Cafiero Executive Task Chair in Graphite Velvet by Vincent Cafiero for Knoll

While under the direction of Florence Knoll, her namesake company was known for more than just the impressive portfolio of designs still celebrated to this day. Knoll’s teams of talented designers, the best in their respective categories, were tasked with a multitude of duties such as comprehensive interiors in the “Planning Unit” where Vincent Cafiero worked as a Senior Designer. One project Cafiero would work on was the famed CBS interior of 1965. His time after the “Planning Unit” was focused designing Knoll’s own showrooms.

Cafiero also designed a small collection of furniture during his time at Knoll which responsed to the designs of his time. Whereas organic “bucket” forms were ubiquitous, Cafiero opted to introduce a clean-lined minimalist approach to Executive seating. One piece from his collection is this Executive Task Chair which very much inherited Knoll’s design DNA with formal blind tufts and definitive geometry. Cafiero’s superior in quality designs have since been discontinued making them highly sought after amongst discerning collectors.

The Object Refinery team brought this piece right down to its frame for a full restoration. The new upholstery re-implements Cafiero’s intentional design details such as the careful use of piping and a grid of blind tufts on both the back and seat. The original stainless steel base is not only a discontinued Knoll design, but it’s 5-leg layout is far less seen than Knoll’s 4-leg design of the time. The base, which has minor wear consistent with age and history, is equipped with both tilt and manual height adjustment for optimal comfort.