Inlaid Bedroom Furniture by Caspar Hrazdil, 1890s, Set of 8

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A complete and preserved suite of furniture in the Wiener Werkstätte style, associated with two of the most important figures … Read more A complete and preserved suite of furniture in the Wiener Werkstätte style, associated with two of the most important figures of the movement—Caspar Hrazdil, a maker of luxury furniture based on designs by Wiener Werkstätte artists, and Koloman Moser, co-founder of the Wiener Werkstätte and designer of furniture featuring illusionistic geometric marquetry.

The furniture originates from a Vienna apartment designed as a comprehensive, bespoke interior in the Wiener Werkstätte style around 1910, likely after a design by Koloman Moser (?) and executed in the workshop of Caspar Hrazdil, in accordance with the concept of Gesamtkunstwerk—the total work of art. The suite exemplifies the program of the Wiener Werkstätte and the artistic output of the Hrazdil–Moser collaboration in all aspects of their style, including: geometric formal language, minimalism, reduction of ornament, individualism, uniqueness, the use of luxurious materials, and masterful cabinetmaking craftsmanship, particularly in illusionistic three-dimensional marquetry and contrasts between light and dark woods.

The Wiener Werkstätte aesthetic is clearly expressed in the design. It is characterized by orthogonal forms and flat decorative surfaces composed of high-quality veneers—ash, light and dark mahogany, oak, and satinwood—creating a distinctive, subtly orange and golden hue that enabled striking marquetry contrasts. The tectonic structure, concave and convex furniture fronts, three-dimensional illusionistic marquetry, checkerboard motif, geometric legs, metal fittings, and diamond-cut glass panes all strongly support the attribution to both the designer and the maker.

These stylistic features, defined and published in the official Wiener Werkstätte journal Ver Sacrum and presented at the 1903 Düsseldorf Art Exhibition, can be identified in the iconography and surviving examples held in collections such as the Leopold Museum in Vienna and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.


The selection of these characteristic means of expression constitutes a kind of artistic signature of the furniture. Caspar Hrazdil was a Viennese master cabinetmaker, renowned as the executor of Koloman Moser’s designs for the Wiener Werkstätte. His name appears in museum records and scholarly literature as synonymous with the highest level of cabinetmaking craftsmanship. He was an indispensable collaborator of Wiener Werkstätte artists, materially shaping and realizing their visions. He specialized in producing top-tier furniture for the Viennese elite.

He obtained his journeyman and master qualifications around 1890 (according to catalogue notes of the Museum für Angewandte Kunst in Vienna). He ran a workshop in Vienna at Czermak-Gasse 21, executing numerous projects by Koloman Moser and other Wiener Werkstätte designers. His furniture was created for private apartments, including those of the Eisler von Terramare family and Gertrud Löw, designed by Viennese artists. Hrazdil’s works are distinguished by precise marquetry, luxurious wood species, and refined metal elements.

Caspar Hrazdil stands as an outstanding example of the demanding Wiener Werkstätte craftsman who not only supported the visions of artists such as Koloman Moser and Josef Hoffmann, but also contributed exceptional quality of execution and technical precision to the Wiener Werkstätte—one of the most avant-garde modernist movements in Europe, which set a new direction in applied arts and design. His work forms a bridge between tradition and modernity and represents a significant contribution to the legacy of Viennese modernism.

Pair of Wardrobes with Geometric Marquetry
Wiener Werkstätte, Caspar Hrazdil, Koloman Moser, Austria, c. 1910

Two double-door wardrobes with fronts projecting beyond the plane of the корпус. In the lower section, large fluted drawers fitted with two custom-designed handles. Characteristic legs composed of three segments diminishing towards the base. The surfaces are decorated with geometric marquetry. The interiors are lined with satin. One wardrobe contains three shelves, the other a hanging rail.
Dimensions: width 120 cm, depth 54 cm / 43 cm, height 192 cm

Pair of Bedside Cabinets
Wiener Werkstätte, Caspar Hrazdil, Koloman Moser, Austria, c. 1910

Bedside cabinets in the form of freestanding units composed of two modules: a lower section with a single-door cupboard and a drawer above, and a recessed upper compartment featuring a stained-glass composition of diamond-cut panes arranged in a geometric pattern. Decorated with checkerboard marquetry and geometric applications.
Dimensions: width 42 cm, depth 32 cm, height 120 cm

Pair of Beds
Wiener Werkstätte, Caspar Hrazdil, Koloman Moser, Austria, c. 1910

Each bed consists of a headboard, a footboard, and connecting side rails. The headboard and footboard are decorated with geometric marquetry. The beds may be used separately or combined to form a single large double bed.
Dimensions: width 110 cm, length 200 cm, height (headboard) 90 cm, height (footboard) 80 cm

Dressing Table
Wiener Werkstätte, Caspar Hrazdil, Koloman Moser, Austria, c. 1910

Dressing table with a drawer integrated into the top, supported on four legs and set on a tectonic base. The drawer is lockable with a key. The front and top are decorated with checkerboard marquetry. An additional oval shelf is positioned beneath the tabletop.
Dimensions: width 60 cm, depth 40 cm, height 75 cm

Upholstered Stool
Wiener Werkstätte, Caspar Hrazdil, Koloman Moser, Austria, c. 1910

Stool with an upholstered seat and a simple frame connected by horizontal stretchers. The relatively restrained form is consistently complemented by the motif of segmented, tapering legs, corresponding to the design of the other pieces in the suite.
Dimensions: height 50 cm, width 40 cm, depth 40 cm See less