Modernist Tubular Steel Coat Hanger from Hynek Gottwald, 1920s

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Description

This coat rack was originally manufactured by Hynek Gottwald, one of the pioneers of metal furniture production in Czechoslovakia. Gottwald’s … Read more This coat rack was originally manufactured by Hynek Gottwald, one of the pioneers of metal furniture production in Czechoslovakia. Gottwald’s company had its origins in the late 19th century but became particularly influential in the interwar years as it embraced modernist principles.

The adoption of tubular steel in furniture has deep roots in the modernist movement: designers of the Bauhaus and other avant-garde schools embraced the material for its strength, flexibility, and machine-age aesthetic. The form and finish of this rack place it firmly within that lineage.


In the 1930s, Gottwald released a catalog of “iron furniture” that included chairs, beds, benches but also coat racks, and other functional yet elegant pieces. The design of this coat rack likely dates from this era, when the use of bent tubular steel was becoming a symbol of progressive, industrially informed design. We can find this model in Gottwald catalogue as Model Hs 4.

Its form is defined by two distinctive, rounded “D”-shaped tubular steel side frames, which give the piece both structure and visual rhythm. These loops support the entire composition and anchor the rack securely to the wall.

Connecting the two loops are three straight horizontal steel rods, creating a practical upper shelf ideal for hats, scarves, bags, or folded garments. The rods emphasise the lightness of the design, giving it an airy, almost architectural presence on the wall.

Below the shelf runs a sturdy flat steel bar fitted with six movable metal hooks. Their simple S-shape adds utilitarian charm and provides generous hanging capacity for coats, jackets, or accessories. The contrast between the tubular frame and the flat bar with hooks gives the piece a subtle interplay of geometry and materials that feels quintessentially modernist.

The overall design is direct and functional, yet elegant in its restraint - a hallmark of the avant-garde Czech steel furniture of the 1930s–1950s.

The coat hanger is in good vintage condition. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



issues arising from misattribution See less