Paul Frankl Tables
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.
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Tables
Mahogany, Cork
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Mahogany, Cork
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Mahogany, Cork
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Tables
Fabric, Oak
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Mahogany, Cork
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Brass
1950s American Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Wood
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Glass, Oak
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Tables
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Brass
1950s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Brass
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Mahogany, Cork
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Wood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Maple, Cork
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Tables
Mahogany, Cork
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Tables
Cork
1940s Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Rattan
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Mahogany, Cork
Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Paul Frankl Tables
Brass
1940s Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Walnut, Cork
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Wicker, Rattan, Formica
1920s American Art Deco Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Tables
Oak, Cork
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Cork, Mahogany
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Tables
Walnut
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Mahogany, Cork
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Glass, Oak
1950s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Mahogany, Cork
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Paul Frankl Tables
Mahogany, Cork
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Wood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Mahogany, Rattan
1950s Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Fabric, Rattan, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Tables
Brass
1950s American Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Rosewood
1950s Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Cork
1960s Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Wood, Smoked Glass
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Glass, Oak
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Glass, Oak
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Mahogany, Cork
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Glass, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Tables
Maple, Cork, Lacquer
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Mahogany, Cork
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Maple
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Glass, Oak
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Cork
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Tables
Wood
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Tables
Wood, Cork
Mid-20th Century American Paul Frankl Tables
Rattan, Mahogany
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Tables
Wood
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Tables
Rattan, Mahogany
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Paul Frankl Tables
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Brass
20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Tables
Metal, Brass
1940s Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Rattan, Mahogany
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Tables
Wood
Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Tables
Mahogany
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Paul Frankl Tables
Wood