‎‎The history of design is also often the story of great enterprising and ingenious families, who through the different generations have impressed an indelible mark on this discipline. Among them, the singular story of the Knoll family stands out, just like the company’s furniture models.

The history of this family has its roots in the second half of the nineteenth century, just before German unification, when the young Wilhelm Knoll opened his leather shop in Stuttgart. At the beginning of the twentieth century Wilhelm’s children, Willy and Walter, continued their father’s activity and broadened their horizons, also dedicating themselves to the creation of seating. This sofa is the result of that initial shift, which made them advocates of modernity in terms of design. This three-seater sofa is a stunning reminder of this legacy and that German design played an important role in the history of furniture design. From the Thonet chair to the Bauhaus, post-war German design history is rich in outstanding pieces, evidenced by this sofa. The design is unusually soft with round, curving edges on the armrests and a wide, welcoming profile. The way in which the arms, the back, and the seat connect is seamless, making for a balanced, high-quality look. The single line of tufted buttons enhance the width visually while also standing out as the sole decorative elements.

Wilhelm Knoll, the founder of the eponymous company became the hallmark of quality. In 1907, Wilhelm’s sons Willy and Walter took over their father’s business and started producing seating. Even in America, the “Knoll Style” became almost proverbial and revolutionized the image of the American interiors several times and accompanied the nation through a series of epochal changes. The company created many now iconic models, and celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2015.

SOLD

Condition:

In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. The sofa has been reupholstered recently in a premium bouclé fabric. Each of our items can be re-upholstered by our in-house atelier in a fabric of choice. Please reach out for more information.

Dimensions:

77.95 in W x 35.82 in D x 27.55 in H; Seat height 16.92 in; Arm height 21.25 in

198 cm W x 91 cm D x 70 cm H; Seat height 43 cm; Arm height 54 cm

About the designer:

The history of the Knoll family has its roots in the second half of the nineteenth century, just before German unification, when the young Wilhelm Knoll opened his leather shop in Stuttgart. Wilhelm had lived in Paris for a long time, already in the era of world fashion, and his activity soon became one of the main in the city, until he became an official supplier of the royal house of Württemberg.

At the beginning of the twentieth century Wilhelm’s children, Willy and Walter, continued their father’s activity and broadened their horizons, also dedicating themselves to the creation of armchairs and leather seats. The introduction to Germany of the classic club armchairs on the English model dates back to them, which achieved great success in the years preceding the Great War. In the excited period of the Weimar Republic, the two Knoll brothers also decided to split up, with Walter who in 1925 went on to found his own company while Willy continued to drive the company, Wilhelm Knoll.

In 1937 another turning point, another great separation was reached. Walter’s son Hans decided to move to the United States to import and promote European design, inevitably starting from his father’s productions. After only one year Hans decided to found his own company in New York to devote himself to the production of his beloved modernist style furniture: Knoll Associates was born.

In the 1980s, Walter Knoll purchased Wilhelm Knoll. Daughters of two different conceptions of design – and perhaps also of the world – the two companies continued throughout the second half of the twentieth century to shine with their own light, and still continue. Walter Knoll appears every year in the top positions of German Luxusranking, while the “American” Knoll is at the top of one of the largest world design groups, an international giant with a widespread presence in all the major capitals of the world.