
Charles Pollock 1930–2013
At their first meeting, Charles Pollock made quite an impression on Florence Knoll, literally crashing into her as she stepped off the elevator. She had denied a meeting with the burgeoning designer for some time, and finally relented after reading an article about Pollock in a design magazine. Pollock came prepared with a chair prototype in tow and toppled the company founder in the hallway. Knoll hired him anyway, marking the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship.
Pollock was born in Philadelphia in 1930. As a child, his family moved to Detroit and again to Muskegon, Michigan when Pollock was sixteen. He decided to stay in Detroit on his own and worked on the Chrysler assembly line when he was not in school. After graduation, he received a scholarship to the Pratt Institute and shaped furniture designs with wire. His sculptures caught the eye of a visiting lecturer George Nelson, who offered Pollock a job after graduating. Upon his being discharged from the Army, Pollock went to work for Nelson and together they designed the Swaged-Leg chair, an example of which resides in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art today.
Upcoming Lots Charles Pollock

122
Charles Pollock
Untitled
estimate: $500–700

123
Charles Pollock
prototype lounge chair and ottoman
estimate: $500–700

124
Charles Pollock
Untitled
estimate: $1,000–1,500

125
Charles Pollock
Untitled
estimate: $500–700

126
Charles Pollock
Untitled
estimate: $700–900

127
Charles Pollock
sketch for a chair design
estimate: $700–900

128
Charles Pollock
Untitled
estimate: $500–700

129
Charles Pollock
Untitled
estimate: $500–700

130
Charles Pollock
collection of four works
estimate: $1,000–1,500

131
Charles Pollock
Untitled
estimate: $300–500

132
Charles Pollock
Untitled
estimate: $500–700

133
Charles Pollock
collection of six works
estimate: $600–800

134
Charles Pollock
two works
estimate: $700–900

135
Charles Pollock
Sling chairs model 657, pair
estimate: $1,500–2,000

136
Charles Pollock
Untitled
estimate: $300–500

137
Charles Pollock
collection of five sketches for a chair design
estimate: $500–700

138
Charles Pollock
Untitled
estimate: $300–500

139
Charles Pollock
collection of three works
estimate: $1,000–1,500

140
Charles Pollock
collection of six works
estimate: $1,500–2,000

141
Charles Pollock
Early Executive chair
estimate: $1,000–1,500

142
Charles Pollock
collection of four sketches for a chair design
estimate: $600–800