Paul Frankl, John Stuart, Mahogany, Maple, Rare Station Wagon Ottoman, 1950s
About the Item
- Creator:Paul Frankl (Designer),Johnson Furniture Company (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 19 in (48.26 cm)Width: 28.25 in (71.76 cm)Depth: 19 in (48.26 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Fabric in good condition.
- Seller Location:Manhasset, NY
- Reference Number:Seller: 456-114B*1stDibs: LU863244352612
Paul Frankl
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Stamford, CT
- Return Policy
More From This Seller
View AllVintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
Mirror, Mahogany, Maple
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Benches
Fabric, Mahogany
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern End Tables
Leather, Birdseye Maple, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bedroom Sets
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Dressers
Brass
You May Also Like
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Upholstery, Wood
20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Rattan, Bouclé, Wood
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Vintage 1950s Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
Cane
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Faux Leather, Walnut, Lacquer, Upholstery, Wood, Hardwood
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Brass, Steel
