Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
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 Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Fir, Fabric
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
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1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Maple
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Metal
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood, Oak, Lacquer
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
1920s American Art Deco Vintage Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Metal, Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
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1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
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Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
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1950s American Vintage Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Mahogany, Maple
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Walnut
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Birch, Maple
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Nickel
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Walnut
Mid-19th Century French French Provincial Antique Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Marble
1950s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Opaline Glass, Oak
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
Early 20th Century European Biedermeier Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Marble
21st Century and Contemporary Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Pine
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood
1950s Czech Art Deco Vintage Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Oak, Walnut
1950s Czech Bauhaus Vintage Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Metal
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Nickel
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
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1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Chrome
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
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1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
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Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
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1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
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1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
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1940s American Art Deco Vintage Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Bamboo, Rattan, Wood, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl More Furniture and Collectibles
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