Paul Frankl Side Chairs
Born in Vienna, Paul Frankl came to the United States in 1914 as part of a wave of Central European design luminaries — among them Kem Weber, Rudolph Schindler, and Richard Neutra — who were drawn by the energy and optimism of the American scene. Prolific and protean, Frankl would go on to design furnishings that are emblematic of nearly every key stylistic chord in American modernism, from the streamlined Art Deco to free-form organic shapes.
Frankl's Skyscraper cabinets, bookcases and more — introduced in 1924 — are his earliest and best-known designs (and the work by which he is most often represented in institutions, such as New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art). Tall and narrow, the pieces have staggered shelves meant to mimic the setbacks of Manhattan office towers. A later visually expressive line — the Speed chairs and sofas, which have a raked profile suggesting motion — links Frankl to Donald Deskey, Raymond Loewy and other creators of Streamline Moderne design.
Frankl moved to Los Angeles in 1934 and luxuriated in the climate and lifestyle. His designs became lighter and simpler and found an audience among the Hollywood élite. (Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant and Fred Astaire were clients.) Fascinated by Asian arts, Frankl produced numerous pieces — tabletops with edges that curve upward; sofas, chairs and other seating with rattan frames — inspired by Chinese and Japanese forms and materials. In the 1940s, Frankl became one of the first designers to incorporate free-form, biomorphic shapes in his work, as well as novel upholstery fabrics such as denim and nubby wool.
Frankl biographer Christopher Long argues that the designer’s easy, elegant aesthetic had an enormous influence on movie set design. As the furniture below attests, Paul Frankl’s work is ready for its close-up.
Find vintage Paul Frankl tables, dining chairs, case pieces and storage cabinets on 1stDibs.
20th Century Biedermeier Paul Frankl Side Chairs
Lacquer, Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Side Chairs
Rattan
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Side Chairs
Wood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Side Chairs
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Side Chairs
Wood
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Side Chairs
Bouclé, Upholstery, Oak
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Side Chairs
Teak
20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Side Chairs
Wood, Pine
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Side Chairs
Upholstery, Lucite
Mid-20th Century Paul Frankl Side Chairs
Rattan
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Side Chairs
Bamboo, Rattan
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Side Chairs
Leather
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Side Chairs
Fabric, Rattan, Foam
1930s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Side Chairs
Wicker, Rattan
1940s American Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Side Chairs
Upholstery, Oak
1830s Danish Biedermeier Antique Paul Frankl Side Chairs
Upholstery, Birch
Early 20th Century American Victorian Paul Frankl Side Chairs
Fabric, Mahogany
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Side Chairs
Velvet, Walnut
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Side Chairs
The plunging v-back forms with wood bar detail to tops of seats make these chair very elegant and appeal...
1940s American Vintage Paul Frankl Side Chairs
Oak, Velvet