White Sofa, 1954 / 2009
Upholstery, chrome-plated steel
31 × 90 1/2 × 33 inches
Knoll Studio Florence Knoll on inside of leg
artist
Florence Knoll was a pioneering American designer and architect known for her work in modernist design, particularly in the mid-20th century. She was a key figure in shaping the modern office and home interiors, blending functionality with clean, minimal aesthetics. Trained at the Cranbrook Academy of Art, where she was mentored by the renowned architect Eliel Saarinen, she was strongly influenced by the principles of the Bauhaus movement.
Description
Florence Knoll’s sofa is a seminal piece in American modern furniture design, exemplifying her belief that furniture should be both functional and architecturally harmonious. With its crisp, rectilinear form, tufted upholstery, and polished steel frame, the sofa reflects her commitment to clean lines and refined proportions. Introduced in the 1950s, it brought the principles of modernist architecture into everyday interiors, offering a sophisticated alternative to more ornate styles of the time. As part of the broader Knoll collection, the sofa helped shape the aesthetic of mid-century American offices and homes, securing its place as a cornerstone in the canon of American modern design.
provenance
The Collection of Thomas N. Armstrong*, III & Whitney "Bunty" Armstrong, Fishers Island, NY
*former Director of the Whitney Museum of American Art, NY
*former Director of the Whitney Museum of American Art, NY
literature
Knoll: A Modernist Universe, Lutz, pg. 142