#paultfrankl

"Skyscraper" bookcase, Paul T. Frankl, c. 1926, Minneapolis Institute of Art: Decorative Arts, Textiles and Sculpture

two-piece bookcase with cabinet with two doors and central open shelves between them on bottom; irregular open and closed cubes and rectangles on top section; black with interior of shelves in deep orange Skyscrapers are familiar urban sights today, but in the 1920s they were still new and inspiring, a symbol of American ingenuity. Paul T. Frankl, an immigrant to the United States, got caught up in the excitement over skyscrapers and designed this bookcase to bring architecture inside the home in a practical way. Its cherry-red shelves look out like the windows of a building. Size: 95 1/2 x 43 x 13 in. (242.57 x 109.22 x 33.02 cm) Medium: Lacquered wood, brass

"Skyscraper" chair, Paul T. Frankl, c. 1927, Minneapolis Institute of Art: Decorative Arts, Textiles and Sculpture

red lacquer and silver leaf on wood (restored) Paul T. Frankl looked to New York City’s skyline for his furniture designs. The stepped shapes that make up the arms of this chair echo the city’s skyscrapers, which were required to be terraced in order to allow light and fresh air into the city. Below the seat, this chair’s cutouts also reflect the typical skyscraper shape, which symbolized a desire for progress and a passion for innovation. Size: 26 x 20 x 18 in. (66.04 x 50.8 x 45.72 cm) Medium: Lacquer and silver leaf on wood