Josef Frank
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a "Liljevalchs" sofa, Svenskt Tenn, Sweden 2018.
Upholstered in grey velvet, stained beech legs, length 280 cm, depth 140 cm, seat height ca 43 cm.
Minor wear and stains, small holes by nails below the armrests.
Provenance
Bought at Svenskt Tenn in 2018.
More information
The model was among the first pieces of furniture that Josef Frank designed for Svenskt Tenn in 1934. It was first shown at Liljevalch's art gallery, hence the name "Liljevalchssoffan". In a letter to Estrid Ericson, Josef Frank wrote that he drew the large generous shape of the sofa in protest against the prevailing functionalism and the Swedish Handicraft Association being so tedious.
Designer
Josef Frank was born in Austria and studied architecture in Vienna. As an architect, he worked with private home areas, villas and apartment buildings. In 1925 he started his own interior design firm Haus und Garten together with two architect colleagues. In connection with the advance of the Nazis, he emigrated to Sweden and was employed in 1934 at Svenskt Tenn. After the outbreak of World War II, Josef Frank, who came from a Jewish family, was forced into exile in New York. At Svenskt Tenn, he made an impact on the product range for four decades; especially when it comes to furniture and fabric prints.
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