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 Bench in Mahogany and Brass Nails, Svenskt Tenn, Sweden
By Svenskt Tenn, Josef Frank
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Josef Frank & SCANDINAVIAN MODERN A beautiful bench by Josef Frank, for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1960s. The frame is made of mahogany, upholstered seat with brass nails. The feet are elegantly sculpted and the bench can also be used as a table, end of bed stool...
Fabric, Mahogany
Josef Frank, Bench, Mahogany, Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1970s
By Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn
Located in High Point, NC
A mahogany bench designed by Josef Frank and produced by Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1970s. All items ship from High Point, North Carolina.
Mahogany
White Painted Stool, Josef Frank Upholstery
By Josef Frank
Located in New York, NY
White painted stool with upholstery by Josef Frank, Svensk Tenn length 44, width 36, height 44 cm. Cording is loose but we can replace cording i...
Upholstery, Wood, Paint
$550
H 17.5 in W 21.5 in D 14.1 in
Mid-Century Modern Lucite Waterfall Bench Stool With Faux Snake Skin Upholstery
By Charles Hollis Jones
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Mid-Century Modern Lucite stool with faux snake skin upholstery. Elegant and chic, this gleaming lucite stool is attributed to Hollis Jones. Original chrome-plated casters, the lucit...
Upholstery, Lucite
$695 / set
H 17.75 in W 14.25 in D 16.75 in
1950s Wire Frame Stools, Off-White and Gray Upholstery, Set of Two
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wire-framed stools from the 1950s demonstrate the era's approach to economical seating through minimal material use and straightforward construction. The continuous bent metal rod fr...
Wire
$28,955 / set
H 35.44 in W 19.1 in D 20.48 in
Midcentury Modern Mahogany and Leather Dining Chairs, Josef Frank, Sweden, 1950s
By Svenskt Tenn, Josef Frank
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Set of eight dining chairs by Josef Frank, made from mahogany with green leather seats. Elegant slender lines with tall, ribbed backs. Decor of brass nails around the corners of the ...
Leather, Mahogany
$1,600
H 35.04 in W 47.25 in D 21.66 in
Mid Century Modern Bench in Pine, Made by a Swedish Cabinetmaker in the 1970s
By Axel Einar Hjorth, Carl Malmsten, Pierre Chapo, Roland Wilhelmsson
Located in Odense, DK
A charming bench in solid pine, crafted by a Swedish cabinetmaker in the 1970s. Great craftmanship, perfectly suited for any interior style. A Modern, Scandinavian, Classic or an Ar...
Pine
$2,152Sale Price|20% Off
H 18.51 in W 29.53 in D 18.9 in
Italian Design Rectangular Black Leather and Chrome-Plated Brass Bench
Located in Brescia, IT
This contemporary style bench in cow black leather, is totally hand made in Italy. The feet are in chrome plated brass. The dimensions make it useful as coffee table.
Brass
Early Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn 'Liljevalchs' Sofa
By Svenskt Tenn, Josef Frank
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, 'Liljevalchs' sofa, model '345', fabric, beech, Sweden, design 1934, made 1930s An early example of the Liljevalchs sofa, designed by Josef Frank, and...
Fabric, Beech
$2,825 / item
H 18.9 in W 39.38 in D 16.54 in
Modern beige lamb fur hammered brass Tree Branches long bench by InsidherLand
By InsidherLand, Joana Santos Barbosa
Located in Maia, Porto
The Tree Branches long bench is entirely handcrafted in brass with a hammered technique similar to the irregular details of real branches. The top in Mongolian Lamb fur completes th...
Brass
$1,800 / item
H 18 in W 22 in D 18 in
Upholstered Bench with Brown Horsehair Seat with Mahogany Frame and Tapered Legs
By LF Upholstery
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Denton bench made by LF Upholstery is shown with brown and taupe patterned horsehair with soft foam padding. It has a hand carved mahogany wood and finished frame with tapered legs - it is shown without trim but can be made custom with choice of pewter or French Natural nailheads or gimp trim...
Mahogany
$3,800 / set
H 16 in Dm 27.5 in
Beautiful Ottomans, Stools in Josef Frank Teheran Linen Fabric by Svenskt Tenn
By Josef Frank
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of beautiful Ottomans covered in Josef Frank Teheran Linen Fabric by Svenskt Tenn. Each ottoman has four apple shaped stained wood feet. Ready for a new home.
Wood, Linen
Classic Antique Style Bench
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Elegant Empire style bench in walnut. Canes seat and sides, generous size-44" wide. Practical and sturdy.
Walnut
$2,456 / set
H 16.34 in W 28.75 in D 20.87 in
Saber Legs Wood and Brown Woven Leather Stools Customizable Upholstery and Wood
By Pescetta
Located in IT
Saber legs shiny wood and woven leather stools. Other wood colors and upholstery are available. Italian artisanal production by Pescetta Home Decoration. Walnut wood stools or otto...
Leather, Wood
$1,409
H 15.75 in W 37.41 in D 15.75 in
Scandinavian Modern Solid Pine Bench by Fröseke, Furniture Maker in Sweden, 1970s
By Fröseke 2
Located in Hillringsberg, SE
This bench and hall storage is made in solid pine and produced in Sweden at Fröseke Fruniture during the 1970s. Its solid pine with minimalistic features is a nice way of showing th...
Pine
Josef Frank Bench in Mahogany and Niger Leather, Sweden 1950s
By Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Josef Frank and Svenskt Tenn - Scandinavian Modern A beautiful bench by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, mahogany frame and Niger leather with nails. The model 2082 was designed by J...
Leather, Mahogany
Pair of Josef Frank Benches, Mahogany and Niger Leather, 1950s
By Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Josef Frank and Svenskt Tenn - Scandinavian Modern A beautiful pair of benches by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, Model 2082, mahogany frame and Niger leather with nails. The model ...
Leather, Mahogany