Overview

A gem of an historical source.... This unique book provides a wonderfully illustrated and nuanced account of one of America's most significant twentieth-century designers. Alison J. Clarke, University of Applied Arts, Vienna A page turner [that] captures this leading Modernist in his own words. Bennett Johnson, Chicago Art Deco Society Magazine Frankl's autobiography sheds even more light on the man, other key artists and designers, and most important, Austrian and American culture in the first half of the twentieth century. Wendy Kaplan, Los Angeles County Museum of Art Viennese emigre Paul T. Frankl was a pioneer of early modern design in America, known for his ""Skyscraper"" furniture of the 1920s and later for the work he did for Hollywood celebrities such as Fred Astaire, Alfred Hitchcock, Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn. His autobiography, thought for decades to be lost, was written at the end of Frankl's long career and is a vivid account of his early life, his rise in the profession, and his many travels in search of ideas and forms. What will now be known as Frankl's last book is written in a captivating style befitting the personality of a gentle and cultured man who revolutionized and advocated for American modernism. This edition, hand-sewn with a printed linen cover, won a design award in Austria and is introduced and annotated by modern design scholar Christopher Long, author of Paul T. Frankl and Modern American Design (Yale 2007). The book includes a remembrance written by his daughter Paulette Frankl as well as many previously unpublished photographs and drawings.

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9780983254027

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Reviews

A gem of an historical source.... This unique book provides a wonderfully illustrated and nuanced account of one of America s most significant twentieth-century designers. Alison J. Clarke, University of Applied Arts, Vienna A page turner [that] captures this leading Modernist in his own words. Bennett Johnson, Chicago Art Deco Society Magazine Frankl s autobiography sheds even more light on the man, other key artists and designers, and most important, Austrian and American culture in the first half of the twentieth century. Wendy Kaplan, Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Author Information

Paul T. Frankl: Viennese emigre Paul T. Frankl (1886-1958) was a pioneer of early modern design in the United States, known for his ""Skyscraper"" furniture of the 1920s and his work for the Hollywood elite in the 1930s and early 1940s. A prolific and influential writer about design, he is the author of five books. Christopher Long: Christopher Long is Professor of architecture and design history at the University of Texas, Austin and is the author of eight books and numerous journal articles. Aurora McClain: Aurora McClain is a graduate student at the University of Texas Austin. Peter Duniecki: Peter Duniecki is an award-winning book designer and graphic designer who lives and works in Vienna, Austria.

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