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.
Vanity / Desk in Mahogany and Brass by Josef Frank, 1950's
By Josef Frank
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare Vanity / Desk in Mahogany and Brass by Josef Frank, 1950's Additional Information: Material: Mahogany, brass Style: Mid century, Scandinavian Produced by Svenskt Tenn in Sweden...
Brass
Vanity / dressing table in Walnut, Brass and glass by Josef Frank, 1950's
By Josef Frank
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Vanity in Walnut, Brass and Mirrored Glass by Josef Frank, 1950's Additional Information: Material: Walnut, brass and mirrored glass Style: Mid century, Scandinavian Produced by Sve...
Walnut
$9,373
H 54.73 in W 23.23 in D 17.33 in
Original Josef Hoffmann Dressing Table from 1905 by Jacob & Josef Kohn
By Jacob & Josef Kohn, Josef Hoffmann, Woka Lamps
Located in Vienna, AT
An extraordinary modern furniture from the best period of his works. He made trendsetting Industrial designs for the bentwood-industrie. This dressing-table is from the "Fledermaus" ...
Bentwood
$2,165
H 64.97 in W 49.22 in D 15.75 in
Midcentury Mirrored Dressing Table in Sycamore and Walnut, France, circa 1950
Located in London, GB
Midcentury mirrored dressing table in sycamore and walnut, France, circa 1950. The vanity table has a large trifold mirror. Two central drawers flanked by a cupboard on either side, ...
Brass
$8,000 / item
H 55.91 in W 53.15 in D 19.69 in
21st Century American Walnut Veneer Vanity Desk with Mirror and Carrara Marble
By Merve Kahraman
Located in Istanbul, TR
"La Nouvelle Vanité" is a make up desk made of American walnut veneer with an arc shaped mirror behind, designed by Merve Kahraman design studio. This work/makeup desk...
Wood
$2,643Sale Price|50% Off
H 56.7 in W 24.81 in D 16.54 in
19th Century French Mahogany Vanity Table with Swan's Heads in Empire Style
Located in Sofia, BG
French hand carved mahogany vanity table with black marble top. There is an original crystal oval mirror on the top part surrounded by two asymme...
Marble
$468Sale Price|50% Off
H 28.35 in W 31.5 in D 17.72 in
Lady’s Desk or Vanity in Mahogany, Czechoslovakia, 1970s
By Up Závody
Located in Zohor, SK
Beautiful midcentury desk, originally used as a desk for a lady, or vanity in the bedroom. The table is elegant combination of lighter birch wood on the sides and mahogany wood on to...
Birch, Mahogany
$1,021
H 25.6 in W 40.95 in D 15.75 in
Vanity dressing table by Raymond Loewy by Doubinsky Frères in the 1960s
By Raymond Loewy
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Dressing table - Raymond Loewy - model "DF2000" - Doubinsky Frères - 1960s Wear Consistent with age And Use : See Photos Compagnie de L’Esthétique Industrielle (CEI) was a design co...
Mirror, Plastic, Acrylic, Wood
$2,691Sale Price|20% Off
H 63.78 in W 48.43 in D 21.26 in
Elegant Mahogany Vanity Table in Light Brown From the Late 19th Century
Located in Opole, PL
Elegant Mahogany Vanity Table in Light Brown From the Late 19th Century This majestic mahogany dressing table effortlessly marries function and ...
Mahogany, Mirror, Wood
Josef Hoffmann vanity table by J. & J. Kohn
By Josef Hoffmann
Located in Vlimmeren, BE
This smal table made by J. & J. Kohn is designed by Josef Hoffmann. You can use this as a small desk or as a vanity table. The table is completely made out of wood and has a glas...
Glass, Wood
1950s Ico Parisi Vanity Dressing Table
By Ico Parisi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
An extraordinarily elegant dressing table or vanity by Italian designer Ico Parisi. This wonderful piece of furniture has a glass dressing / console table at a height of 90cm below w...
Brass
$8,965 / item
H 29.53 in W 19.69 in D 47.25 in
Sonia Writing Desk in Cream Shagreen and Bronze-Patina Brass by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Paris based label has distinguished themselves since their launch, with their iconic use of shagreen mixed with brass and other exotic materials. All furniture is handcrafted by skilled artisans, ultimately making each piece unique, designed in Paris and produced in the Philippines. The Sonia writing desk...
Brass
$3,845
H 29.14 in W 43.31 in D 19.69 in
1963 Danish Writing Desk and Mirrored Vanity, Wood, Oestergaard
By Harry Østergaard
Located in Arosio, IT
A Mid-Century Modern small desk that can also be used as mirrored vanity. It has one tilt mirror (still bearing the original label) and one drawer. Legs are in hardwood and the top i...
Brass
$5,430
H 31.5 in W 41.34 in D 23.63 in
Mid Century Italian Rattan and Bamboo Desk / Vanity Table Vivai del Sud C.1970
By Vivai del Sud
Located in London, GB
A Vivai del Sud pedestal table Rome, Italy, C.1970. Constructed in in rattan, bamboo and cane. Ideal as a small desk or vanity. The Knee hole width measures 39cm. In excellent condi...
Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan
Sold
H 19.3 in W 17.72 in
Josef Frank Table/Vanity Mirror in Brass with Leather Wrapping for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden
By Josef Frank
Located in Stockholm, SE
Table / Vanity Mirror designed by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden. Made in brass with leather wrapping.
Brass