The Vintage Brand To Always Look For At The Thrift Store (There Are So Many Styles)

Thrift stores can be a treasure trove for beautiful furniture and accessories for your home. Whether you are scouring second-hand boutiques or checking out estate sales to find unique furniture for your home, or even just hoping to discover something valuable at a great price to flip, certain brands and styles stand out. Knoll is among the vintage brands you should always look for when out thrifting.

The Knoll furniture company was founded in 1938 by Hans and Florence Knoll. Throughout the 1940s, 50s, and 60s, the brand became synonymous with cutting edge, modern designs. The company collaborated with well-known designers to create iconic designs that remain sought after today.

Because this brand remains popular, prices can be high compared to other thrifted furniture. You may get lucky and find pieces in thrift stores and estate sales when sellers are not familiar with their value. While Knoll pieces can be found online at sites such as Chairish or eBay, their prices can range from a few hundred to thousands of dollars. If you are willing to invest in a statement piece and have your heart set on Knoll, this may be a good option. The money spent on a vintage piece may be a good long term investment, if you love this brand, since design experts often say midcentury modern design will never go out of style. 

Knoll's most iconic furniture designs are frequently replicated. When searching for this mid-century furniture in thrift stores, it's helpful to know how to identify authentic pieces. If you're lucky enough to find stickers on furniture, it can confirm that the piece is Knoll, and the sticker can indicate the time period the furniture was made. The logo changed over the years, as did their address, moving from Madison Avenue in the 1940s and early 1950s to Park Avenue in the 1960s, and to Fifth Avenue in the 1970s.

Quality materials, construction, and hardware were used in their designs. Corners and joints are sturdy and well-built. The materials used in their construction include rich woods and highly polished chrome. The brand is also known for attention to detail, so the wood grain matches up perfectly to create a seamless design.

Certain Knoll designs remain popular and highly sought after by collectors. The most popular pieces include the Barcelona Chair, Tulip Table, Womb Chair, items from Platner Collection with designs from Warren Platner, and the Saarinen Executive Chair. Taking the time to browse online listings can help you become familiar with the brand, so you are more likely to recognize their pieces in thrift stores and estate sales.