Paul T. Frankl pair of side chairs curly walnut mohair velvet 1933

This beautiful pair of side chairs was designed and produced by Paul T. Frankl in 1933, and clearly embodies the smooth lines of Frankl early 1930s Art Deco work. The structure is made of solid curly walnut, fully restored, polished with traditional shellac varnish, and both chairs are in a superb state of conservation. They have been reupholstered using an orage grey thick mohair velvet from Elitis, which is exceptionally soft to the touch, and 100% mohair, enhancing the chairs' beautiful shape. The modernist lines are a thing of beauty, and impart an homey yet very elegant feel. Photos of the restoration process and documentation are available upon request.

Paul T. Frankl (1886-1958) was an Austrian Art Deco furniture designer from Vienna, immigrating to the United States in1914. He was one of the pioneers of early modern design in the United States, known for his Skyscraper furniture of the 1920s and his work for the Hollywood élite in the 1930s and early 1940s. He settled in New York City in 1915 and brought with him an outsider's fresh perspective and an enthusiasm for forging a uniquely American design aesthetic. Frankl began as an architect and later switched to designing and was a big influence on shaping the distinctive look of American modernism.

Literature: 30-40 Decorative Art, Charlotte and Peter Fiel, Taschen Edition, page 235 ; Getty Images, A nursery designed for the Frankl Galleries, Inc., 1933.