Art Nouveau Desk by Matthias Feller for Moritz Ballin, Munich, Germany, 1912

Details

Description

Object: men's desk (freestanding)
design: architect matthias feller (munich, 1912)
model number: -
manufactured by: court furniture factory moritz ballin … Read more Object: men's desk (freestanding)
design: architect matthias feller (munich, 1912)
model number: -
manufactured by: court furniture factory moritz ballin (munich, 1912)
dimensions in cm (h x w x d): 97 x 162 x 79
material: american walnut (ruby polished shellac), brass, celluloid, leather
condition: expertly restored
provenance: graz, private collection
literature: interior decoration, my home, my pride, volume 15, 1904, p. 189 / decorative arts - illustrated journal of applied arts, volume 15, 1907, pp. 330-331 / interior decoration, my home, my pride, volume 19, 1908, p. 328 / interior decoration, my home, my pride, volume 21 1910, p. 191 / interior decoration, my home, my pride, volume 23, 1912, p. 200

this original gentleman's desk was created in 1912 based on a design by the architect matthias feller, who had been artistic director of the renowned moritz ballin court furniture factory in munich since 1908.

this piece of furniture is an outstanding example of late south german art nouveau, which combines functional clarity with prestigious elegance. Crafted from american walnut, the desk impresses with its circumferential, extremely finely crafted inlay of celluloid and wood, displaying a geometric decoration with great precision and design discipline – typical of the influence of viennese aesthetics on south german design culture of the time.

the original leather writing surface and the fully preserved brass fittings underscore the authentic condition of the piece. Conceived as a freestanding piece of furniture, the desk's architecturally structured structure and clear volume clearly demonstrate the influence of a prominent predecessor: the state desk designed by joseph maria olbrich in 1907 for privy councilor dr. Theodor lewald, reich commissioner for the world's fair in st. Louis. This reference lends the present object additional historical and formal depth. This piece has an attribution mark,
i am sure that it is completely authentic and take full responsibility for any authenticity
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