Paul Frankl Furniture
Born in Vienna, Paul Frankl came to the United States in 1914 as part of a wave of Central European design luminaries — among them Kem Weber, Rudolph Schindler, and Richard Neutra — who were drawn by the energy and optimism of the American scene. Prolific and protean, Frankl would go on to design furnishings that are emblematic of nearly every key stylistic chord in American modernism, from the streamlined Art Deco to free-form organic shapes.
Frankl's Skyscraper cabinets, bookcases and more — introduced in 1924 — are his earliest and best-known designs (and the work by which he is most often represented in institutions, such as New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art). Tall and narrow, the pieces have staggered shelves meant to mimic the setbacks of Manhattan office towers. A later visually expressive line — the Speed chairs and sofas, which have a raked profile suggesting motion — links Frankl to Donald Deskey, Raymond Loewy and other creators of Streamline Moderne design.
Frankl moved to Los Angeles in 1934 and luxuriated in the climate and lifestyle. His designs became lighter and simpler and found an audience among the Hollywood élite. (Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant and Fred Astaire were clients.) Fascinated by Asian arts, Frankl produced numerous pieces — tabletops with edges that curve upward; sofas, chairs and other seating with rattan frames — inspired by Chinese and Japanese forms and materials. In the 1940s, Frankl became one of the first designers to incorporate free-form, biomorphic shapes in his work, as well as novel upholstery fabrics such as denim and nubby wool.
Frankl biographer Christopher Long argues that the designer’s easy, elegant aesthetic had an enormous influence on movie set design. As the furniture below attests, Paul Frankl’s work is ready for its close-up.
Find vintage Paul Frankl tables, dining chairs, case pieces and storage cabinets on 1stDibs.
1950s American Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Fabric, Rattan
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Upholstery, Mahogany
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Furniture
Wood, Oak, Lacquer
1960s Italian Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Bamboo
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Bamboo
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Maple
1960s Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Bamboo
1920s American Art Deco Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Walnut
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Oak
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Wood, Oak
1920s American Art Deco Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Upholstery
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Mahogany
1950s Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Wood
1950s Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Wood
20th Century Biedermeier Paul Frankl Furniture
Lacquer, Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Furniture
Metal, Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Furniture
Mahogany, Cork, Lacquer
1960s Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Wood
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Lacquer
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Brass, Chrome
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Paul Frankl Furniture
Mahogany, Cork
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Furniture
Fabric, Oak
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Furniture
Oak
1940s Art Deco Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Brass
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Fabric, Mahogany, Cork
1940s Art Deco Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Furniture
Brass
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Cotton, Bamboo
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Furniture
Rattan
1950s Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Rattan
1940s American Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Mahogany
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Furniture
Mahogany, Cork
1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Brass, Nickel
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Maple, Cork
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Furniture
Rattan
1940s American Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Wood
1940s American Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Furniture
Wood
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Furniture
Wood
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Furniture
Wood
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Furniture
Wood
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Furniture
Metal, Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Furniture
Metal, Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Furniture
Cork, Paint, Wood
1940s American Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Wood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Upholstery, Wood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Brass
1950s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Mahogany, Cork
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Furniture
Walnut, Cork
20th Century North American Art Deco Paul Frankl Furniture
Mahogany, Fabric
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Furniture
Brass
Mid-20th Century Paul Frankl Furniture
Mahogany, Cork