Archival Model M/3103 Vanity Cabinet from Hugo Gorge, Vienna, 1920s

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This exceptionally preserved cherrywood vanity cabinet, dating to circa 1920, is a newly identified work by Austrian architect-designer Hugo Gorge. … Read more This exceptionally preserved cherrywood vanity cabinet, dating to circa 1920, is a newly identified work by Austrian architect-designer Hugo Gorge. The attribution is not stylistic but archival: a corresponding original design drawing preserved in the MAK – Museum für angewandte Kunst (inventory no. M/3103) documents the distinctive brass handle motif — a stylised combination of anchor and propeller — bearing Gorge’s name and matching the present piece precisely.
The cabinet represents a rare and possibly unique example of early Viennese modernism, combining rational architectural structure with subtle, playful detailing. The tripartite mirror, original glass top, and finely balanced proportions reflect Gorge’s refined design language. Beneath the central mirror, three compartments are articulated by curved solid wood dividers, introducing an organic rhythm within a strictly functional framework.
The base stands on slender square legs connected by a stretcher — a structural solution frequently encountered in Gorge’s work.
Provenance further reinforces the significance of the piece: it was acquired in the 1960s from the Viennese auction house Dorotheum by an architect who was a student of Johannes Spalt. The cabinet remains remarkably intact, retaining its original mirrors, brass fittings, and lacquered finish. The lighting element above the mirror was likely added in the 1940s–50s and is fully functional.
This piece stands as an archive-confirmed, rediscovered work within Hugo Gorge’s oeuvre — a significant contribution to early 20th-century Central European design history. I have official proof of authenticity such as vintage catalogs,
designer records,
or other literature sources and take full responsibility for any authenticity issues arising
from
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