Round metal and glass coffee table, Platner model - Knoll

The Platner Side Table , designed in 1966 by Warren Platner for Knoll , is part of the Platner collection, one of the most iconic collections of modern American design, which blends architectural structure, decoration, and functionality with an unmistakable style.

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Design and Style

• The Platner coffee table is immediately recognisable by its sculptural steel structure composed of curved vertical metal bars , hand-welded one by one onto upper and lower circular rings.

• The silhouette creates a fluid optical effect: an inverted chalice shape that combines grace and solidity.

• The visual appearance is airy, elegant and light , while maintaining a strong architectural presence in the space.

• The circular, clear glass top highlights the underlying structure, leaving the intricate metal mesh visible.

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Materials and Finishes

• Base : in nickel-plated and polished or painted steel (in the photo: dark version, probably in metallic bronze ), also available in gold brass finish.

• Metal structure : made with welded steel rods, precisely shaped to create a continuous and harmonious shape.

• Top :

  • In transparent tempered glass (as in the photo) or in marble or lacquered wood upon request.

  • Typical glass thickness: 10 mm.

  • The top is supported and perfectly centered on the base by a rubber ring.

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Approximate dimensions

• Top diameter : 40–41 cm

• Height : 46 cm

(Typical of the Side Table Platner, used as a side table or coffee table next to armchairs and sofas.)

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Distinctive Features

• Architecture transformed into furniture : the use of the metal structure as an aesthetic and load-bearing element is a conceptual revolution in 1960s design.

• Each table is assembled and welded by hand , which also makes it an object of high industrial craftsmanship.

• An icon of American modernist design , awarded and exhibited in major museums around the world (including MoMA).

• Versatility : suitable for both classic and ultra-modern interiors, both in domestic and contract environments.

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Ideal for…

• Next to a lounge chair or sofa as a side table

• In modern, soft vintage or contemporary glam living spaces

• In lobbies, lounges or hotel suites as a functional/sculptural element

• In showrooms or public spaces as an architectural complement

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Historical curiosities

• Platner, a former collaborator of Eero Saarinen and I.M. Pei, wanted to create a collection that combined modernist structure with a decorative soul —and he succeeded with a timeless masterpiece.

• The Platner collection also includes seating, dining and coffee tables, all based on the same formal language.