12 Jan Shine On: Knoll Introduces Gold to the Platner Collection + Bertoia Chair

We’ve all heard the phrase Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend, right? It was first introduced in the 1949 film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and has been re-recorded countless times over the past five decades. As we kick off 2016, we here at AOS would like to introduce an inspired phrase of our own: Gold is A Designer’s Best Friend. Introduced 50 years ago, designer William Platner captured the “decorative, gentle, graceful” shapes that were beginning to infiltrate the modern vocabulary. Last month, Knoll introduced that same classic collection with a touch of luxury: 18K gold.

Designed in 1966, The Platner Collection was originally supposed to be gold-plated. However, the technology of the time made gold plating in large-scale production impossible. With his experience in the firm of Eero Saarinen and Associates, the second generation of pedestal and wire furniture fell on the creative shoulders of Warren Platner.

The Platner Arm Chair shell is molded fiberglass with molded latex foam cushion covered in lush velvet. The base is constructed of vertical steel rods welded to circular horizontal and edge-framing rods. The frame is coated with clear lacquer for protection and is GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified®.

The Platner Lounge Chair + Stool was born out of an inspiration with the “kind of design that appeared in period style like Louis XV, but could have a more rational base instead of being applied decoration…I thought why separate support from the object. Just make it all one thing: starts at the floor and comes up and envelops me, supports me…What I wanted to achieve was a chair that was complementary to the person sitting in it”. Available in Circa or Knoll Velvet upholsteries, this piece is sure to make you feel like royalty.

The Platner Dining Table has the same base constructed of vertical steel rods welded to circular horizontal and edge-framing rods that makes up the collection. The classic top is clear 3/8″ tempered glass with bevel on underside, but can be customized with wood, bronze glass, and a wide range of coated and natural marble, and natural granite. A clear plastic extrusion ring on bottom of the base makes a smooth bottom surface that won’t ruin flooring.

The Platner Coffee Table is similar in design and specifications to the dining table, but rests much closer to the floor. At 15 inches tall, end users can choose from a width of 42” or 36”. Custom veneers, woods, marbles, and stones are available to make every space unique.

Not part of the Platner Collection, but just as iconic, is the Bertoia Chair. In honor of Harry Betoia’s 100^th birthday, Knoll is introducing the lounge chair finished in 18k gold. Knoll continues to carry on Bertoia’s legacy of innovation, inspiration and beauty with the Bertoia collection, which has been in continuous production around the world since its introduction. In 2005, Knoll introduced the Asymmetric Lounge from Bertoia’s initial design experimentation that never reached production. We are happy to see this stunning piece make it to a status worthy of gold.