Josef Frank was an Austrian-Swedish architect, designer, and theorist, regarded as one of the major figures of 20th-century modern design. Born in Baden, near Vienna, into a Jewish family, he studied architecture at the Vienna University of Technology before becoming one of the pioneers of the Viennese modernist movement.

Rejecting the austere functionalism of the Bauhaus, Josef Frank consistently advocated for a warm, colorful, and organic design, placing comfort and the individual at the heart of creation. In the 1930s, facing a changing political climate in Germany, he went into exile in Sweden, where he partnered with the firm Svenskt Tenn. There, he produced a prolific body of work—furniture, textiles, and objects—characterized by formal freedom and a bold use of color.

Among his most iconic creations is the kidney-shaped table, whose free and asymmetrical form perfectly embodies his organic and anti-dogmatic approach to design. This now-iconic piece reflects his desire for interiors that are lively and unconstrained.

Today, Josef Frank’s Haricot-shaped table is once again available thanks to Norki, who has carefully sourced it, allowing this design masterpiece to be rediscovered in a version true to the spirit of its creator.