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
$2,177Sale 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
$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
$2,492 / 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
$2,858 / 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
Early Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn 'Liljevalchs' Sofa
By Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn
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
$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
Lucite and Mongolian fur Bench
Located in Ballard, CA
An eye catching bench made with an upholstered seat floating on a Lucite base, affixed with custom engineered hardware. Custom sizes and finishes available.
Metal
$10,790 / set
H 18 in W 18.5 in D 14 in
Pair of Mid-century Neoclassical Iron & Gilt Benches / Stools, Jean Michel Frank
By Maison Baguès
Located in New York, NY
Elegant and timeless pair of French Mid-Century Modern neoclassical handwrought iron and gilt benches or stools in the style of Jean-Michel Frank and attributed to Maison Baguès. The...
Wrought Iron
$1,958
H 13.78 in W 51.19 in D 19.3 in
Swedish Mid Century Pine Wooden Bench / Low Table by Roland Wilhelmsson, 1970s
By Roland Wilhelmsson
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare Swedish modern bench model "Bamse" in solid stained pine wood designed by Roland Wilhelmsson produced in his own studio 1970s. In good original condition, signed and dated by th...
Pine
$14,875 / set
H 18 in W 20 in D 15.75 in
Pair of French Modern Neoclassical Benches or Stools, style of Jean-Michel Frank
By Jean-Michel Frank
Located in New York, NY
Pair of French Modern Neoclassical style benches or stools in the manner of Jean-Michel Frank.The hand made frames have a classic, X-form design typical of JM Frank are in wrought ir...
Iron
1970s bench, Drabert
By Drabert, Gerd Lange
Located in Neuss, NW
Classic waiting bench from the 1970s. High-quality steel and stainless steel frame with two plastic seat shells in brown a table top with original HPL coating and plastic edge in bro...
Steel
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
Josef Frank Tutankhamun Stool, 1941
By Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn
Located in Amarillo, TX
Josef Frank. Tutankhamun stool. Svenskt Tenn, Austria, 1941. Walnut, leather, brass. Measures: 20.5 W x 16.5 D x 15.5 H inches. Early model, unrestored.
Brass