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.
$666Sale Price|20% Off
H 29.53 in W 39.18 in D 23.63 in
Mid-Century Modern Desk, Dyed Beech and Formica, Italy, 1950s Design
By Non-Standard Furniture and Lighting
Located in Milano, IT
Desk with under-top, stained beech wood and formica-covered wood top.
Formica, Beech
Writing Desk By Edward Wormley For Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Beautiful and rare walnut desk designed by Edward Wormley, manufactured by Dunbar ca' 1950's. Single drawer, dark walnut original finish, with nice graining. Edges are raised to give...
Walnut
Nice 1940 french desk attributed to Maxime Old
By Maxime Old
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Jolie bureau français des années 1940,
Formica, Oak
Desk by A. Bender Madsen and Ejner Larsen for Willy Beck Cabinetmaker
By Aksel Bender Madsen, Ejner Larsen
Located in Pawtucket, RI
Interesting and rare Danish designed desk by A. Bender Madsen and Ejner Larsen and manufactured by Willy Beck. Desk features a 21-inch drop-leaf. Ta...
Rosewood, Teak
Maison Regain Desk, France 1960's
By Maison Regain
Located in New York, NY
A solid elm desk on sturdy legs with two drawers, the fronts are carved into deep handles. 43x22x31
Elm
$24,000
H 28 in W 48 in D 24 in
PAUL FRANKL for JOHNSON Furniture Co. "Amoeba" Desk and Cabinet c. 1950s
By Paul Frankl
Located in LAGUNA BEACH, CA
Paul Frankl, a renowned American designer of the 20th century, crafted a timeless masterpiece in collaboration with Johnson Furniture Company—a kidney-shaped desk that blends functio...
Wood, Birch, Mahogany, Maple, Teak
$11,596
H 27.76 in W 70.48 in D 27.17 in
Mid-Century Modern TL2 Cavalletto Desk/Dining Table by Franco Albini for Poggi
By Franco Albini
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern TL2 Cavalletto desk/dining table by Franco Albini for Poggi, 1950s.
Wood
Zone Desk by Hermhaus, Oak Root Wood, Mid-Century Modern
By hermhaus
Located in istanbul, TR
The Zone Desk by Hermhaus is a contemporary work desk defined by its simple yet powerful lines, designed to prioritize both functionality and visual clarity. With its strong architec...
Wood
$6,660 / item
H 29.53 in W 43.31 in D 23.63 in
Study Table, Midcentury Wooden Office Desk, Writing Desk
By kontra
Located in İstanbul, İstanbul
The minimalistic approach for the office desk. With 3 secret compartments, working is now neat. The study desk consists solid walnut/oak body and a leather writing area. Writing Desk. "Enhance Your Work Environment with the Study Table...
Leather, Walnut
Mid-century Modern Table by Frantisek Jirak, Czech
By Frantisek Jirak
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-century Modern Table by Frantisek Jirak, Czech Born in Prague in 1913, František Jirák was a Czech architect and designer who studied at both the School of Master Carpenters (Mistrovská škola stolarská) and the Special School of Interior Design and Architecture (Specialna skola pre vnutornu architekturu). Under the guidance and leadership of Jindřich Halabalou, one of the Czech Republic's most celebrated and influential designers, Jirák spent eleven years working at the renowned United Arts & Crafts, or United UP (Spojene UP zavody), factory in Brno. Jirák, left United UP in 1948 to move to the Slovak part of what was then Czechoslovakia. Expert in furniture design, especially in wood, he became the Head of the Development Department at the Regional Directorate of Woodworking Companies. His skills as both a designer and a carpenter were highly prized in a rapidly evolving industry. From the late 1960s until his retirement, he also worked as a product designer for a national company called New House (Nový domov) in Spisska Nova Ves. It is during this period that Jirák designed the Lollipop chair...
Glass, Wood
