Art Nouveau Armchairs attributed to Josef Hoffmann School, Vienna, 1912, Set of 3

Details

Description

Object: art nouveau armchair (3 examples available)
design: josef hoffmann school (vienna, circa 1912)
execution: unknown workshop (vienna, circa 1912)
… Read more Object: art nouveau armchair (3 examples available)
design: josef hoffmann school (vienna, circa 1912)
execution: unknown workshop (vienna, circa 1912)
dimensions in cm (h x w x d x sh x sb x st): 101.5 × 64 × 60 × 51 × 49 × 53
material: oak (ebonized and limed), leather, nickel-plated iron
condition: professionally restored
provenance: kammern (styria)
literature: deutsche kunst und dekoration, volume 18, 1906, alexander koch, darmstadt, p. 430 / alexander kochs handbuch neuzeitlicher wohnungskultur, volume 1 - schlafzimmer, darmstadt, 1912, p. 127 / das interieur, wiener monatshefte für angewandte art, 14th year, vienna 1913, plate 81 / german art and decoration, volume 37, 1915-1916, alexander koch, darmstadt, p. 405 / german art and decoration, volume 38, 1916, alexander koch, darmstadt, p. 217

additional information:

this armchair, of which three examples exist, embodies the reduced, constructive design language that significantly influenced the work of josef hoffmann and the wiener werkstätte (vienna workshop). Clear proportions, right angles, and the characteristic diagonal cross bracing lend the furniture an architectural presence, in which construction and design merge into a harmonious unity.

as early as 1906, comparable design approaches can be found in josef hoffmann's work, particularly in the chair for the consulting room in the purkersdorf sanatorium he designed. The geometric rigor established there developed in the following years into a defining design language for his contemporaries. His talented student, karl bräuer, also adopted these design principles in his furniture designs.

the treatment of the oak surface is equally characteristic. Following the design principles of josef hoffmann and the wiener werkstätte, the design deliberately forgoes external ornamentation in favor of an honest appreciation of the material. Liming highlights the natural grain of the wood, making it the furniture's true ornament. The design principle is not the addition of decoration, but rather the unveiling of the inherent beauty of the material.

with their clear design language, high-quality craftsmanship, and consistent use of materials, these three armchairs are impressive examples of viennese furniture design, which significantly advanced art nouveau on its path to a modern, functional aesthetic. 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