Wiener Werkstätte Armchairs
Born from the Vienna Secession art movement in Austria during the early 20th century, the Wiener Werkstätte helped to cement Art Nouveau style and culture in Viennese art. Wiener Werkstätte furniture included armchairs, cabinets and table lamps, with production extending to other crafts such as ceramics, jewelry and fashion. The Werkstätte also boasted a large graphic arts department, which created nearly 1,000 unique postcards during the organization’s run.
Austrian architect Josef Hoffmann, painter Koloman Moser and industrialist Fritz Waerndorfer established the collective in opposition to the dominant trends in Viennese art. The artistic community was then largely directed by the Association of Austrian Artists, which had firm control over the creation and distribution of Austrian art. The collective’s style pushed back against traditional artistic preferences, instead favoring clear, bold lines and often-exaggerated, vibrant colors.
Employing over 100 people, including several master craftsmen, the Werkstätte formed relationships and alliances with a number of firms and stores, which sold and commissioned new work from the workshop.
As the Wiener Werkstätte’s mission aligned with emerging British sensibilities regarding art, many British artists worked closely with the collective. Some major Austrian artists collaborated with the collective, without officially joining, such as painter Gustav Klimt.
The Werkstätte’s artistic range was extensive and eclectic, with the organization producing a wide variety of furniture. In 1932, the global economic collapse forced it to shut down. With the outbreak of WWII soon to follow, the Wiener Werkstätte never reopened. Its legacy lived on, however, in the numerous artists and craftspeople who carried forward its commitment to progressive cultural and creative endeavors.
On 1stDibs, find antique Wiener Werkstätte lighting, seating and storage pieces.
Early 20th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Wiener Werkstätte Armchairs
Elm
1920s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Wiener Werkstätte Armchairs
Brass
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Wiener Werkstätte Armchairs
Walnut
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Wiener Werkstätte Armchairs
Bronze
Late 19th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Wiener Werkstätte Armchairs
Beech
1940s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Wiener Werkstätte Armchairs
Walnut, Velvet
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Wiener Werkstätte Armchairs
Faux Leather, Wood
1920s European Bauhaus Vintage Wiener Werkstätte Armchairs
Chrome
19th Century Italian Vienna Secession Antique Wiener Werkstätte Armchairs
Cane, Lacquer, Bentwood
1920s Dutch Art Deco Vintage Wiener Werkstätte Armchairs
Fabric, Oak
Early 20th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Wiener Werkstätte Armchairs
Beech, Bentwood
Late 19th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Wiener Werkstätte Armchairs
Bentwood
20th Century Wiener Werkstätte Armchairs
Cotton
20th Century Polish Wiener Werkstätte Armchairs
Beech
20th Century Austrian Modern Wiener Werkstätte Armchairs
Leather, Beech
1920s Dutch Art Deco Vintage Wiener Werkstätte Armchairs
Oak
Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Antique Wiener Werkstätte Armchairs
Beech