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.
Serving trolley model 2248 Designed by Josef Frank Sweden, 1940s
By Josef Frank
Located in Stockholm, SE
Serving trolley model 2248, designed by Josef Frank, Sweden, 1940s H: 75.5 cm / 2' 5 3/4" W: 50 cm / 1' 7 11/16" D: 83.5 cm / 2' 8 7/8"
Mahogany
Josef Frank Folding Bar Cart or Side Table by Svensk Tenn
By Josef Frank
Located in Munich, DE
Light and easy to store foldable table with a nice print by Josef Frank.
Formica
Walnut and Brass Serving Trolley Model 756 by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn 1940s
By Svenskt Tenn, Josef Frank
Located in Stockholm, SE
Serving trolley model 756 designed by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1940s. Veneered walnut and brass. H: 65 cm W: 53 cm Width when fully extended: 89 cm D: 80 cm Josef Fr...
Brass
Italian Mid-Century Bamboo and Rattan Serving Bar Cart or Trolley, 1970
By Franco Albini
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Italian Mid-Century Bamboo and Rattan Serving Bar Cart or Trolley, 1970 Gorgeous bar cart or trolley made of curved bamboo and rattan during the Italian mid-century in the 1960s. Th...
Bamboo, Rattan
Yngve Ekström Trolley Model Thea Produced in Sweden
By Yngve Ekström
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Trolley model Thea designed by Yngve Ekström. Produced in Sweden. Measure: width: 72 ( 100 ) cm.
Formica, Rosewood
$2,638
H 29.34 in W 25.99 in D 15.75 in
Stunning Antique Italian circa 1950's Brass & Glass Tea Cake Serving Trolley
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this very fine, circa 1950’s Mid-Century Modern brass and glass Italian drinks trolley A good looking well made and decorative piece, the beauty...
Brass
$1,820
H 30.71 in W 33.86 in D 3.15 in
Space Age Vintage Red Orange Serving Table or Bar Cart 1960s Germany
Located in Vienna, AT
Space Age vintage serving cart or bar cart or gueridon in a happy making color tone red orange from laminate and metal. The bar cart shows a foldable feature. For a good mobility th...
Metal
$6,900
H 23.75 in W 31.5 in D 31.5 in
Vintage Mahogany Coffee Table by Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn, 1950s
By Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A square, vintage Mid-Century modern Swedish coffee table made of hand crafted polished Mahogany, designed by Josef Frank and produced by Svenskt Tenn in good condition. The Scandina...
Metal, Brass
$2,443Sale Price|20% Off
H 32.29 in W 29.53 in D 20.28 in
Italian Smoked Glass & Metal Serving Trolley by Enzo Mari for Alessi, circa 1980
By Enzo Mari, Alessi
Located in Labrit, Landes
Elegant modern trolley designed by Enzo Mari for Alessi in 1989. Handlebar above a cylindrical shaft side support, on three wheels, stamped Alessi. Very hard to find, especially in t...
Faux Leather, Rattan
$2,936
H 29.02 in W 15.75 in D 33.67 in
Aldo Tura 1950s Mid-Century Bar Cart, Trolley or Stand in Brown Italian Goatskin
By Aldo Tura
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Midcentury Modern vintage Italian 1950s bar cart, tea trolley or drinks stand by Aldo Tura, Milan. The brown colored and lacquered goatskin leather combined with gilded cast metal ha...
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Italian Serving Trolley
Located in Weesp, NL
Italian Mid-Century Modern serving trolley Beautiful two-tier chrome-plated serving or bar trolley with smoked glass in great condition. This trolley will only be shipped abroad in ...
Chrome
Brass and Steel Bar Cart
By Maison Jansen
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Mid-Century Modern four-tier rolling serving trolley in the style of Maison Jansen. Elegant Neoclassical brass medallion accented frame with two floating clear glass shelves....
Brass, Steel
$1,151
H 29.53 in W 27.56 in D 18.51 in
Italian Midcentury Serving Bar Cart or Trolley with Teak Trays, 1970s
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Classic serving cart, bar or trolley from the Italian mid-century, 1970s of great quality. The base of the trolley is made of black metal with two beautiful teak wood veneer shelves....
Metal
$5,109
H 21.46 in W 31.5 in D 21.26 in
Midcentury Coffee Table by Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1950s
By Svenskt Tenn, Josef Frank
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Small coffee or side table by Josef Frank, made from mahogany with a rounded corner tabletop. Light design with elegantly sculpted legs.
Mahogany
$2,995
H 23.75 in W 29.5 in D 20 in
Vintage Scandinavian Modern Teak Expanding Bar or Cocktail Cart by Poul Hundevad
By Hundevad & Co., Poul Hundevad
Located in Topeka, KS
Handsome vintage Scandinavian Modern teak expanding bar or cocktail cart by Poul Hundevad. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that t...
Metal
Vintage Swedish Brass Drinks Trolley by Josef Frank
By Svenskt Tenn, Josef Frank
Located in London, GB
A stylish and extremely well made vintage Swedish brass drinks trolley by Josef Frank. This was made in Sweden by Svenskt Tenn, it dates from aro...
Brass, Steel
Josef Frank Trolley Produced by Svenskt Tenn in Sweden
By Josef Frank
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare trolley designed by Josef Frank. Produced by Svenskt Tenn in Sweden.
Brass