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This
website is my tribute to Arthur von Frankenberg of Frankart Inc. fame. He was the sculptor and designer
of the most creative and stylized Art Deco and Art Nouveau figural items for that company. His designs
emphasized the artistic nude female form in utilitarian household items, such as lamps, ashtrays, ashstands, bookends, vases
and other accessories. frankart@decollector.com
a It is believed
that the first figural item attributed to Frankart, Inc was manufactured in 1921. Called "Flame", the figure was
a candleholder in the Art Nouveau style rather than the later Art Deco style typifying most of Frankenberg's works. Please
note that this candleholder is pictured above amongst the group of figural items adjacent to von Frankenberg. I would like to start his page with the year 1926, as that was the year
that an article about Arthur von Frankenberg appeared in Artist and Models magazine. The article provides a version of the
events and inspiration for some of his pieces produced by Frankart, Inc.
Artists and Models Magazine May 1926 Published by Ramer Reviews Inc., New
York City “Fairies All About You” By Leon Edward Joseph
Civilizations of the past are judged by the degree of art they
show in the articles of daily life used at that time. What future generations will think of this age, with its varied
expression, is hard to tell. Most things in common use today are not beautiful, and therefore it is a relief to find
a growing tendency and demand for more artistic things. You may have noticed that recently the better shops are offering
for sale ash trays, cigarette boxes, book racks, and candlestick holders of an artistic quality usually associated with museum
pieces.
There appears to be
a while set wherein the same little fairy is to be seen as a flower holder, inkwell and good knows what not. This set
bears a signature of Mr. Albert von Frankenberg, one of New York’s well-known artists and sculptors.
The idea originated one day in his studio while he was working
and entertaining some friends at the same time. He had just moved into his new studio which he had fitted up with beautiful
and expensive rugs and works of art. One of his visitors didn’t know just what to do with his cigarette ashes,
as ash trays were one of the things he had forgot to provide. Leone Osborne, the celebrated English model, who was posing
for him for the work in hand, was resting for the moment. Seeing the man’s embarrassment she jumped up from the
divan and picked up a large Benares brass bowl fully three feet across that was standing on a tabaret and striking an eccentric
pose offered it to the man for his cigarette ashes. Everyone laughed at a five foot six ash tray stand. It gave
Frankenberg an idea. Why wouldn’t that pose do for a small bronze ash tray which would be a thing of beauty, as
well as utility? He immediately put aside the work he was doing, and started modeling Miss Osborne’s form in a
miniature ash receiver.
Miss Osborne proved an ideal model, not only as
her form is perfect in its proportions and contours, but she has the ability to hold difficult poses for a considerable time.
A three-foot brass bowl is heavy. To hold it out in front of you at full length raising one knee to help support it,
and then stand on the tip toe of the other foot is no easy matter. Posing of this kind takes hours and hours of muscle
training. This is something few girls that contemplate becoming models realize. If you contemplate becoming an
artist’s models, practice these poses and others that are shown each month in Artists and Models Magazine. Pose
before a full length mirror, watching carefully to see that your muscles do not let your body sag. Do not over-exert;
as soon as you feel tired, quit. Time yourself, and you will find that in a few weeks you will be able to hold a pose
many times as long as you were able when you started.
The success of the ash receiver led a whole series of flower
holders, paper weights, candle lamps and similar articles that are used on a business man’s desk and in the home.
Mr. Frankenberg has used Miss Osborne for the model for the entire series. She has entered into the spirit of the work,
and is now the household fairy in homes all over the world. Mr. Frankenberg’s work has an individuality that makes
it recognizable wherever found. He portrays a nude female figure with its enticing beauty without any suggestion of
vulgarity. He uses as his slogan the words of Anatole France, “The most beautiful draperies are despicable compared
with the lines of a beautiful body. Art is the representation of nature and nature is preeminently the human body; it
is nude.”
Not only does domestic art of this kind add to the beauty of the home, but it is an inspiration to every one in the
family to develop a beautiful body. The only way a beautiful body can be developed is by avoiding of excesses, keeping
in perfect health and systematic exercise. Nature intended everybody to be beautiful; it is our own fault if we do not
develop our bodies to the highest point of beauty. Symmetry and poise can be obtained by anyone who will devote a half
an hour a day to the proper exercise. When once attained, a beautiful figure can be retained long past middle life by
the avoidance of over-eating and other indulgences.
Many women who have no other claim to fame are being immortalized
by having beautiful figures which artists are ever seeking to reproduce in marble and bronze. A model who has brains
as well as a good figure is of especial (sic) value to an artist, because she is not only able to quickly grasp his idea,
but is able to interpret it through her pose and facial expression. There are models who are dumb but beautiful, but
the most sought after are those that have brains and know how to use them. The model with brains has no false modesty.
She knows there is nothing improper in exhibiting her form for the sake of art. When you run across a model who is prudish,
you know she is not only a beginner, but she has no appreciation of the aesthetic.
At the National
Tobacco Show, Miss Osborne posed in a tableau reproducing the ash tray. So well fixed was the pose in her mind that
she could assume it without looking at the statuette. Each muscle was trained to hold itself with just the right pressure.
Artists are always looking for good models, but no young woman should expect to succeed in the profession until she has trained
herself the same as she would have to do if she contemplated entering any other line of endeavor.
The success of the ash receiver led a whole series of flower holders, paper
weights, candle lamps and similar articles that are used on a business man’s desk and in the home. Mr. Frankenberg
has used Miss Osborne for the model for the entire series. She has entered into the spirit of the work, and is now the
household fairy in homes all over the world. Mr. Frankenberg’s work has an individuality that makes it recognizable
wherever found. He portrays a nude female figure with its enticing beauty without any suggestion of vulgarity.
He uses as his slogan the words of Anatole France, “The most beautiful draperies are despicable compared with the lines
of a beautiful body. Art is the representation of nature and nature is preeminently the human body; it is nude.”
The success of the ash receiver led a whole series of flower holders, paper weights, candle lamps and
similar articles that are used on a business man’s desk and in the home. Mr. Frankenberg has used Miss Osborne
for the model for the entire series. She has entered into the spirit of the work, and is now the household fairy in
homes all over the world. Mr. Frankenberg’s work has an individuality that makes it recognizable wherever found.
He portrays a nude female figure with its enticing beauty without any suggestion of vulgarity. He uses as his slogan
the words of Anatole France, “The most beautiful draperies are despicable compared with the lines of a beautiful body.
Art is the representation of nature and nature is preeminently the human body; it is nude.”
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