Knoll, Florence Schust (1917–)

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Knoll, Florence Schust (1917–)

American furniture and interior designer. Name variations: Florence Knoll Bassett. Born Florence Schust in Saginaw, Michigan, May 24, 1917; dau. of Frederick and M.H. (Haistings) Schust; studied at Architectural Association in London; Illinois Institute of Technology, BA, 1941; m. Hans G. Knoll (producer and distributor of modern furniture and founder of Knoll International), July 1, 1946 (died Oct 1955); m. Harry Hood Bassett, June 22, 1958.

One of America's leading designers of furniture and interiors, trained at Michigan's Cranbrook Academy under Eliel and Eero Saarinen and studied architecture in London and at Illinois Institute of Technology under Ludwig Mies van der Rohe; after working for both Marcel Breuer and Walter Gropius, was employed by Knoll International in NY (1943), a leading producer and distributor of modern furniture; added to product line with her own designs and was put in charge of Planning Unit, an interior design service that the firm offered; following husband's death (1955), took over as owner and chief designer of Knoll, and the firm continued to prosper. Received Medal of Arts (2002).

See also Women in World History.