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Paul Frankl Building and Garden Elements

Austrian, American, 1886-1958

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.

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Creator: Paul Frankl
Restored Rattan Fireplace Surround Mantel Owned by Gary Cooper
By Paul Frankl, Elsie de Wolfe
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Transform your space with this restored piece of Hollywood history featuring a Paul Frankl inspired rattan fireplace surround custom-made for the timeless actor Gary Cooper. The ratt...
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1930s American Vintage Paul Frankl Building and Garden Elements

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Rattan

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Paul Frankl building and garden elements for sale on 1stDibs.

Paul Frankl building and garden elements are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of upholstery and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Paul Frankl building and garden elements, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original building and garden elements by Paul Frankl were created in the mid-century modern style in united states during the mid-20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider building and garden elements by Robert Lewis, Vladimir Kagan, and Danny Ho Fong. Prices for Paul Frankl building and garden elements can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $2,950 and can go as high as $5,822, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $4,386.

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