In surveying the range of furnishings sold by Knoll in late twentieth century there are some hidden gems. One of those gems is the Exeter Chair introduced by Knoll in 1992. The story of how the chair originated, who sold it originally and how Knoll acquired the design makes its background all the more interesting.
Davis Allen attended Brown University, shifted to the Yale School of Architecture, served during World War II, then went to work in the Knoll Planning Unit, reporting to Florence Knoll.1 He later went to work for the architectural firm of Harrison & Abramovitz in New York City. When Allen saw an opportunity to join the prestigious firm of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in 1950, also in New York, he seized the opportunity. He was hired as a junior architectural designer and worked on interior designs. By 1965, he has risen to the position of associate partner in the firm.2
During his long career at S,O, & M, Allen also designed furniture to be manufactured when he could not find just the right item commercially available . In 1983, he designed a wood armchair he named Andover. Stendig International, originally a European furniture importer acquired by Burlington Industries in 1971, arranged to have the Andover chair manufactured in Italy. After the Andover chair ceased production, Knoll acquired the rights to the design, gave it the name Exeter, and offered it in late 1992 as either an armchair or armless chair.3
The Davis Allen Collection remained in the Knoll catalog through 2000 but was discontinued sometime thereafter.4 There are plentiful examples of the Andover chair sold by Stendig on the market today and are clearly identified by sellers as such. Those desiring an Exeter chair should verify the presence of the Knoll label.
1. Knoll Designer Bios: Davis Allen. https://www.knoll.com/designer/Davis-Allen.
2. Eric Pace, “Davis Allen, 82, a Designer of Modern Business Interiors.” The New York Times, May 23, 1999.
3. The Davis Allen Collection/The Pensi Collection Price List 1992-1993, KnollStudio, 10/92.
4. The Davis Allen Collection of Exeter chairs was not listed in the KnollStudio Price List 2005.