Details

Title

Dressing Mirror

Artist/Maker

Paul T. Frankl (American, born Austria, 1887–1958), designer

Date

ca. 1931

Medium

Brushed, chrome-plated steel, lacquered wood, and glass

Dimensions

68 x 51 x 12 inches

Credit

Purchase in memory of Donald Peirce, Curator of Decorative Arts, 1980–2001, with funds from the Decorative Arts Acquisition Endowment and gifts in his memory

Accession #

2012.63

Location

Currently not on view

An émigré to the United States in 1914 from Vienna, Paul T. Frankl is a significant contributor to American Modern design in the first half of the 20th century. His work embraced the wonder of the modern metropolis, specifically the glamour of New York City. This bold, geometric dressing table is a later example of his important Skyscraper series. As this series and Frankl’s work evolved, he continued to capture the essence of “the new” with modern materials in simple, strong forms while maintaining a love of asymmetry and use of lacquer. This unique dressing table is one of the last works he completed before moving from New York to Los Angeles.