Knoll Antimott

1865
Wilhelm Knoll starts producing seating in Stuttgart and founds his “leather shop”.

1865
Wilhelm Knoll is supplier to the royal court of Württemberg.

1906
The leather furnishings factory (Ledermöbelfabrik) becomes the leather seating factory (Ledersitzmöbelfabrik Wilhelm Knoll).

1907
Sons Walter and Wilhelm (known as Willy) take over the Wilhelm Knoll company. Wilhelm Knoll opens branches in Vienna and St. Petersburg.

1912
Nestra models on a woodenframe basis go into series production.

1925
Walter Knoll founds his own upholstered furniture factory “Walter Knoll”. Unlike Wilhelm Knoll, Walter Knoll stops using leather, preferring to use fabrics; a range of colours is also introduced.

1927
The patented Antimott system is a great success for Wilhelm Knoll. The Prodomo system by Walter Knoll causes a stir and makes for good sales.

1927 The drilled mott became the trademark of the “Antimott” programme.

1929
Start of tubular steel furniture manufacture at Walter Knoll. In spite of the economic crisis, the companies Walter and Wilhelm Knoll both expand.

1937
Walter Knoll moves 40 kilometres from Stuttgart to Herrenberg. Continuous expansion as well as extension of the collection in both companies.

1938
Walter Knoll’s son Hans, together with his wife Florence, founds “Knoll International” in America.

1939
Expansion comes to a standstill at Walter and Wilhelm Knoll. Production has to concentrate on manufacturing articles important for the war.

1942
Serious bomb damage causes the Walter Knoll production to be closed. The company faces a new start.

1945
Serious war damage at Wilhelm Knoll too. Production is also restarted in Stuttgart with the help of Dieter Knoll, Willy’s son.

1946
Robert Knoll becomes a partner at Walter Knoll.


1947
To help with the rebuilding, Hans Knoll presents the company Walter Knoll with the successful Vostra model, a beechwood armchair belted at the back.

1950
The Furniture Fair in Cologne is the breakthrough for furniture by Wilhelm Knoll.

Dieter Knoll takes over the running of the company Wilhelm Knoll after the death of his father, Willy.

1962
Dieter Knoll founds the company “Dieter Knoll” in Austria.
Extension of the Walter Knoll company premises in Herrenberg.

1964
Walter Knoll retires. The company is handed over to Robert Knoll and Dr. Walter Combe.

1971
Walter Knoll dies, aged 94.

1974
Wilhelm Knoll presents products at the Furniture Fair in Milan for the first time.


1975
Walter Knoll successfully introduces office furniture to its range.

1982
Stephan Combe and Michael Knoll become Managing Directors of Walter Knoll.

1985
Walter Knoll takes over the company Wilhelm Knoll and continues to sell the products as the “Wilhelm Knoll Collection”.

1993
Walter Knoll is taken over by the Rolf Benz family. Markus Benz becomes Managing Director.

2001
Growth. Additional production site in Mötzingen, near Herrenberg.

2006
Inauguration of the multifunctional building in Herrenberg.

2007
Walter Knoll founds subsidiary company „Walter Knoll Australia“.

2009
Opening of Walter Knoll showrooms in London and Paris.

2013
Opening of Walter Knoll showrooms in Mumbai and Beijing.