Paul Frankl Speed Sofa in Gray Boucle, 1932
By Paul Frankl
Located in Chicago, IL
Paul Frankl Speed Sectional 2 piece sofa in Gray Boucle, 1932.
Category
1930s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Sectional Sofas
Materials
Bouclé
Paul Frankl Sectional Sofas
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 Art Deco Speed Sectional Sofa, circa 1940
$6,693Sale Price|40% Off
Paul Frankl Art Deco Speed Sectional Sofa, circa 1940
By Paul Frankl
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Original Art Deco speed sectional sofa designed by Paul Frankl. The sofa is broken down into two sections that come together to make a very large love s...
Category
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Paul Frankl Sectional Sofas
Materials
Wood
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Paul Frankl sectional sofas for sale on 1stDibs.
Paul Frankl sectional sofas 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 sectional sofas, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original sectional sofas by Paul Frankl were created in the mid-century modern style in united states during the mid-20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider sectional sofas by Adrian Pearsall, Directional, and Preview. Prices for Paul Frankl sectional sofas can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $11,155 and can go as high as $12,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $11,578.