Josef Frank attrib. floor lamps

This rare pair of floor lamps is attributed to Josef Frank and was produced by Svenskt Tenn in Sweden during the 1950s. Reflecting Frank’s distinctive modernist approach, these lamps balance structural clarity with a softness derived from natural materials and refined detailing.

The frames are crafted from solid teak, exhibiting a warm rich brown with subtle reddish undertones. Their design emphasizes verticality through rectangular uprights connected by a horizontal stretcher, creating a freestanding, architectural form. A central vertical rod of patinated brass runs through the frame, supporting the electrical components and socket. The brass shows a gentle aged patina, typical of untreated mid-century finishes, adding character and depth.

Crowning the lamps are the original off-white pleated fabric shades, which have aged to a slightly yellowed tone. Their conical shape and evenly spaced pleats diffuse light softly, producing an ambient glow upward and downward. The integrated toggle switch in the socket remains original.

Both lamps are in very good condition, showing minor age-related wear and patina on brass and fabric. The teak structures are well preserved with even finish and no visible damage, and the pair presents a consistent, uniform appearance.

Josef Frank (1885–1967), an Austrian-born architect and designer, played a pivotal role in shaping Scandinavian modernism with his humanistic and decorative approach, contrasting the stark functionalism of his time. His long collaboration with Svenskt Tenn from the 1930s onward helped define a joyful and eclectic Swedish design language.

Svenskt Tenn, established in 1924, became internationally renowned under Estrid Ericson’s leadership, producing high-quality furniture and decorative arts that combined craftsmanship with expressive modernism.

These lamps embody Frank’s philosophy of warmth and tactility within restrained modernist ideals and represent a genuine and rare example from a seminal period in Swedish design history.

Dimensions of each lamp: 145 cm in height and 51 cm in shade diameter (approximately 57.1 inches tall and 20.1 inches wide).