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.
$4,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 30.5 in W 46 in D 19.5 in
Rway Mid-Century Modern Desk, Black Lacquer & Steel, 4 Drawers, 1950s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rway Mid-Century Modern Desk, Black Lacquer & Steel, 4 Drawers, 1950s Highly sought-after, circa-1950s R-Way Furniture mid-century modern writing desk in black lacquer with silver h...
Steel
$2,495
H 30 in W 42 in D 24 in
Vintage MCM Desk by Sligh Furniture Cross Country Line with Black Painted Frame
By Sligh Furniture
Located in Topeka, KS
Fabulous vintage MCM (a.k.a.) Mid-Century Modern Cross Country Line desk by Sligh Furniture composed of a black painted frame, 4 stacked dovetail drawers on the left with toe kick fr...
Wood, Paint
$7,800
H 30 in W 54 in D 24 in
Pace Collection Mid Century Italian Modern Thick Black Marble Granite Top Desk
By Knoll, Pace Collection
Located in Rockaway, NJ
High quality mid century modern black granite desk with shelf or bookcase in the back.
Granite, Aluminum
$4,043
H 31.11 in W 61.42 in D 30.71 in
1920s Bauhaus Executive Desk in Black Lacquered Steel, German Machine Age Modern
Located in Berlin, DE
This striking German Bauhaus writing desk from around 1925 exemplifies the radical functional clarity that defined early modernist design. Executed in black lacquered metal, the desk...
Metal, Chrome
Midcentury Paul McCobb #1560 Double Drawer Desk Black Lacquer Finish
By Paul McCobb, Planner Group
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Beautiful Paul McCobb planner group #1560 double drawer desk Black Lacquer on maple with aluminum ring knobs solid maple. Desk is in great condition. Very beautiful designed desk on ...
Aluminum
Art Deco Era Ebonised Desk with Stainless Frame
Located in Troy, MI
Found in England, this circa 1930s Art Deco desk has a streamlined machine age / industrial style. Desk top with three functional drawers and stainless steel leg and base. Unknown ma...
Stainless Steel
$4,401
H 29.93 in W 65.75 in D 28.35 in
1930s Bauhaus Style Modernist Desk in Black Lacquered Metal and Glass
By Bruno Weil, Thonet
Located in Langemark-Poelkapelle, BE
1930's modernist desk in black lacquered metal, nickelplated handles and surmounted by a thick slab of Saint-Gobain glass. With working lock on the drawers! In the style of Bruno Wei...
Metal
$3,295
H 29.25 in W 48 in D 24.13 in
Paul McCobb Planner Group Mid-Century Modern Black Lacquered Desk, Refinished
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional minimalist Mid-Century Modern writing desk By Paul McCobb for Winchendon Furniture, "Planner Group" USA, 1950s Black lacquered solid maple, with original brass hard...
Brass
$1,486
H 29.73 in W 50.79 in D 25.99 in
Italian mid-century modern wooden and black metal desk with three drawers, 1960s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid-century modern wooden and black metal desk with three drawers, 1960s Wooden desk with drawers. The top is rectangular, under the top on the right are three drawers with e...
Metal
$2,611Sale Price|20% Off
H 28.75 in W 70.87 in D 31.89 in
Mid-Century Danish Black Modern Minimalist Oak Office Desk with Chrome Base
Located in Warszawa, Mazowieckie
This minimalist office desk was produced in Denmark during the 1970s. The desk is characterized by clear lines and creates a harmonious composition of the materials used. The large t...
Chrome
Hand-Crafted Contemporary Icon Desk in Black Satin Glass, Modern Style
Located in Queens, NY
Contemporary "Icon" black satin glass top desk with 2 stacked drawers Condition: Good; Wear consistent with age and use
Glass
Italian Mid-Century Black Lacquered Desk, Brass Trim, Aldo Tura Style
Located in Queens, NY
Italian mid-century style black lacquered desk with brass trimmed edge and 4 drawers supported on 2 rectangular pedestals centering a v...
Lacquer
Modern American Black Laminate Reception Desk, Contemporary Style
Located in Queens, NY
American Contemporary reception desk finished in black laminate having a raised privacy screen and suspended double 2-drawer pedestal storage Some light wear due to age and use. De...
Laminate
Art Deco Desk by Jean Pascaud, Black Lacquered Wood, French Design
By Jean Pascaud
Located in Queens, NY
French Art Deco black lacquered desk featuring an indented rectangular top pinched at the corners and having a central pullout drawer, standing on 4 shaped and tapered, smoothly spla...
Wood, Lacquer
American Mid-Century Desk, Leather Finish, Custom Built, USA, 1960s
Located in Queens, NY
American Mid-Century Karl Springer style custom desk with a white leather finish, having two pull out trays, two drawers with pencil wells and two file drawers with metal pulls
Leather
Mid-Century Black Lacquer Chests with Lucite Details, 20th Century
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Mid-Century chest of drawers with a black lacquer finish, raised decorative lucite drawer details, lucite drawer pulls, and black glass tops. (PRICED AS Pair) one dresser do...
Lucite, Wood, Glass
