American Art Deco Furniture
Skyscrapper Bookcase
Paul FranklPaul Frankl
American [1886 - 1958]
Paul Frankl was the first American designer to produce a totally original American furniture design with his "Skyscraper" bookcases, the success of which led him to name his company "Skyscraper Furniture". Between his early (mid 1920's) success with "Skyscraper" style furniture and his later Chinese Modern and "Speed" furniture of the 1930's, Frankl wrote books and magazine articles on the Modern Style and was its most vocal proponent. He later designed production pieces for Brown & Saltzman of California and Johnson Furniture Company of Grand Rapids, incorporating an early use of biomorphic designs and novel materials such as cork veneer.'s bookcases are an icon of American art deco, their stepback configuration inaugurated the first truly American furniture style. Their success led Frankl to name his company "Skyscraper Furniture". This bookcase is from the collection of Muriel Kerasik. The bookcase has two doors on the bottom and thirteen individual shelves for books. The interior is in red lacquer, the exterior in black lacquer. The case measures 84" high x 39" wide and is 11" deep.
Reference# AF034
