Jean-Michel Frank (1895-1941)
Jean-Michel Frank was a French interior designer and decorator. He belonged to a prominent family with ties to the worlds of finance and the arts. He initially studied law but ultimately turned to the arts, attending the École des Beaux-Arts and the Académie Julian.
From 1921 onwards, Frank carried out his first projects for friends. He quickly established his reputation and his unique minimalist style. In 1926, the creation of a smoking room with parchment-covered walls and a straw marquetry boudoir for the Hôtel particulier of the Vicomte and Vicomtesse de Noailles revealed Frank to the parisian elite. His style became synonymous with understated luxury and refined simplicity. He created then bespoke interiors for influential figures like Nelson Rockefeller and the Rothschild family.
Frank’s designs often featured neutral color palettes, clean lines, and a meticulous attention to detail. Indifferent to the customs and traditions of cabinetmaking, he introduced materials such as shagreen, mica, parchment and intricate straw marquetry. Frank also created a unique collection of home furnishing for Hermès in the 1920s.
Icon of the Art Deco style, Frank was the most influential designer of the 1930s. He collaborated with renowned artists or architects such as Christian Berard, Alberto and Diego Giacometti or Emilio Terry. He is recognized today by leading designers as one of the greatest sources of inspiration to many present-day designs.
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