Debuted in 1954, the Florence Knoll Sofa is an iconic, enduring piece with a scaled-down aesthetic that helped define the Modern look.

The sofa’s unadorned surface and geometric proportions owe a debt to the philosophy of Knoll’s mentor Mies van der Rohe, whose ethos of “form follows function” demonstrated that external appearance can (and perhaps should) evolve organically from structure and utility.

Of course, this piece is no Bauhausian monument of severity. To the contrary, Florence Knoll’s great achievement here is striking a balance between precise geometry and inviting contours.

The sofa’s tufted upholstery is soft and welcoming yet sacrifices nothing to sculptural flourish or showy details. Said another way, “Knoll scaled down the rhythm and details of modern architecture while humanizing them through color and texture.”

The Florence Knoll Sofa is constructed of a solid wood inner frame and exposed metal frame with heavy gauge steel legs. Users may specify from six different types of upholstery (including leather and velvet) and 12 colors.

Read more about the Florence Knoll sofa at Knoll and check out Designer Pages Media for another iconic Mid-Century Modern piece.