Art Nouveau Chair by Hans Bolek for August Ungethüm

Details

Description

Instagram: galerie.traudeskinder
website: www.traudeskinder.com

object: art nouveau armchair
design: hans bolek (school of prof. Josef hoffmann, vienna, 1913)
model number: … Read more Instagram: galerie.traudeskinder
website: www.traudeskinder.com

object: art nouveau armchair
design: hans bolek (school of prof. Josef hoffmann, vienna, 1913)
model number: -
execution: august ungethüm (vienna, 1913)
dimensions in cm (h x w x d x sh): 93 x 46 x 49 x 50
material: solid swamp oak (ebonized and semi-matte polished), fabric
condition: professionally restored
provenance: 1040 vienna
literature: interior from the winter exhibition 1913/14 at the mak; photograph of a living room designed by hans bolek and executed by august ungethüm, möbelfabrik august ungethüm, mak inv. No. Ki 7905-13 / interior decoration: my home, my pride, issue 25, 1914, p. 110 / art & crafts, issue 12, 1913, p. 629 / deutsches volksblatt, november 11, 1913, p. 6 / neues wiener tagblatt, november 22, 1913, p. 33 / 1913 annual report of the austrian museum of applied arts (ömki), p. 4 / exhibition of austrian arts and crafts 1913-1914. Vienna: austrian museum of applied arts / contemporary art, vienna, 1913. Print.

additional information:

the armchair presented here was designed by hans bolek in 1913 and manufactured by the august ungethüm art furniture factory in vienna (obere amtshausgasse 27, 1050). Both bolek and ungethüm were students of josef hoffmann at the vienna school of applied arts and stand in the direct design tradition of the wiener werkstätte.

the armchair was most likely presented as part of a "living and study" at the renowned 1913/1914 winter exhibition of the austrian museum of art and industry (ömki) and purchased on november 6, 1913, by the then minister of public works, baron ottokar trnka von laberon—an event that impressively underscores the cultural and political significance of this piece. International interior design magazines and daily newspapers praised the study at the time of its creation for its groundbreaking stylistic quality and masterful craftsmanship.

hans bolek's oeuvre comprises only a few complete room designs, which makes his art furniture particularly rare in art history. Stylistically, the armchair is characterized by a clear, elegant design that reflects the language of moderate modernism in the tradition of hoffmann.

this minimalist piece of seating furniture is an outstanding example of late viennese art nouveau, combining meticulous craftsmanship with stylistic refinement – ​​a significant testament to the arts and crafts movement at the dawn of the next stylistic era. 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