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.
Platter in Brass, Candle Holder, Gold Color, by Josef Frank, 1940
By Josef Frank
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
It is a tray from the Art Deco period, in brass with geometric patterns. It is equipped with two candle holders. It was made in Sweden around the 1940s. It is gold in color. The manu...
Brass
Set of 12 Josef Frank Seafood/Lobster Plates in Clear Art Glass
By Josef Frank
Located in København, Copenhagen
Set of 12 Josef Frank seafood/lobster plates in clear art glass Designed in the 1940s by the Swedish designer, Josef Frank, originally as a seafood/lobster plate, also suitable for ...
Glass
Franco Lapini King Size Lobsters Dish Silver Plate, circa 1970
By Franco Lapini
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
Absolutely magnificent huge silver-plated serving platter made and designed by Franco Lapini the 1970s. This is one of the biggest masterpieces he made. Two lobsters facing each other on a decorated surface. Signed on the bottom and there is a number in the rim. Franco Lapini was an Italian silversmith based in Firenze since 1963. Franco Lapini, the creator, was trained at the Istituto D’Arte Internazionale di Porta Romana before opening his first workshop. Lapini had a deep interest in 15th century...
Brass, Silver Plate
Large Hand Built Ceramic Platter in Black Gloss Glaze
By Helena Starcevic Ceramics
Located in New York, NY
Large hand built ceramic platter in dark brown stoneware with luscious black glaze. At over 16 inches in diameter this platter will make a statement on your table! Notoriously hard t...
Ceramic, Stoneware
$2,942 / set
H 3.55 in Dm 12.8 in
Unmatching Pair of Majolica Ceramic Trompe L'oeil Crab Lobster Large Wall Plates
Located in Barcelona, ES
Extra large spider crab and lobster seafood plates wall decoration, Majolica, glazed ceramic. Portugal, 1950s Rare find. A colorful pair of fine Majolica glazed ceramic plates with s...
Majolica, Ceramic
Italian Cast Aluminum and Brass Fish Centerpiece, 1970s
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Whimsical cast aluminum and brass centerpiece or platter of impressive size and detail; excellent vintage condition.
Aluminum, Brass
$1,219Sale Price|20% Off
H 3.15 in W 12.6 in D 12.41 in
Vallauris Glazed Ceramic Leaf Flower Platter or Centerpiece Bowl
By Vallauris
Located in Barcelona, ES
Mid-Century Modern multicolor glazed ceramic flower centerpiece bowl. Manufactured by Vallauris, France, 1950-1960. Eye-catching and colorful flower...
Majolica, Pottery, Ceramic
XL Oval Vintage Ceramic Seafood Plate by Siro, Italy, 1980s
By Siro
Located in Montecalvoli, IT
XL Oval Vintage Ceramic Seafood Plate - White with Relief of Seafood - Design by Siro Italy 1980s - Stylish Table Decoration, Gift Idea Large oval vintage ceramic plate with embosse...
Ceramic
$6,055
H 4.73 in W 20.08 in D 14.97 in
Rare Set of 12 Oval Antique Silver Plated Serving Dishes - Made Circa 1910
Located in London, London
Made circa 1910, this very handsome set of 12, Antique Silver Plate Serving Dishes, are plain in style, oval in shape, and feature reed bo...
Silver Plate
$1,177
H 0.6 in Dm 11.82 in
Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, Brass and Glass Serving Tray, 1940s Swedish Modern
By Svenskt Tenn, Josef Frank
Located in Stockholm, SE
A refined serving tray designed by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, in the 1940s. This round tray is framed in solid brass with elegantly looped handles on each side, lending bo...
Brass
$350
H 7 in W 9.75 in D 9.75 in
Antique Clear Pressed Glass Pedestal Patisserie Cake Stand Serving Plate Square
Located in Clifton Forge, VA
This is a fabulous antique clear glass cake stand with a wonderful pattern glass square base. The top has a round rim with four corners of a square poking out from below the rim. The...
Glass
$1,059
H 1.58 in Dm 19.69 in
Round Centerpiece Serving Tray Lucite Faux Tortoiseshell and Brass, Italy 1970s
By Christian Dior, Willy Rizzo
Located in Rome, IT
Amazing round serving tray / centerpiece in tortoiseshell effect lucite with and border brass in the style of Christian Dior. Made in Italy in the 1970s.
Metal, Brass
$1,942
H 3.94 in W 15.36 in D 8.86 in
Vallauris Multicolor Majolica Ceramic Large Leaf Centerpiece Platter, 1950s
By Vallauris
Located in Barcelona, ES
Eye-catching large leaf shaped glazed ceramic platter, serving tray or centerpiece manufactured by Vallauris. France, 1950-1960s. Interesting to be used as decorative centerpiece bow...
Majolica, Pottery, Ceramic
$1,518
H 3.75 in W 13.98 in D 11.82 in
1950s Vallauris Majolica Ceramic Large Leaf Platter / Centerpiece
By Vallauris
Located in Barcelona, ES
Eye-catching large leaf flower glazed ceramic platter, serving tray or centerpiece manufactured by Vallauris. France, 1950-1960s. Interesting to be used as decorative centerpiece, fr...
Ceramic, Majolica, Pottery
Sold
H 1.19 in W 11.82 in D 8.86 in
Set of Three Josef Frank Glass Plates Lobster Plates Reijmyre Sweden 1960s Green
By Svenskt Tenn, Josef Frank, Reijmyre Glasbruk
Located in Basel, BS
Set of three Josef Frank lobster plates in a vibrant green glass, hand-crafted by Reijmyre glass factory in Sweden, 1960s. Good condition with signs of use and age. One of the plate...
Art Glass
Vintage Swedish Midcentury Trays by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn
By Svenskt Tenn, Josef Frank
Located in San Diego, CA
A set of three vintage serving trays by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn. Sweden, 1960s Classic textile design by Josef Frank over molded plywood tray...
Fabric, Wood
Sold
H 1.19 in W 14.18 in D 11.03 in
Scandinavian Flower Decor Serving Tray by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn
By Svenskt Tenn, Josef Frank
Located in Vienna, AT
This charming tray was designed by Josef Frank and shows the exuberant Anakreon pattern. Designed in 1938, it is based on a 3,500 year-old fresco from a palace in Crete, and is nam...
Plywood
Glass Cake Stand by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn
By Svenskt Tenn, Josef Frank
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Beautiful cake stand with three stories by Josef Frank. Oval trays in thick, vibrant green glass. Handle made from steel with a large, brass handle. Clean lines and beautiful combina...
Brass