Sitzmachine Chair by Josef Hoffmann for Fischel, Austria, 1910s

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Description

This is a museum piece : an historical and iconic "sitzmaschine" chair by (or after) josef hoffmann, produced by fischel, … Read more This is a museum piece : an historical and iconic "sitzmaschine" chair by (or after) josef hoffmann, produced by fischel, vienna, 1910. This is a a rare and almost never seen variation of the "sitzmaschine" by josef hoffmann, perfectly documented as featured on the frontpage of the fischel catalog (see reference picture here). This document shows the chair was the most important, most representative and probably most attractive piece of that time's catalog.

the sitzmaschine chair was created in 1905 and first issued in 19o8 by jacob & josef kohn. It became a major icon of modern design, and a symbol of the wiener werkstatte.
it's simple, minimalist, and mechanical orientable system, allowing 4 back angles positionings, represents the machine age spirit in decorative arts, at the crossover of art nouveau and art deco : the most early modernity.

the chair consists in a straight and bended wood structure, combined with geometric decorative shapes, and a simply articulated system allowing 4 positions of the back seat (by placing a single bar in the back of the structure). This seat is covered with a beautiful handmade geometrical canned grid, as on the picture reference.

this unique sample of chair has been founded entirely recovered with a pink fabric (!!!) and 4 wheels\. (pictures available to buyer) wich have been carefully removed by a professional restorer (but the staples traces remain visible under the seating area) to get back to its original condition. This restoration operation "opened the chair" and revealed residues of an original "fischel" sticker with a mention "importe d'autriche" ("imported from austria written in french), attesting the authenticity and origin of this piece, as well as a major part of its biography : this sample has been exported from austria to be resold in france, where we bought it 100 years later!

condition: in good original condition.

dimensions :
depth : 81 cm when back is up / 98 cm when back is down / 123 cm when bach is high
width : 68 cm
height : 72 cm when back is down / 118 cm when back is high / 83 cm when back is backup
seating height : 44 cm this piece has an attribution mark,
i am sure that it is completely authentic and take full responsibility for any authenticity
issues arising from misattribution See less