Austrian architect and furniture and fabric designer Josef Frank was a leading voice for a gentle, humane modernism. His advocacy of warm, comfortable, eclectically styled environments was highly influential in his adopted country of Sweden, and it’s now widely regarded as a harbinger of the backlash against doctrinaire modernism and the embrace of the homespun that occurred in the late 1960s.
The son of a successful Viennese textile manufacturer, Frank studied architecture at Vienna University of Technology, graduating in 1910. From the first years of his practice, he marched counter to the orderly, symmetrical architectural layouts and decors prescribed by contemporaries such as Adolf Loos.
Frank drafted rooms of varying shapes and called for flexible interior-design arrangements. His furniture pieces are light and easy to move — and his chairs are always made of wood, most often with lushly curved steam-bent arms and slatted backs. Frank openly loathed the tubular steel furnishings and “machine for living” aesthetic promoted by Le Corbusier and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and other Bauhaus principals. “The home must not be a mere efficient machine,” Frank once said. “It must offer comfort, rest and coziness…. There are no puritan principles in good interior decoration.”
Frank — who was Jewish — sensed the dire implications of the rise of Nazism in Germany and Austria, and in 1933 he moved to Stockholm with his Swedish wife, Anna. He became the design chief for the furnishings maker Svenskt Tenn and found a perfect match culturally for his brand of simple, relaxed and bright creations. Like many modernists — notably Charles and Ray Eames and Alexander Girard — Frank had a deep love of folk art, which influenced his designs for a wide array of colorful, richly patterned upholstery fabrics, many based on the classic “Tree of Life” motif.
In all his designs, Frank took inspiration from a broad variety of sources. In his furniture, one can discern traces of Asian patterns, Rococo, Italian Renaissance, Scandinavian handicrafts and even Chippendale pieces. As such, the work of Frank — the friendly modernist — is at home in any type of décor.
Find vintage Josef Frank pillows, armchairs, floor lamps and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Set of 4 Chairs in the Manner of Josef Frank, Josef Hoffmann, Stendig, USA, 1970
By Josef Frank
Located in Deland, FL
Introducing a set of four bentwood dining chairs styled after the iconic Model 811 chair designed by Josef Frank & Josef Hoffmann for Stendig. Designed in the 1960s, this chair is a ...
Oak
Model 811 Side Dining Chair in the Manner of Josef Frank for Stendig, USA, 1960s
By Josef Frank
Located in Deland, FL
Introducing a rare and beautiful single bentwood Prague Model 811 side chair by or after the renowned designers Josef Frank and Josef Hoffmann for Stendig. Designed in the 1960s, thi...
Leather, Maple
Single Prague Model 811 Chair by Josef Frank for Stendig, Poland, c. 1960s
By Stendig Co.
Located in Deland, FL
Introducing a rare and beautiful single bentwood Prague Model 811 side chair by or after the renowned designers Josef Frank and Josef Hoffmann for Stendig. Designed in the 1960s and ...
Walnut
Set of 4 Model 83 Chair by Niels Otto Møller for J.L. Møller, Denmark, c. 1970's
By Niels Otto Møller
Located in Deland, FL
This exquisite set of four Model 83 dining chairs by Niels Otto Møller for J.L. Møller epitomizes the timeless elegance of Danish design from the 1970s. Crafted from solid teak, each chair showcases the wood’s warm, rich grain and smooth finish, with gracefully sculpted backrests featuring vertical slats that provide both support and visual lightness. The original oatmeal knit fabric upholstery, with its subtle texture and neutral tone, complements the teak’s natural beauty while offering a tactile warmth that enhances the chairs’ inviting aesthetic. Tapered legs and a minimalist silhouette reflect Møller’s dedication to functional beauty, making this set a perfect addition to a modern dining space or a collector’s curated interior. These chairs embody the enduring appeal of Scandinavian craftsmanship, blending form and function with understated sophistication. Niels Otto Møller (1920–1982) was a renowned Danish furniture designer and the driving force behind J.L. Møller Møbelfabrik. Trained as a cabinetmaker before studying at the Danish Design School in Copenhagen, Møller founded the company in 1944 with a vision to create furniture that combined traditional craftsmanship with modernist principles. His designs, including the iconic Model 83 chair...
Teak
Model 811 "Prague" Armchair, Josef Frank for Stendig, Czechoslovakia, c. 1960s
Located in Deland, FL
Introducing a rare and beautiful single bentwood Prague Model 811 armchair by the renowned designers Josef Frank and Josef Hoffmann for Stendig. Designed in the 1960s, this chair is ...
Walnut
Model 811 Side Chair, Josef Frank, Stendig w/ Original Cane, Poland, c. 1960s
By Josef Frank
Located in Deland, FL
Introducing a rare and beautiful single bentwood Prague Model 811 side chair by the renowned designers Josef Frank and Josef Hoffmann for Stendig. Designed in the 1960s, this chair i...
Cane
Set Of Four Josef Frank Chair For Wiesner Hager 1950s
By Josef Frank
Located in Čelinac, BA
Set Of Four Josef Frank Chair For Wiesner Hager Austria 1950s
Palisander
Set of 6 Dining Chairs by Josef Frank, Model B 2027, 1950s
By Josef Frank
Located in New York, NY
A set of six Model B 2027 dining chairs designed by Josef Frank for Firma Svenskt Tenn. Crafted in elm with sculptural backs composed of interlacing curves—one of Frank’s most refine...
Brass
Set of Mid Century Swedish Josef Frank Rattan Dining Chairs
By Josef Frank
Located in London, GB
An elegant set of four model 1165 dining chairs by Josef Frank (1885-1967) for Svenskt Tenn. Constructed from carved mahogany with decorative, cane-bound, rattan backrest and origina...
Faux Leather, Rattan
Art Deco Era Three Brown Vintage Armchairs attributed Josef Frank Vienna, 1930s
By Josef Frank
Located in Vienna, AT
Art Deco three armchairs from oak and plywood in by Josef Frank attributed and executed by Thonet Vienna, 1930s. The frame of the chairs from oa...
Iron
Set of 4 TON Bentwood Chairs No. 811 after Hoffmann, 1990s
By Josef Hoffmann
Located in Praha, CZ
Set of four dining chairs produced by TON in the Czech Republic during the 1990s, based on the iconic Thonet No. 811 design attributed to Josef Hoffmann. The chairs feature a classic...
Other
Set of Six Josef Hoffmann-designed “Prague” Bentwood & Cane Chairs
By Josef Hoffmann, Josef Frank
Located in San Francisco, CA
On offer is a mix of the classic seating styled after the iconic 1925 Model No. 811 "Prague" chair. Armless side chairs in the front row and armchairs with fluid, looping bentwood ar...
Cane, Bentwood
