Florence Knoll Sofa

Overview

The Florence Knoll Sofa (model 1205S3) is the three-seat piece of the lounge collection that Knoll dates to 1954, with a two-seat settee (1205S2) in the same design. Knoll describes the group as having a spare, geometric profile on an exposed chrome frame.

Construction

• Heavy gauge steel frame and legs left exposed, in polished chrome or satin chrome
• Inner frame of solid wood, seat on No-Sag springs
• Arm, seat and back cushions in variable density foam, with a tufted seat and back
• Choice of KnollTextiles and Spinneybeck leathers
• Base frame stamped with the KnollStudio logo and Florence Knoll's signature

Specifications

• W 90½" × D 32¼" × H 31¼" (2299 × 819 × 794 mm); seat height 17½" (445 mm), arm height 23½" (597 mm); weight 166 lb
• Settee 1205S2: W 62½" (1588 mm), same depth and height; weight 101 lb

Two lengths, one design

Knoll's design-plan page lists the sofa and settee together: a three-seat sofa and a two-seat settee, both shown with the same depth, height, seat height and arm height. The sofa is 90½ in wide and the settee 62½ in. The price list gives the sofa a covering requirement of 15.7 yd of fabric or 193 sq ft of leather, and the settee 11.8 yd or 145 sq ft.

Image source: Knoll — Florence Knoll Sofa · © Knoll and the respective rights holders. Quoted to accompany INTEBEE's independent design commentary and research. · View official product page ↗ · Image use & copyright policy

What the older drawing shows

Knoll's 2007 cut sheet shows a slightly smaller sofa: 90¼ in long, with a 31½ in square end view, a 17 in seat and 23 in arms. Current Knoll listings put the depth at 32¼ in and the height at 31¼ in.