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Paul Frankl Sofa Tables

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
Paul Frankl Cork Console Table for Johnson Furniture Co.
Paul Frankl Cork Console Table for Johnson Furniture Co.

Paul Frankl Cork Console Table for Johnson Furniture Co.

By Johnson Furniture Company, Johnson Furniture Co., Paul Frankl

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Paul Frankl’s cork furniture pieces are among his longest lasting contributions to American modernism- and are highly sought after to this day. This cork top console table designed f...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Sofa Tables

Materials

Oak, Cork

Amoeba Table by Paul T. Frankl for NO GA Projects (authorized by Paul T. Frankl)
Amoeba Table by Paul T. Frankl for NO GA Projects (authorized by Paul T. Frankl)

Amoeba Table by Paul T. Frankl for NO GA Projects (authorized by Paul T. Frankl)

By Paul Frankl

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Paul T. Frankl (1886-1958) designed the Amoeba Coffee Table (also called “Model no. 5005” and “Cloud Table”) for the Michigan-based Johnson Furniture Company in the late 1940s. The l...

Category

2010s American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Sofa Tables

Materials

Beech, Oak, Cork, Plywood

Big Foot Table by Paul T. Frankl for NO GA Projects (authorized)
Big Foot Table by Paul T. Frankl for NO GA Projects (authorized)

Big Foot Table by Paul T. Frankl for NO GA Projects (authorized)

By Paul Frankl

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Paul T. Frankl (1886-1958) designed the Big Foot Coffee Table for the Michigan-based Johnson Furniture Company in the late 1940s. The low, cloud-shaped table was marketed as a “cockt...

Category

2010s American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Sofa Tables

Materials

Beech, Oak, Cork, Plywood

Plectrum Table by Paul T. Frankl for NO GA Projects (authorized)
Plectrum Table by Paul T. Frankl for NO GA Projects (authorized)

Plectrum Table by Paul T. Frankl for NO GA Projects (authorized)

By Paul Frankl

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Paul T. Frankl (1886-1958) designed the Plectrum Coffee Table for the Michigan-based Johnson Furniture Company in the late 1940s. The low, cloud-shaped table was marketed as a “cockt...

Category

2010s American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Sofa Tables

Materials

Beech, Oak, Cork, Plywood

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Previously Available Items
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Paul Frankl sofa tables for sale on 1stDibs.

Paul Frankl sofa tables are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Paul Frankl sofa tables, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original sofa tables by Paul Frankl were created in the mid-century modern style in united states during the 1950s. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider sofa tables by Edward Wormley, Dunbar, and Knoll. Prices for Paul Frankl sofa tables can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $22,500 and can go as high as $22,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $22,500.