Knoll's associates are mostly architects and furniture designers - Saarinen and Mies van der Rohe are best known - who, like book authors, are paid royalties for each piece sold. Knoll has half a dozen factories making furniture by use of colored panels as backgrounds for its new and old designs.
Van der Rohe, german architect and designer, did the leather and metal chairs at left in 1929. First produced by Knoll in 1943, they are more popular every year. Ottoman is another of van der Rohe designs, all of which are as precisely engineered as a swiss watch. They are set before one of the screens used throughout Knoll showroom with different colored panels.
Saarinen devised the single and the two-seater chairs in 1946. The first molded reinforced plastic chiars, they have been continuing best sellers in the Knoll line. They have foam rubber cushions and are covered in various colors. Eero Saarinen, most widely known as an architect, is the firm's most popular designer. Overhead is a birdcage sculpture by Harry Bertoia.
Bertoia has just designed these new chairs for Knoll. The diamond-shaped shell made of wire which the Knolls say is especially strong and resilient, is shown in center. The shell is suspended in steel like craddle, makes a very comfortable seat. Finished chairs, at right and left, have pads made of foam rubber, come with removable covers of canvas or cotton and rayon.
Florence Knoll did these new tables, which are light, strong and simple. They may be combined to form large tables or even benches to sit on. Tops are formica or wood. On the wall is Bertoia painting. Mrs. Knoll heads planning department for form, does most interiors.
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