By LORRAINE SWANSON
Editor
Vintage Florence Knoll credenza that was recently discovered in the Edgewater Community Council's office, much like the one in Don Draper's office in the AMC original series "Mad Men." (Photo from AMC)
If you’re a fan of the hit AMC original series “Mad Men” about 1960s Madison Avenue advertising executives, you may have spotted a Florence Knoll credenza or two in the offices of fictional advertising firm Sterling Cooper (Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce in the season 3 finale).
Florence Knoll studied architecture with Mies van der Rohe and gained her earliest design experience with Marcel Breuer and Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius, according to Knoll Inc. The pioneering designer modestly referred to her planning units, including her famed credenza as “the fill-in pieces that no one wants to do” and her own line of desks as “meat and potatoes” of what had to be provided. Her groundbreaking designs quickly became the gold standard for the industry.
So when eagle-eyed, furniture aficionado Paul Steffac spotted a Knoll credenza at a furniture show, he quickly noted its striking similarity to a credenza at the Edgewater Community Council where he is the office manager. Staff at the community council soon discovered that what they’d been piling files and silent auction items on for years was a vintage Knoll credenza from the 1960s.
“We don’t know where it came from,” ECC Executive Director Jason Liechty said. “It was right under our noses without us realizing we were sitting on a gold mine.”
Front view of the Florence Knoll credenza discovered in the Edgewater Community Council office.
Liechty thinks the vintage credenza somehow ended up in the ECC offices from a long-ago executive director who hit up a moving company looking to get rid of its unwanted inventory. The credenza has been in the executive director’s office for as long as any one can remember.
The Knoll credenza is still manufactured today and a brand new one sells for $17,000. Liechty saw one in good condition from Knoll’s 1961 executive line selling on eBay for $6,500.
The beautiful and sturdy Florence Knoll “four position” credenza discovered in the ECC office is made of rosewood and has a white marble top. Its dimensions are 74 ¾ inches wide, 18 inches deep and 25 ½ inches in height. The credenza features eight box drawers (each with a removable partition), and two full extension file drawers with metal bars for hanging files.
True to its design as functional, classic and modern, the credenza features eight drawers with adjustable partitions.
Except for a crack in the marble top, which can easily be repaired, the credenza is
Aside from a crack in the marble top, which is easily repaired, the vintage credenza is in great shape.
in great condition. As much as Liechty would like to see the community council hang on to it, he realizes it is better off being sold and putting the money toward some much needed technology upgrades. The Edgewater Community Council is asking for $3,500, which is negotiable.
Besides, Liechty says, the office has a nice set of modest office furniture that is perfectly functional. “The fact that it matches, you can’t ask for more than that for a non-profit organization,” Liechty said.
The credenza is available for viewing by appointment. The Edgewater Community Council is accepting inquiries at credenza@EdgewaterCommunityCouncil.org.
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