Model 55 Parallel Bar Armchairs by Florence Knoll for Knoll, Set of 2
Florence Knoll for Knoll Inc. / International
Design: 1960s | Manufactured: 1960s
The Model 55 Parallel Bar Armchair by Florence Knoll is a mid-century modern classic. It embodies the designer’s philosophy of functional, understated elegance. Designed in 1955, it is part of Knoll’s broader Parallel Bar Collection, which features a minimalist yet refined aesthetic.
This set of timeless armchairs is the perfect example of comfort without compromising design. Reupholstered in a soft, plush, off-white bouclé fabric, it is irresistible. In addition, the geometric shape maintains its aesthetic to fit contemporary interiors.
Florence Knoll was an American architect and designer who brought modernist design to office interiors. She and her husband built Knoll Associates into a furniture and interior design leader. She didn’t view her designs as standalone items but as pieces of a holistic interior design. Her modernist aesthetic was known for clean lines and geometric shapes. Still popular today not only in public spaces but in residential interiors as well.
Bespoke Vintage
At Bespoke Vintage, we reimagine iconic furniture pieces, combining the timeless appeal of mid-century modern American and Scandinavian design with contemporary aesthetics. Our craft is rooted in sustainability and respect for quality. We reupholster classics with premium fabrics acquired from leading brands while preserving and reusing as much of the original hardware as possible. The result? Masterfully restored furniture that reflects enduring craftsmanship and gets a second—or even third—life in your interior.
Condition
Good, shows signs of age on the frameDimensions
W78 x D80 x H77 cm | Seat height 40 cmOrigin
USAFabric
Dedar / Request a sampleMaterial
42% wool, 33% viscose, 24% cotton, 1% polyamideAbout the designer
Florence Knoll
Florence Knoll (1917–2019) was one of the defining figures of 20th-century design. As co-founder and design director of Knoll International, she reshaped the modern interior with an architectural clarity that still feels relevant today. Trained under Eliel Saarinen, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and Marcel Breuer, she absorbed the essential lessons of the Bauhaus: that function and beauty are inseparable, and that good design must serve both purpose and human experience.
Knoll’s vision extended beyond furniture, she approached every space as a total composition, considering light, proportion, material, and flow with equal care. Her interiors for leading corporations of the 1950s and 1960s introduced a new language of modern professionalism: elegant, disciplined, and deeply human.
Alongside contemporaries like Eero Saarinen and Harry Bertoia, Florence Knoll helped establish a design legacy that defined the American modern aesthetic. Her work remains timeless, characterized by restraint, harmony, and a belief that thoughtful design can elevate everyday life.
About the manufacturer
Knoll Inc. / International
Founded in 1938 in New York by Hans Knoll, and later joined by Florence Knoll, Knoll International became one of the most influential design companies of the 20th century. Built on the modernist principles of the Bauhaus and the International Style, Knoll redefined how the world furnished its homes and workplaces, bringing together architecture, art, and industrial production in perfect harmony.
Through collaborations with some of the era’s most visionary designers, including Eero Saarinen, Harry Bertoia, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Marcel Breuer, and Florence Knoll herself, the company created a collection that reads like a history of modern design. Each piece was conceived not as a standalone object, but as part of a holistic environment, a “total design” philosophy that continues to shape contemporary interiors.
Today, Knoll remains synonymous with timeless quality and innovation. Its furniture embodies clarity, function, and refined beauty, a lasting testament to the belief that modern design can elevate everyday life.