Paul Frankl for Johnson Furniture Black Lacquered Highboy Dresser, Refinished
View Similar Items
Paul Frankl for Johnson Furniture Black Lacquered Highboy Dresser, Refinished
About the Item
- Creator:
- Dimensions:Height: 45.25 in (114.94 cm)Width: 40 in (101.6 cm)Depth: 21 in (53.34 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:Refinished. Newly refinished. Excellent condition.
- Seller Location:South Bend, IN
- Reference Number:Seller: Liberty & 33rd Furniture Co. #83091stDibs: LU2745327556142
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.
John Stuart
Grand Rapids, Michigan, was once known as “Furniture City” for its local mass-production industry that flourished from the mid-19th century into the early 20th century, led by furniture manufacturers like John Stuart. Stuart’s eponymous company, which would build showrooms in New York and Philadelphia, designed and sold elegant reproductions of various furniture styles, including 18th-century French and English furniture as well as what we now call mid-century modern home furnishings built by European craftsmen in the entrepreneur’s Grand Rapids factory.
In 1845, a British cabinetmaker named George Widdicomb arrived in New York before moving to Grand Rapids. There he set up a small cabinet shop in 1857 with a dozen craftsmen, including his son John Widdicomb. The store quickly found success due to Widdicomb’s English training and the dearth of other quality furniture makers in the region. Toward the end of the 19th century, Grand Rapids had earned an international reputation as a leader of American furniture manufacturing, and while the Widdicomb family would navigate some difficulty after the Civil War, they emerged anew as Widdicomb Brothers and Richards, and then the Widdicomb Furniture Company. Widdicomb’s son started his own company in 1897, the John Widdicomb Company, and in 1929, the Grand Rapids–born John Stuart joined the company as a director.
Stuart, who had been in the furniture industry since 1913, was named president of John Widdicomb Company in the early 1940s and by then had formed John Stuart, Inc., with partner Herbert M. Rothschild. John Stuart, Inc.’s offerings included oak buffets and other dining-room furnishings crafted in the Tudor and Elizabethan styles, with cabinet doors and drawer fronts characterized by meticulously carved natural-world motifs and other decorative flourishes. Stuart also oversaw the design of reproductions of sophisticated walnut and mahogany Queen Anne side tables and dining chairs, with the latter marked by pronounced, vase-shaped curves in the back splats and cabriole legs. In 1952, the manufacturer and distributor’s founder sold the business, including the right to trade under his name, to the John Widdicomb Company.
Find a wide variety of vintage John Stuart furniture on 1stDibs.
- Paul McCobb Perimeter Group Black Lacquered Highboy Dresser, Newly RefinishedBy Paul McCobb, WinchendonLocated in South Bend, INA gorgeous Mid-Century Modern seven-drawer highboy dresser By Paul McCobb for Winchendon Furniture, "Perimeter Group" USA, 1950s Black lacquered solid birch, with original sculpte...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsBirch, Rosewood, Lacquer
- Raymond Loewy for Mengel Black Lacquered Highboy Dresser, Newly RefinishedBy Mengel Furniture Co., Raymond LoewyLocated in South Bend, INA gorgeous Mid-Century Modern six-drawer highboy dresser or chest of drawers By Raymond Loewy for Mengel Furniture USA, 1950s Black lacquered oak, with original aluminum har...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsAluminum
- Paul Frankl Black Lacquered Highboy Dresser Chest With Drop Front Secretary DeskBy Paul Frankl, John Stuart Inc., Johnson Furniture CompanyLocated in South Bend, INAn exceptional Mid-Century Modern black lacquered highboy dresser or chest of drawers with unique drop front secretary desk By Paul Frankl for Johnson Furniture and retailed by John...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsBrass
- Paul Frankl for Johnson Furniture Black Lacquered Mahogany Sideboard CredenzaBy Paul Frankl, Johnson Furniture CompanyLocated in South Bend, INAn exceptional Mid-Century Modern sideboard, credenza, or bar cabinet By Paul Frankl for Johnson Furniture USA, 1950s Black lacquered mahogany, with lacquered cork top and b...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
MaterialsBrass
- Baker Furniture French Empire Cherry Wood Highboy Dresser, Newly RefinishedBy Baker Furniture CompanyLocated in South Bend, INAn outstanding French Empire style six-drawer highboy dresser chest By Baker Furniture USA, circa 1960s Gorgeous book-matched cherry wood, with original brass hardware. M...Category
Mid-20th Century American Empire Dressers
MaterialsBrass
- Bert England for Johnson Furniture Mid-Century Modern Walnut Dresser, RefinishedBy Johnson Furniture Company, Bert EnglandLocated in South Bend, INAn exceptional Mid-Century Modern sculpted walnut long dresser or credenza By Bert England for Johnson Furniture USA, 1960s Measures: 76"W x 19"D x 31.5"H. Professionally...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsWalnut
- Paul Frankl Dresser and Nightstand for Johnson Furniture, 1950sBy Paul Frankl, Johnson Furniture Company, John StuartLocated in Los Angeles, CAThis fantastic 1950s ten-drawer double dresser and nightstand was designed by Paul Frankl for Johnson Furniture and retailed by John Stuart duri...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsMetal
$5,700 Sale Price / set39% Off - Paul Frankl Mid-Century Modern Highboy Dresser Black Lacquered WalnutBy Paul Frankl, Johnson Furniture CompanyLocated in Roanoke, VAA vintage Paul Frankl highboy dresser with iconic brass “x” knobs and newly lacquered black walnut is a truly exceptional piece of furniture. Its c...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsWalnut, Lacquer
- Cork Sideboard / Dresser by Paul Frankl for Johnson Furniture, c. 1950s, SignedBy Paul Frankl, Johnson Furniture CompanyLocated in Los Angeles, CAThis restored Paul T. Frankl for Johnson Furniture sideboard cabinet or dresser, circa 1950s, features beautiful refinished Mahogany and cork with brass x-shaped pulls and is signed ...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsBrass
$5,440 Sale Price20% Off - Mid-Century Modern Black Lacquer Paul Frankl Stamped John Stuart Double DresserBy John Stuart, Paul FranklLocated in Stamford, CTMid-Century Modern Black Lacquer Paul Frankl Stamped John Stuart Double Dresser A spectacular dresser designed by Paul Frankl for John Stuart, recently ...Category
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsLacquer
- Paul Frankl for Johnson Furniture 10 Drawer Double Dresser Solid Brass X PullsBy Paul Frankl, Johnson Furniture CompanyLocated in Rockaway, NJMid-Century Modern tan walnut finish double dresser credenza by Paul Frankl for Johnson Furniture.Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsBrass
- Paul Frankl for Johnson Furniture MCM Leather Birch Maple Station Wagon DresserBy Paul Frankl, Johnson Furniture CompanyLocated in Countryside, ILPaul Frankl for Johnson Furniture Mid Century Leather Birch and Maple Station Wagon Dresser This lowboy measures: 66 wide x 22 deep x 32 inches high All pieces of furniture can be ...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsLeather, Birch, Maple