Sofa
Sale price$12,432.00 Regular price$15,540.00
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Florence Knoll Settee White Florence Knoll Sette Volo Black Leather
KnollFlorence Knoll Settee
Sale price$8,986.40 Regular price$11,233.00
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Florence Knoll Lounge Chair White Florence Knoll Lounge Chair Black Volo Leather
KnollFlorence Knoll Lounge Chair
Sale price$5,622.40 Regular price$7,028.00
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Florence Knoll Hairpin Stacking Table White Top Black BaseWhite Top Black Base
KnollFlorence Knoll Hairpin Stacking Table
Sale price$224.80 Regular price$281.00
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Florence Knoll Hairpin Stacking Table Light Grey Ash Chrome Base Grey Ash
KnollFlorence Knoll Hairpin Stacking Table - Chrome Base
Sale price$269.60 Regular price$337.00
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Florence Knoll Relaxed Lounge Chair in Summit Skyline Summit Skyline
KnollFlorence Knoll Relaxed Lounge Chair
Sale price$4,748.80 Regular price$5,936.00
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