Austrian architect and furniture and fabric designer Josef Frank was a leading voice for a gentle, humane modernism. His advocacy of warm, comfortable, eclectically styled environments was highly influential in his adopted country of Sweden, and it’s now widely regarded as a harbinger of the backlash against doctrinaire modernism and the embrace of the homespun that occurred in the late 1960s.
The son of a successful Viennese textile manufacturer, Frank studied architecture at Vienna University of Technology, graduating in 1910. From the first years of his practice, he marched counter to the orderly, symmetrical architectural layouts and decors prescribed by contemporaries such as Adolf Loos.
Frank drafted rooms of varying shapes and called for flexible interior-design arrangements. His furniture pieces are light and easy to move — and his chairs are always made of wood, most often with lushly curved steam-bent arms and slatted backs. Frank openly loathed the tubular steel furnishings and “machine for living” aesthetic promoted by Le Corbusier and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and other Bauhaus principals. “The home must not be a mere efficient machine,” Frank once said. “It must offer comfort, rest and coziness…. There are no puritan principles in good interior decoration.”
Frank — who was Jewish — sensed the dire implications of the rise of Nazism in Germany and Austria, and in 1933 he moved to Stockholm with his Swedish wife, Anna. He became the design chief for the furnishings maker Svenskt Tenn and found a perfect match culturally for his brand of simple, relaxed and bright creations. Like many modernists — notably Charles and Ray Eames and Alexander Girard — Frank had a deep love of folk art, which influenced his designs for a wide array of colorful, richly patterned upholstery fabrics, many based on the classic “Tree of Life” motif.
In all his designs, Frank took inspiration from a broad variety of sources. In his furniture, one can discern traces of Asian patterns, Rococo, Italian Renaissance, Scandinavian handicrafts and even Chippendale pieces. As such, the work of Frank — the friendly modernist — is at home in any type of décor.
Find vintage Josef Frank pillows, armchairs, floor lamps and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Josef Frank, Candelabra, Brass, Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1950s
By Josef Frank
Located in High Point, NC
A brass candelabra, designed by Josef Frank and produced by Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, c. 1940s. Holds nine 0.5” candles Overall Dimensions (inches): 11.5"H x 11.25"W x 11.0"D All item...
Brass
Polished Brass Candelabra by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn
By Josef Frank
Located in San Francisco, CA
A brass candelabra designed by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn with 9 candle holders.
Brass
Brass Candlestick 'Vanskapsknuten' by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1938
By Nils Fougstedt, Estrid Ericson, Josef Frank, Just Andersen, Svenskt Tenn
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful brass candle holder with amazing patina. Designed by Josef Frank in 1938 and made by Firma Svenskt Tenn, Stockholm, Sweden. Old production, this is made in the 1940s. G...
Brass
Brass Candlestick 'Vanskapsknuten' by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1938
By Svenskt Tenn, Estrid Ericson, Josef Frank, Nils Fougstedt, Just Andersen
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful brass candle holder with amazing patina. Designed by Josef Frank in 1938 and made by Firma Svenskt Tenn, Stockholm, Sweden. Excellent condition. Architect and designe...
Brass
Brass Candlestick 'Vanskapsknuten' by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1938
By Nils Fougstedt, Just Andersen, Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn, Estrid Ericson
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful brass candle holder with amazing patina. Designed by Josef Frank in 1938 and made by Firma Svenskt Tenn, Stockholm, Sweden. Excellent condition. Architect and designe...
Brass
1940s Josef Frank Swedish Silver Candelabra by Svenskt Tenn
By Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn
Located in Brooklyn, NY
1940s, Sweden. Designed by Josef Frank and produced by Svenskt Tenn, this silver piece features elegant scalloped edges, fluting, and hangers. The manufacturer’s and designer’s mark ...
Silver
$1,203
H 1.19 in Dm 12.01 in
Josef Frank Brass and Mirror Tray/Plateau for Svenskt Tenn Swedish modern, 1940s
By Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn
Located in Stockholm, SE
Refined mirrored plateau designed by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, in the 1940s. This circular tray features a beveled mirror surface set within a gilded brass frame, accente...
Brass
Josef Frank Candlestick Produced by Svenskt Tenn in Sweden
By Josef Frank
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare and early candlestick designed by Josef Frank. Produced by Svenskt Tenn in Sweden.
Brass
Josef Frank Candlestick Produced by Svenskt Tenn in Sweden
By Josef Frank
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Candlestick (the knot of friendship) in brass designed by Josef Frank. Produced by Svenskt Tenn in Sweden.
Brass
$879 / set
H 3.35 in Dm 4.73 in
Pair of Swedish Modern Brass candle-sticks Lars Holmström for Svenskt Tenn, 1950
By Pierre Forssell, Josef Frank, Gunnar Ander, Svenskt Tenn
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Elegant pair of Swedish Modern candlesticks in solid brass, dating from the 1950s. Each piece features a central tubular element designed to hold one candle. This central element is ...
Brass
$2,600
H 6.25 in W 9 in D 8.25 in
20th Century Silver Swedish Svenskt Tenn Candle Holder by Josef Frank
By Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A silver, vintage Mid-Century Modern Swedish " Vänskapsknuten " candle holder made of handcrafted silvered metal, designed by Josef Frank and produced by Svenskt Tenn in good conditi...
Metal
The Knot of Friendship Candlestick in Brass by Josef Frank, 1938
By Josef Frank
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
The Knot of Friendship Candlestick in Brass by Josef Frank, 1938 Additional Information: Material: Brass Style: Mid century, Scandinavian Produced by Svenskt Tenn in Sweden Dimensio...
Brass
Josef Frank "The Knot of Friendship" candelabra, Sweden 1930's
By Josef Frank
Located in Malibu, CA
Vänskapsknuten (the Knot of Friendship) brass candle holder designed by Josef Frank Candlestick for Svenskt Tenn. Sweden, 1930’s.
Brass
$471Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 5.52 in W 7.09 in D 3.15 in
Elegant Svenskt Tenn Pewter Candlesticks – Timeless Swedish Grace Accent
By Svenskt Tenn, Just Andersen
Located in Bochum, NRW
Pair of Pewter Candlesticks by Svenskt Tenn – Swedish Grace Design, Sweden 1933 Svenskt Tenn is the iconic Swedish design house known for its timeless craftsmanship and refined aesth...
Pewter
$1,700
H 2.25 in W 14.25 in D 4 in
20th Century Swedish Svenskt Tenn Brass Slingan, Candle Holder by Josef Frank
By Josef Frank
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A gold, vintage Mid-Century Modern Swedish Slingan, candle holder made of handcrafted polished brass, designed by Josef Frank and produced by Svenskt Tenn in good condition. Each of ...
Metal, Brass
Pair of Vintage Brass Candlesticks by Skultuna. Sweden, 1940s.
By Pierre Forsell, Svenskt Tenn, Josef Frank, Pierre Forssell, Skultuna
Located in Malmö, SE
A pair of vintage beautiful brass candle holders with amazing patina. For ordinary (22 mm.) or large candles (50 mm.). Made by Skultuna Messingsbruk, Sweden, 1940s. Great original condition. Can be polished if you prefer that. Stamped with makers mark. Skultuna Messingsbruk, often just called Skultuna, is one of Sweden’s oldest industrial companies — in fact, one of the oldest still active manufacturers in the world. It was founded in 1607 by King Karl IX. The location for the factory was chosen carefully: it is in Skultuna, near Västerås, where the brook Svartån provides water power, there was access to raw materials (copper from the mine at Falun), and ample wood for charcoal. From the start, the foundry made things like brass plates, candlesticks, chandeliers, combining craft and design. Some early pieces are still preserved — for example, the oldest known Skultuna chandelier...
Brass
Josef Frank Candlestick Produced by Svenskt Tenn in Sweden
By Josef Frank
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare candlestick designed by Josef Frank. Produced by Svenskt Tenn in Sweden.
Brass
$1,900
H 8.67 in W 11.82 in D 11.82 in
Josef Frank Six-Branched Candle Holder for Firma Svenskt Tenn, Sweden 1930s
By Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn
Located in Utrecht, NL
In 1934, Josef Frank made his first attempt at modernizing the classic candelabra. With softly swaying forms, he eliminated the base in the middle, ...
Brass
Josef Frank Candelabra Brass Loop Slingan Svenskt Tenn 1950s
By Svenskt Tenn, Josef Frank
Located in Basel, BS
Josef Frank ‚Loop‘ candelabra in solid brass, designed for Svenskt Tenn around 1950. This piece has beautifully aged with a nice patina, very good condition with normal signs of ag...
Brass
Sold
H 8.67 in Dm 6.11 in
Brass Candlestick 'Vanskapsknuten' by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1938
By Just Andersen, Nils Fougstedt, Estrid Ericson, Svenskt Tenn, Josef Frank
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful brass candle holder with amazing patina. Designed by Josef Frank in 1938 and made by Firma Svenskt Tenn, Stockholm, Sweden. Excellent condition. Architect and designe...
Brass
Sold
H 2.76 in W 14.18 in D 2.76 in
Josef Frank Candelabra Brass Loop Svenskt Tenn Sweden 1950 Slingan Candle Holder
By Svenskt Tenn, Josef Frank
Located in Basel, BS
A beautiful Josef Frank ‚Loop‘ candelabra in solid brass, designed for Svenskt Tenn around 1950. This piece has beautifully aged with a distinct patina, very good condition with nor...
Brass
Josef Frank Candelabra
By Josef Frank
Located in Hudson, NY
This is a rare early Josef Frank candelabra with its original patination and whimsical crown design. The arms can be adjusted in height with sm...
Brass
Sold
H 6.3 in W 9.06 in D 9.06 in
"Vänskapsknuten" silver plated candelabra by Josef Frank, Svenskt tenn
By Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn
Located in Hägersten, SE
Candelabra "Vänskapsknuten" designed by Josef Frank. Manufactured by Svenskt Tenn in Sweden. Silver plated metal. Very good vintage condition with few signs of age related wear and p...
Silver Plate
Candelabra in brass by Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn, 1950s Sweden
By Svenskt Tenn, Josef Frank
Located in Hägersten, SE
Candelabra designed by Josef Frank. Manufactured by Svenskt Tenn in Sweden. This example ca 1940-50s. Made from solid brass with six candle holders. Very good vintage condition with ...
Brass
Josef Frank, Candelabra, Brass, Sweden, 1940s
By Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn
Located in High Point, NC
A six-armed organic brass candelabra designed by Josef Frank and produced by Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1940s. Fits 0.80” diameter candles
Brass
Josef Frank Candelabra Knot of Friendship Svenskt Tenn Sweden
By Josef Frank
Located in Basel, BS
‚The Knot of Friendship‘ candelabra, designed in 1938 by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn. Josef Frank left his home in Austria in 1933 due to the growing Antisemitism. He joined Svensk...
Brass
Josef Frank, Candelabra, Brass, Sweden, 1940s
By Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn
Located in High Point, NC
An organic brass candelabra designed by Josef Frank and produced by Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1940s. Candle Diameter (inches): 0.75”
Brass
Pair of Brass Candelabras by Josef Frank
By Svenskt Tenn, Josef Frank
Located in San Francisco, CA
A pair of low brass candelabras by Josef Frank, each for seven candles. Manufactured by Svensk Tenn.
Brass
Josef Frank, Swedish Mid-Century Modern Brass Candelabra for Svenskt Tenn
By Josef Frank
Located in Turku, Varsinais-Suomi
Beautiful adjustable brass candelabra by the famous designer Josef Frank from Sweden designed for Svenskt Tenn. The candelabra can hold 9 candles and due to i...
Brass
Sold
H 2.68 in W 14.57 in L 2.68 in
Josef Frank, Organic Candelabra, Brass, for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1950s
By Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn
Located in High Point, NC
An organic modernist candelabra that holds 4 candles. Designed by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn. Produced in 1950s. Other designers of the period include Paavo Tynell, Kaare Klint,...
Brass