Life is a journey and if you’re lucky, you’ll find a passion that can also be your livelihood.
Someone who knows all about that is Harvey G. Schwartz. Globally recognized as one of the foremost dealers in rattan furniture, his first career out of college as an aerospace engineer, is light years away from what he’s known for now.
Working for NASA for a decade, until just before Neil Armstrong took his first historic steps on the moon, might be considered a career peak for most people but Harvey found himself searching for an entirely different world.
He would spend his spare time and weekends scouring antique markets, yard sales and swap meets in and around Los Angeles, looking for Art Deco lamps and light fittings that he would restore to their original.
He became so immersed in the world of vintage furniture that he turned his entire life on its head and became Harvey G. Schwartz, ‘The Rattan Man’.
From Aerospace to Aesthetic
Despite an all-consuming job with NASA, Schwartz’s hobby became his full time and passion, and the trajectory of his life transformed into something as stratospheric as the rockets he once worked on.
“Originally I was an aerospace engineer, during the heyday of 1958 to 1968,” says Schwartz “But then they put a man on the moon and everything [President John F} Kennedy started was gone.”
Schwartz’s career at NASA reflected his early aptitude for problem-solving and innovation. “In my engineering work, I was always attracted to straight lines, circles, and squares,” he says.
Though exactly what he did at NASA remains under wraps, the skills he developed there laid the groundwork for his meticulous approach to restoring rattan furniture.
Pivoting, Schwartz purchased the store, Harvey’s on Beverly, in 1969, and in 1972 it expanded to become Tropical Sun Rattan. With his keen eye for purchasing collectibles reaping dividends, Schwartz also started designing furniture, and it was only natural that his emporium expanded exponentially.
His business of almost 50 years now comprises a warehouse full of vintage furniture and Hollywood props, as well as the biggest collection of Paul T. Frankl furniture found anywhere in the world.
‘The Rattan Man’ and Paul T. Frankl
Schwartz’s passion led him to focus on preserving and restoring the works of Paul T. Frankl, a pioneer in rattan design. His extensive collection includes furniture sourced directly from homes crafted by Frankl himself, showcasing the intricate craftsmanship that defined mid-century modern design.
“Paul T. Frankl transformed a rather dated type of furniture into something modern and urbane,” wrote Christopher Long, in his book Paul T. Frankl and Modern American Design.
Frankl’s designs soon attracted the stars of Hollywood’s golden era including Fred Astaire, Katharine Hepburn, and Charlie Chaplin. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright was a frequent customer, as was noted actress-turned-interior decorator Elsie de Wolfe, who used many pieces in her own home.
Upon arriving in Los Angeles from New York City, Frankl was immediately enamored with California’s sunlight and verdant surroundings. His work moved from urban “Skyscraper” forms to a more leisurely tropical aesthetic. His sofas and lounge chairs feature his signature “Pretzel” arms and elaborate bindings, while case goods, such as bookcases, bed frames and shelving units, often mix rattan, bamboo, and mahogany.
“Frankl was one of the first to integrate rattan into the Hollywood lifestyle,” says Schwartz. “His designs appeared in movies and adorned the homes of the elite. Rattan reached its zenith in the 1950s, waned in the 1960s, and by the early 70s, I was already experimenting with it. When I displayed a few pieces in my Melrose shop window, they were an instant sensation.”
Rattan’s place in Tinsel Town
Schwartz’s personal vision not only revived interest in Frankl and rattan on the west coast and beyond, but redefined its place in modern interiors, merging classic charm with contemporary appeal.
One of his first celebrity customers was a young Barbra Streisand, who happened to be driving along Beverly Boulevard, when she saw his pieces in the window. She ended up buying a set for her first Malibu home.
Soon, rattan came to signify the essence of the laid-back California aesthetic appearing on movie sets and in magazines, and Schwartz became the go-to man for all things rattan. Some of his pieces featured prominently in the iconic TV series The Golden Girls, who often gathered to sit on Schwartz’s rattan sofa.
Other famous names who have confessed to loving its aesthetic include Reese Witherspoon, Zooey Deschanel, Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher, and sisters Cara and Poppy Delevingne.
In fact, model Cara’s bedroom features a dramatic rattan bed frame at the home she shares with her sister Poppy, while their patio features vintage rattan chairs and loungers. Schwartz supplied them with the outdoor pieces they posed with when they were interviewed at home for Architectural Digest magazine.
Harvey’s Private Collection
Conscious of preserving these beautiful designs, Schwartz has spent the best part of 45 years expanding Harvey’s Private Collection, an unparalleled archive of Paul T. Frankl’s rattan designs.
The collection, some of which is now on sale for the first time, includes some of the most sought-after, and well-preserved, examples of mid-century rattan furniture, showcasing the ingenuity and elegance of Frankl’s work.
Each piece in the collection reflects Schwartz’s dedication to preservation and authenticity, ensuring that these iconic designs remain as vibrant and functional as they were in their heyday.
Harvey’s Private Collection features items sourced from Los Angeles homes originally designed by Frankl. The collection’s crown jewel—a signature Frankl lounge chair—has even found a permanent place in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).
“Frankl’s work is a testament to the enduring appeal of rattan furniture,” says Schwartz. “His ability to transform a humble material into elegant, modern pieces has left an indelible mark on design history. With Harvey’s Private Collection, we are offering these treasures to the world and continuing Frankl’s legacy of modern American design.”
A Lasting Influence
Through Harvey’s Private Collection, Schwartz has solidified his role as a steward of design history, bridging the gap between past and present.
But there’s so much more to celebrate, as the beauty of rattan can be found in its combination of its durability, versatility and sustainability.
“With a varnish lacquer finish, it can last forever,” says Schwartz, who is also the author of Rattan Furniture: Tropical Comfort Throughout the House. “Some of the rattan pieces I own are almost 100 years old and if they have been inside and have been well cared for, they look as pretty as when they were originally made.”
So, whether you’re sourcing vintage pieces to brighten up your home, or are on the hunt for responsibly crafted furniture, rattan should be your first choice.
And the man you have to thank for its enduring appeal? Well, that’s Harvey G. Schwartz. But you can call him ‘The Rattan Man’.
For more about Harvey G. Schwartz’s Private Collection, visit Harvey’s Private Collection
More Stories
How Brianna Shrader is Redefining the Art of Storytelling Through Photography
How Robin Berlinsky Uses AI and Modern Tools to Revolutionize Nonprofit Operations
The Impact of Sensory Marketing: Engaging Customers on a Deeper Level