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 / 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
$3,233
H 71.26 in W 35.44 in D 13.39 in
Ico Parisi Vanity Dressing Table, Glass & Beech Wood, Italy, 1950s
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
$1,902
H 70.87 in W 51.58 in D 17.72 in
Psyche Full Length Mirror Dressing Table Vanity Cabinet, French, circa 1950
Located in Labrit, Landes
Vanity dressing table with central mirror and little drawer circa 1950 Oak and coral-colored beveled mirror. Three drawers on the right side and a cabinet on the left side. The mirr...
Mirror, Oak
$9,103
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
$2,690Sale Price|20% Off
H 70.87 in W 85.44 in D 21.26 in
Exceptional Large Gothic English Victorian Burr Walnut Dressing Table Vanity
Located in Leicester, GB
An exceptional large vanity with six drawers, two cabinets and triple dressing mirrors. Circa 1900's. Made in England to the highest quality with fully panelled wooden back mirrors, ...
Mahogany, Walnut
$992
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
$9,500
H 29.5 in W 44.5 in D 25.75 in
Important Beau Brummell Regency Period Flame Mahogany Gentleman's Dressing Table
Located in Forney, TX
A rare and spectacular George III period (1760-1820) Beau Brummell gentleman's dressing table. There is no mistaking this remarkably distinctive table's complex design and superb quality, which is certain to attract attention, add interest, and become a conversational talking point wherever you place it. Metamorphic like, the multipurpose piece transforming from a library table or console - vanity - work table - writing desk) Refined elegant sophistication at its finest, born in late 18th / early 19th century at the height of the George III Regency period, also known as the golden age of classical English furniture design. Exquisitely hand-crafted of the finest mahogany, having a rectangular top with warm, rich, highly figured swirl - flame mahogany, contrasting satinwood string banding and intricate cross-banded inlays, covered with an optional later glass top, above a trio of drawers affixed with beautiful gilt brass lion pull hardware, the center drawer opening to reveal a divided interior fitted with numerous compartments, richly grained mahogany veneered lids, and a lovely Worcester porcelain desk set. Above the drawer a pull-out panel with inset green felt functions as both a writing - work surface extension and brushing slide. Flanking the main drawer, a pair of drawers slide-outward and open to reveal brass hinged large panel mirrors that can also be used to double the work surface, when lifted the mirrors can rotate and additional lidded storage compartments are revealed, including a pin cushion for sewing, horse hair bristle brush, and divided slots coin compartment. Having elegant clean lines, simple apron, highest-quality reinforced drawers to support the additional weight and allow them to fully extend, all rising on tapered square legs, terminating in patinated brass capped feet with casters. Dimensions: (approx) 29.5" High, 44.5" Wide, 25.75" Deep (table form) Provenance: From the Collection of Gloria Monnet Nicholson, Tulsa, Oklahoma Acquisition: Acquired from highly reputable auction house Heritage Auctions, Dallas, Texas. June 2022 Fine Furniture & Decorative Arts Signature Auction #8085 catalog. Who was Beau Brummell: George Bryan "Beau" Brummell (1778–1840) was an important figure in Regency England and, for many years, the arbiter...
Brass
$2,118
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
Vanity Dressing Table w/ Mirror & Drawer
Located in San Francisco, CA
C. 19th century Vanity dressing table w/ mirror & drawer.
Glass, Wood
French Pear Wood Ladies Dressing Table. Circa 1820
Located in Charleston, SC
French two drawer pear wood ladies dressing table with fitted interior, pull out leather surface, original folding mirror, and terminating on cab...
$10,760
H 28.55 in Dm 25.79 in
Luigi Massoni Dilly Dally Vanity Table and Chair, Poltrona Frau, Italy, 1960s
By Poltrona Frau, Luigi Massoni
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
A rare Italian "Dilly Dally" vanity by Luigi Massoni and manufactured by Poltrona Frau Italy in the 1960s. Newly upholstered in off white leatherette. Modular vanity fully upholstere...
Faux Leather
oak vanity
Located in Brooklyn, NY
french oak coiffeuse from the 1950's with mirrored top original condition
Oak, Mirror
1950s Robert Irwin Louis XVI Burl Walnut Dressing Table / Vanity
By Irwin Furniture
Located in Germantown, MD
A 1940s Robert Irwin Co. Furniture Louis XVI Style Burl Walnut Dressing Table / Vanity Measures 52" in width, 20" in depth and 30" in height. knee clearance is 24.5".
Mirror, Fruitwood
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
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