Paul Frankl Seating
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 Seating
Bouclé, Upholstery, Mahogany, Bentwood
1950s Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Wood
1930s Philippine Art Deco Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Wicker, Rattan
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Bamboo, Rattan
1930s Philippine Art Deco Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Rattan
20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Seating
Rattan, Bouclé, Wood
1930s Philippine Art Deco Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Rattan
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Bouclé, Upholstery, Oak
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Mahogany, Bouclé, Upholstery
1960s Central American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Bamboo, Rattan
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Seating
Bamboo, Rattan
1950s Taiwanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Cane, Rattan
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Fabric, Bamboo, Foam
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Seating
Bamboo
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Wrought Iron
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Cork
1950s Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Wood
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Wood
1940s Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Wood
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Steel
20th Century American Art Deco Paul Frankl Seating
Upholstery, Oak
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Mahogany, Cork
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Wood
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Silk, Oak
1950s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Fabric, Rattan
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Silk, Wood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Rattan
1960s French Bohemian Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Fabric, Bamboo
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
1940s American Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Upholstery, Oak
20th Century Biedermeier Paul Frankl Seating
Lacquer, Fabric, Wood, Upholstery
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Glass, Wood, Cork
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Upholstery, Wood
1950s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Cane
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Rattan
1930s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Bouclé
1950s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Iron
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Fabric, Mahogany, Cork
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Wood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Fabric, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Seating
Wool, Upholstery, Wood, Tulipwood
1970s American Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Oak, Velvet
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Seating
Upholstery, Foam, Oak