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Arthur von Frankenberg.
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.
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| Vintage Print of a Young Woman Holding a C-101 Candlestick |
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. Arthur 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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