JEAN-MICHEL FRANK (1895 - 1941) made an impact on the world of that interiors endures to this day. The Parisian native’s illustrious career spanned only two decades, yet in that short time, he collaborated with Salvador Dalí and Alberto Giacometti and designed interiors for the likes of Elsa Schiaparelli, Cole Porter and Nelson Rockefeller.

Many of his interior projects were realized in partnership with Adolphe Chanaux, a decorator and cabinetmaker; the duo opened a shop in Paris that became a gathering place for like-minded creatives. World War II brought the end of the partnership; Chanaux later became the artistic director of Guerlain, and Frank briefly lived and worked in Argentina before making his way to New York City.

Frank’s original designs are rare and highly sought after. In the 1970s, the legendary French designer Andrée Putman founded Ecart to continue the legacy of Frank (and other designers) by creating authorized reproductions of their collections.

(Source: Holly Hunt)