Paul Laszlo Catalog from 1947

About the Item

Scarce, self-published, 102-page catalog with laminated boards showcasing Paul Laszlo's work in and around Beverly Hills between 1937-1947. The Hungarian born and Vienna-educated Laszlo (1900-1993) fled Europe in 1936, arrived in Hollywood the following year, and immediately attracted a celebrity clientele. The present catalog features his residential work, for which he designed furniture, fabrics, drapes, rugs and fixtures, as well as a handful of commercial projects including the Beverly Hills Hotel. Lavishly illustrated with black and white photos, mostly by Julius Shulman. A fragile but important item, now protected in mylar. Cover design by Laszlo.

Creator:

Paul Laszlo (Author)

Dimensions:

Height: 6.5 in (16.51 cm)Width: 10.5 in (26.67 cm)Depth: 0.5 in (1.27 cm)

Style:

Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Paper,Wire

Place of Origin:

United States

Period:

1940-1949

Date of Manufacture:

1947

Condition:

Repaired: Front board has been professionally refurbished and reinforced along the binding. Wear consistent with age and use. Very good condition considering the fragile nature of the item. Some delimitation to ends of boards, minor separation of rear board from spiral binding.

Seller Location:

New York, NY

Reference Number:

1stDibs: LU82851153984

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Shop All Paul Laszlo

Paul Laszlo

The suave architect and interior designer Paul Laszlo made his reputation in Hollywood, where his clients included Barbara Stanwyck, Cary Grant and Elizabeth Taylor. He was aligned to no artistic or design movements, relying on his own carefully honed instincts. From the late 1930s to the 1960s, Laszlo’s name was a byword for sumptuous modernity among members of the smart set.

Born in Hungary in 1900, Laszlo learned about quality from his father, a prosperous furniture manufacturer. He studied design in Vienna and had his technical training in Stuttgart, Germany, where, at age 27, he established an upscale design business that gained an international reputation. Nine years later, with the Nazis in power, Laszlo, a Jew, left Germany for the United States and made his way to Los Angeles. There, he established an interior design office in Beverly Hills and was pleased to find that his Stuttgart credentials carried weight.

While he took many commercial assignments for American department stores, custom residential work was Laszlo’s stock in trade. He turned his hand to every element in a room, “down to the last ashtray,” Time magazine once wrote. Like his clients, Laszlo appreciated luxury — not the luxury of rare and precious materials, but the luxury of rich colors and textures, and deep comforts. He had a contemporary élan, exemplified by spaces that were bright, airy, uncluttered and up-to-date. The classic earmarks of Laszlo’s furnishings are generous proportions and, in the case of his Paddle and Plank armchairs, namesake armrests that are flat and wide, the perfect spot to rest a cocktail. His case goods, tables and dining chairs have clean, elegant lines; they are simply formed yet warm, with interesting details such as woven veneer door fronts.

In recent years, Laszlo’s designs have found a new audience among fans of his easygoing modernism. Prices are in the neighborhood of $5,000 for his vintage cabinets, and from $8,000 to upwards of $20,000 for seating pieces, which are generally found in pairs or groups of six or more.

As you will see on 1stDibs, there was a reason that Laszlo’s work was so admired in the mid-20th century: every design contributes to an environment that is comfortable and elegant — at once robust and relaxed.