Josef Frank, a model 522 cabinet, Firma Svenskt Tenn, Sweden 21st century, only 10 cabinets executed in this version.
Mahogany, the front and sides covered with Frank's fabric 'Celotocaulis', interior with shelves, maker's label. Width 80 cm, depth 32 cm, height 120 cm. Key included.
The general impression is good, a few small marks.
When the present owner of the cabinet came to the Svenskt Tenn's showroom this was the last cabinet of the 10 cabinets that had been executed, all the other cabinets were already sold out. This cabinet was on display in the showroom.
Josef Frank designed the fabric-covered cabinet no. 522 during 1934-1935, after turning his attention to Great Britain. Upholstering furniture with fabrics belonged to the English furniture culture, and Josef Frank was attracted by the contrast between the hard wood and the soft fabric.
The Celotocaulis fabric pattern was originally designed by Josef Frank around 1930. Celoto comes from an Asian flower genus characterized by plume-like inflorescences and Caulis is the Latin word for flower stem.
According to Svenskt Tenn, only 10 cabinets have been executed in this fabric. The model with this fabric is no longer in production.
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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