Knoll Charles Pollock - Arm Chair
Originally manufactured from 1964-79 and reintroduced in 2014, the steel and leather 'sling chair' or '657', as it is commonly referred to, offers a refined combination of materials and finishes. Tubular steel legs connect to cast-aluminum arms and stretchers with exposed hardware, exemplifying Pollock's honest approach to design
MEASUREMENTS:
- Height: 70.3 cm / 27.7 inch
- Width: 63.5 cm / 25 inch
- Depth: 66 cm / 26 inch
- Seat Height: 41.1 cm / 16.2 inch
- Arm Height: 57.6 cm / 22.7 inch
MATERIALS:
- Frame: Tubular steel legs, polished chrome finish. Cast aluminum arms and stretchers, black painted finish. Stamped steel glides.
- Upholstery: Belting leather sling. Cushion is urethane foam upholstered in Portofino or Hand Tipped leather.
HELPFUL NOTES:
Many Knoll products are subject to shipping charges. Please check our shipping policies for details.
Charles Pollock
USA, 1930 – 2013
After graduating from Pratt Institute and working with George Nelson, he approached Florence Knoll, a celebrated designer who had studied under Mies van der Rohe. She initially refused to meet with him but relented after an interior design magazine published an article about him. On the day of his interview with her, he brought along a prototype of a lounge chair he was working on and collided with her as she was coming out of the elevator, knocking her down with the chair. She hired him anyway.
He soon talked Mrs. Knoll into paying $20 a month for a studio in a run-down part of Brooklyn, where he worked on the executive chair for five years, making it over and over again, improving it each time. The Pollock chair, made of leather and chrome, was an immediate success and came to be a mainstay of the modern office.
Pollock again demonstrated his command of line and material when he conceived the 1250 series executive collection, introduced in 1965. His idea for the chair was to use an aluminum “rim,” which outlined the chair as the main structural and design element. The resulting design was an achievement in structure and aesthetics, and the chair remains a Knoll classic to this day. The chair is still prized by collectors. Even though the royalties he earned from the chair decreased the need to work, Mr. Pollock kept designing and making paintings and sculptures.

Boasting an extensive portfolio of products ranging from office work systems and residential mid-century modern classics, to textiles and accessories, Knoll is a leader of modern and sustainable design. Iconic designs from classic designers such as Harry Bertoia, Eero Saarinen, Warren Platner, Isamu Noguchi and Florence Knoll herself make up a large component of Knoll's collection, along with innovative contemporary pieces. Knoll's products can be found in private residences and major art museums alike, including 40 products in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Founded in 1938, Knoll's reputation for design integrity has a long and decorated history under the guiding principle: "good design is good business." Knoll invests in extensive research, field studies, customer collaborations, and partners with experts from the fields of architecture, organizational behavior, technology and business management to ensure that its products adapt and respond to the evolving needs of their customers. Environmental needs and requirements are not overlooked by the design house either. In fact, Knoll is also considered a leader in production practices that reduce waste, conserve natural resources and protect the biosphere.
Knoll has a strong international presence in the design world - headquartered in Pennsylvania, USA with showrooms across North America, Europe and represented by dealers throughout Latin America and Asia.
Knoll products incur a 7.5% shipping charge at checkout, with a minimum of $85 and maximum of $500. This fee reflects White Glove Delivery for large items, which includes bringing the item to your room of choice, unpacking, removal of packaging, and assembly.
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