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.
Art Deco Vintage Brown Beech Armchair Windsor Chair Josef Frank, Austria
By Josef Frank
Located in Vienna, AT
Art Deco vintage brown beech armchair or Windsor chair, which was designed by Josef Frank, circa 1925, Austria. The armchair was made from solid beech, cherry stained and natural lac...
Beech
Art Deco Era Josef Frank Beech Vintage Windsor Chairs Vienna, circa 1925
By Josef Frank
Located in Vienna, AT
Art Deco outstanding and rare set of 6 Windsor chairs designed by Josef Frank for Haus & Garten and executed by Thonet, circa 1925. (Labeled underneath) The set consists of 5 green Windsor chairs...
Beech
Art Deco Vintage Brown Beech Windsor Chairs Josef Frank, circa 1930, Vienna
By Josef Frank
Located in Vienna, AT
Art Deco vintage Windsor chairs or dining chairs Josef Frank attributed circa 1930 in Vienna and executed by Thonet-Mundus. It features a company´s branding label. The chairs from br...
Bentwood, Beech
18th Century Balloon Back Original Red Painted Windsor Chairs-Pair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
18th century original red painted bow back Windsor chairs from New England in fine condition. These chairs have a nice deep red painted surface and wonderful patina. Found in Pennsyl...
Wood
$4,000 / set
H 40 in W 20.75 in D 32 in
Blended Set of 8 Complimentary Semi Antique Hardwood Windsor Armchairs
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An exceptional blended set of 8 Hardwood Windsor Armchairs with fine traditional form and particularly well-grained seats. In a Natural tone with classic hoop backs with spindles and...
Hardwood
Set of Six English Windsor Chairs
Located in Antwerp, BE
Six unusual and wonderful aged, worn patina chairs are in good condition.They look fantastic together as a set. The seat height of all seats is 18.5 in. (47 cm) The height of the armrest is 26.77 in. (68 cm) The two high back chairs are 37.79 in. (96 cm) high x 22.04 in. (56 cm) wide and seat height 18.50 in. (47 cm) x 22.04 in. (56 cm) deep. The other four Windsor chairs...
Wood
$2,400Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 31 in W 20 in D 17 in
Set of 5 Josef Frank Prague Chairs Made in Czechoslovakia, circa 1970s
By Josef Frank, Thonet
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional set of five bentwood armchairs design attributed to Josef Frank, marked Made in Czechoslovakia. The chairs are constructed of steam bent wood, probably beech, and nylon, circa 1970's. A Mid 20th C version of the early 20th C Frank...
Beech, Bentwood
$4,383 / set
H 38.19 in W 31.11 in D 32.68 in
Pair of handmade Windsor lounge chairs, England, circa 1960
Located in Ludwigslust, DE
This exceptional pair of Windsor lounge chairs combines the centuries-old English tradition of the Windsor chair with the clear design language of...
Oak
$1,236Sale Price|30% Off
H 39.77 in W 22.45 in D 21.66 in
Antique 19th Century Ash & Elm Windsor Carver Elbow-Chair – Fine Quality
Located in Wisbech, England
Antique 19th Century Ash & Elm Windsor Armchair or Carver Elbow-Chair – Fine Quality An antique 19th-century Windsor armchair crafted from ash and elm, full of age, character, and p...
Ash, Elm
$1,900 / item
H 35.5 in W 19.5 in D 19.5 in
Solid Wood Windsor Style Dining Chair, Spindle Back Chair by Möbius Objects
By Möbius Objects
Located in Calgary, AB
The Vände chair is a contemporary take on the classic Windsor chair. Hand-turned spindles feature wedged, mortice and tenon joinery for strength and aesthetic appeal. The round se...
Wood
$1,236Sale Price|30% Off
H 41.74 in W 23.23 in D 26.78 in
Antique 19th Century Ash & Elm Windsor Armchair or Carver Elbow-Chair
Located in Wisbech, England
Antique 19th Century Ash & Elm Windsor Armchair or Carver Elbow-Chair – Fine Quality An antique 19th-century Windsor armchair crafted from ash and elm, full of age, character, and p...
Ash, Elm
Circa 1790 American Colonial Windsor Bow-Back Side Chair
Located in Elkhart, IN
A handsome late 18th century American Windsor bow-back side chair dating to circa 1790, with the beautifully spare proportions and hand-worked construction associated with early Amer...
Wood
$1,750 / item
H 35.5 in W 19.5 in D 19.5 in
Solid Wood Windsor Style Dining Chair, Spindle Back Chair by Möbius Objects
By Möbius Objects
Located in Calgary, AB
The Vände chair is a contemporary take on the Classic Windsor chair. Hand-turned spindles feature wedged, mortice and tenon joinery for strength and aesthetic appeal. The round seat...
Wood
18th Century Bentwood Windsor Chair
Located in Stockton, NJ
An interesting late 18th century elm Windsor chair. Interesting and rare continuous bentwood hoop back construction.
Wood
$14,000 / set
H 42 in W 22.5 in D 23 in
Pair of 18th Century English George III Yew Wood Cabriole Leg Windsor Armchairs
Located in Troy, NY
Rare pair of English 18th century Windsor armchairs from the Thames Valley Region, George III Period, with bow-backs having pierced and carved middle splats, cabriole front legs and ...
Yew