Exceptional Paul Frankl Free-Standing Desk in Mahogany and Cork
About the Item
- Creator:Paul Frankl (Designer),Johnson Furniture Company (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 28.35 in (72 cm)Width: 60.04 in (152.5 cm)Depth: 26.38 in (67 cm)
- Style:Art Deco (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1940s
- Condition:Refinished. Wear consistent with age and use. Every item Morentz offers is checked by our team of 30 craftsmen in our in-house workshop. Special restoration or reupholstery requests can be done. We guarantee a very highquality standard, ask our design specialists for detailed information.
- Seller Location:Waalwijk, NL
- Reference Number:Seller: 450151691stDibs: LU933121895352
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.
Established in 2006, Morentz has a team of approximately 55 restorers, upholsterers, interior advisers and art historians, making it a gallery, workshop and upholstery studio, all in one. Every day, a carefully selected array of 20th-century furniture arrives from all over the world at the firm’s warehouse, where the team thoroughly examines each piece to determine what, if any, work needs to be done. Whether that means new upholstery or a complete restoration, Morentz's aim is always to honor the designer’s intention while fulfilling the wishes of the client. The team is up to any challenge, from restoring a single piece to its original glory to furnishing a large-scale hotel project.
You May Also Like
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Mahogany, Cork
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Console Tables
Cork, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Dining Room Tables
Mahogany, Cork
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Console Tables
Cork, Oak
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern End Tables
Mahogany, Cork
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
Antique Early 19th Century English Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
Other
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Mahogany, Cork
More From This Seller
View AllVintage 1920s Dutch Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Vintage 1960s European Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wenge
Vintage 1930s Italian Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Oak
Vintage 1960s Belgian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal, Chrome
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Cork
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
How to Work Rattan and Wicker Furniture into Any Space
Interior designers Celerie Kemble and Angie Hranowsky dish out their advice on artfully bringing these natural materials into today's homes.
A Basket-Weave Pattern Adds Country Charm to Paolo Buffa’s Elegant Cabinet
With its grid-like doors and wavy trim, the 1940s design feels as fresh as ever.