Josef Frank attrib. bookcase

This is a functionalist bookcase attributed to Josef Frank and produced by Svenskt Tenn in Sweden during the 1940s. Constructed in solid and veneered mahogany, the piece displays a warm reddish-brown tone with a rich grain structure, exhibiting both tight figuring and broader flame-like patterns, contributing to its visual depth and natural luster. The wood has developed a soft patina over time, consistent with careful preservation and minimal intervention, remaining in very good condition for its age.

The design is rectilinear and free of ornamentation, characteristic of the functionalist movement, yet the material choice and proportioning reflect Josef Frank’s commitment to humanized modernism. The front-facing surfaces are flat and flush, with lightly rounded edges that soften the geometric form. The case rests on solid mahogany block legs that lift it subtly from the floor, enhancing the vertical rhythm. It includes four fixed shelves offering a balanced layout ideal for books or display objects. One of the shelves is placed slightly higher, creating asymmetry that supports Frank’s belief in informal elegance.

Josef Frank (1885–1967), an Austrian-born architect and designer, emigrated to Sweden in the 1930s, where he became closely associated with the interior firm Svenskt Tenn. His work stood in contrast to the starkness of European modernism, favoring comfort, natural materials, and vibrant palettes. Frank introduced ideas of design for living that prioritized warmth and individuality, a legacy that continues to influence Swedish and international design today.

Svenskt Tenn, founded in 1924 by Estrid Ericson, remains one of Sweden’s most influential design houses. Through its collaboration with Josef Frank from 1934 onward, it became a vehicle for his unique brand of modernism—functional but emotionally expressive, blending Viennese sophistication with Scandinavian clarity.

The bookcase measures 131 cm in height, 90 cm in width, and 23 to 33 cm in depth, equivalent to approximately 51.6 inches high, 35.4 inches wide, and between 9 and 13 inches deep.