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.
$9,800 / set
Pair of Rectangular Table Lamps, Metal & Wood
By Paul Frankl
Located in New York, NY
While best known for his architectural practice—which played integral roles in the restoration of the Statue of Liberty, re-imagining of the Ritz in Paris, and designing the interior...
Metal
Rare! Paul Frankl Bamboo Mid Century Modern Table Lamp! 1940s Decorator Lighting
By Paul Frankl
Located in Peoria, AZ
RARE PAUL FRANKL! MID CENTURY BAMBOO TABLE LAMP BURLAP SHADE MID CENTURY PANACHE! Dimensions: 28" TALL 18" WIDE 18" DEEP This striking bamboo wicker table lamp is warm and inv...
Metal
Paul Frankl, Pair of Ridged Cork Table Lamps, United States, C. 1950
By Paul Frankl
Located in New York, NY
While best known for his architectural practice—which played integral roles in the restoration of the Statue of Liberty, re-imagining of the Ritz in Paris, and designing the interior...
Metal
Pair of Cork Table Lamps, Paul Frankl, United States, Circa 1950
By Paul Frankl
Located in New York, NY
While best known for his architectural practice—which played integral roles in the restoration of the Statue of Liberty, re-imagining of the Ritz in Paris, and designing the interior...
Metal
$3,800
H 16.75 in Dm 14.37 in
Kurt Versen, Table Lamp, Lacquered Metal, Fiberglass, United States, 1950s
By Kurt Versen
Located in High Point, NC
A red lacquered metal and fiberglass table lamp, designed and produced by Kurt Versen, United States, 1950s.
Metal, Brass
Rare Scandinavian Modern Brass Table Lamp. Sweden, 1940s.
By Hans Bergström, Hans-Agne Jakobsson, Paavo Tynell, Bergboms, Ateljé Lyktan
Located in Malmö, SE
A rare and beautiful Scandinavian Modern / Swedish Grace brass table lamp with adjustable shade. Made by an unknown designer in Sweden, 1940s. Great original condition with amazing...
Brass
Decorative Mid-Century Danish Table Lamp in Brass, 1940s
Located in Lejre, DK
Table lamp in patinated brass, designed and made in Denmark. Great original condition. Comes with a new lampshade.
Brass
Pair of Brutalist Wood and Brass Table Lamps
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
This striking pair of Italian table lamps beautifully exemplifies the Brutalist design language, blending natural warmth with sculptural boldness. Each lamp features a cylindrical bo...
Brass
Pair of Adjustable Wood Table Lamps, 1970s
Located in Benalmadena, ES
Pair of table lamps produced in the 1970s. The structure features a turned wood body with a two-tone finish and a circular base. The central metal stem is telescopic, allowing for va...
Metal
Pair of French 1970s Metal Table Lamps
Located in Long Island City, NY
A pair of fine French midcentury patina-ed metal table lamps with their original shades.
Metal
$3,270
H 14.57 in Dm 12.01 in
Mid-Century Modern Harald Notini Table Lamp model 15296, Böhlmarks Sweden 1940s
By Arvid Böhlmarks Lampfabrik, Harald Notini
Located in Helsinki, FI
A beautiful table lamp with a gorgeous patina. This Mid-Century Modern table lamp model 15296 by Harald Notini is made of brass and wood and remains in its original condition. The su...
Metal, Brass
Pair of wicker, wood and metal table lamps - Italy, 1980s
Located in London, GB
A pairing of wood, wicker and metal. Each lamp is braided in a herringbone twill weave for its shade, gently curving outward as light perforates through, casting warm refracted rays....
Metal
Swedish Modern Table Lamp, 1940s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Swedish Modern table lamp. Excellent condition. New wiring.
Metal
Pair of Art Deco Silver Metal Lamp Shades with Finials
By Nessen Lighting, Samuel Marx, Paul Frankl
Located in Chicago, IL
Unusual Pair of Art Deco Sheet Metal Construction Lamp Shades with a silver metallic like finish. In the manner of Samuel Marx. Would look excellent in a Marx Interior on the correc...
Metal
$1,177Sale Price|43% Off
H 13.78 in W 5.12 in D 10.63 in
Rare 1940s Boréns Borås Model 8508 Brass Table Lamp, Swedish Modern
By Boréns Borås
Located in Budapest, Budapest
A rare Model 8508 table lamp by Boréns Borås, Sweden, made in the 1940s. This brass lamp features an adjustable hood with pinpoint perforations and is in excellent vintage condition,...
Brass
Hispania CH. Mid-Century Modern ceramic table lamp, Spain, 1940s
By Hispania CH, J.J. Kändler, Bassano, Cerámicas BONDIA, Capo Di Monte
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Hand-crafted ceramic table lamp from Hispania Ceramics (Hispania CH), Spain, 1950s. Composed of a white ceramic Neoclassical style vase with several leaves and fruits of different co...
Gold Leaf, Brass
Pair of Restored Paul Frankl Rattan Table Lamp with Original Wicker Lamp Shades
By Paul Frankl
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Pair of restored Mid-Century round stacked rattan rattan table lamps featuring 10 staked rattan poles stacked fixed to a mahogany round base, circa 1950....
Wicker, Rattan
Paul Frankl Combed Fir Table Lamps, a Pair
By Paul Frankl, Brown Saltman
Located in Fulton, CA
A scarce pair of Mid-Century Modern combed fir table lamps designed by Paul Frankl for Brown-Saltman. Very good, vintage condition with original finish. Original turned wood finials....
Wood
Paul Frankl Custom White glass and Leather Table Lamp
By Paul Frankl
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Paul Frankl custom white glass lamp with top and bottom pressed leather cap. Lamp- 26" tall X 9" diameter with shade- 32" tall X 18" diameter Thi...
Ceramic
Rare Paul Frankl Bronze and Glass Block Lamp
By Paul Frankl
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Asian inspired glass block lamp with bronze base and wrap around bronze frame. Designed by Paul Frankl for the George Frank home in Encino California...
Bronze
Paul Frankl Cerused Oak for Brown and Saltman Pair of Lamps
By Paul Frankl
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Pair of sandblasted oak lamps with plinth and top of dark brown original lacquer, Shades have been replaced. Other matching pieces from same home available.
Oak, Wood
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Mirrored Skyscraper Table Lamps by Paul Frankl
By Paul Frankl
Located in New York, NY
Pair of large Mid-Century Modern or Art Deco mirrored table lamps by Paul Frankl with alternating bands of silver and peach colored mirrored glass conveying the image of a skyscraper...
Nickel