Vincent Cafiero for Knoll Lounge Chairs in Onyx Gray Velvet, Pair

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 responded to the designs of his time. Whereas organic “bucket” forms were ubiquitous, Cafiero opted to introduce a clean-lined minimalist approach to seating. One piece from his collection are these rarely seen Lounge Chairs which very much inherit Knoll’s design DNA with formal blind tufts and definitive geometry. Cafiero’s superior quality designs have since been discontinued making them highly sought after amongst discerning collectors.

The Object Refinery team brought these chairs right down to their frames for a full restoration using a handsome Italian Velvet in the color Onyx. The new upholstery re-implements Cafiero’s original design details such as the careful use of piping and a grid of blind tufts on both the back and seat. The original bases feature polished cast aluminum five-star bases which are unique to this design, they show very minor wear consistent with age and history. We are left with a pair of fully restored and preserved Vincent Cafiero Lounge Chairs, since discontinued, renewed for another lifetime of use.