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Vienna Secession

The Vienna Secession & Wiener Werkstätte
The Vienna Secession & Wiener Werkstätte

     At the turn of the 20th century, Gustav Klimt, Josef Hoffmann and several of their peers separated from the predominant Association of Austrian Artists to form a new professional union, the Vienna Secession. Their intent to break free from classical traditions in fine art evolved to encompass applied arts and interior design as well: In 1903, Hoffmann and Koloman Moser founded the Wiener Werkstätte, or "Viennese Workshop," to produce progressive furniture, ceramics, glass and textiles.

     This talented collective of Austrian artists, architects and designers most famously created works in the Jugendstil style — the German branch of Western Europe's popular Art Nouveau. Jugendstil is associated with dynamic, rhythmic forms and undulating lines. Below, discover the sophisticated art and decorative objects, ranging from paintings and prints to tableware and seating, that transformed Austria over one hundred years ago and maintain timeless appeal today.

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Joseph Maria Olbrich Rare Secessionist Silver Enamel Chalcedony Pendant Necklace
Joseph Maria Olbrich Rare Secessionist Silver Enamel Chalcedony Pendant Necklace

Joseph Maria Olbrich Rare Secessionist Silver Enamel Chalcedony Pendant Necklace

By Joseph Maria Olbrich

Located in London, GB

Rare Jugenstil pendant for Theodor Fahrner. It is stamped `FM' (Ferdinand Morawe) but the contemporary literature confirms Olbrich's authorship several times. Documented Olbrich jewe...

Category

Early 1900s German Antique Vienna Secession

Materials

Chalcedony, Sterling Silver, Enamel

19th Century Antique Bentwood Twin Bed by Kohn, Vienna Secession
19th Century Antique Bentwood Twin Bed by Kohn, Vienna Secession

19th Century Antique Bentwood Twin Bed by Kohn, Vienna Secession

By Jacob & Josef Kohn

Located in Queens, NY

Bentwood (19/20th Century) maple stained twin size bed with double scroll center design (includes: headboard, footboard, rails).(paper label: JACOB JOSEP KOHN, WEIN). (Irregular size...

Category

19th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Antique Vienna Secession

Materials

Bentwood

Kolomon Moser or Josef Hoffman Armchair Beechwood, Marquetry and Leather, 1907
Kolomon Moser or Josef Hoffman Armchair Beechwood, Marquetry and Leather, 1907

Kolomon Moser or Josef Hoffman Armchair Beechwood, Marquetry and Leather, 1907

By Josef Hoffmann, Koloman Moser

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This rare and unusual armchair inlaid made of bent beech and plywood, marquetry, leather, brass inlays is attributed to Koloman Moser or Josef Hoffman, J&J. Kohn, Model No. 422, Aust...

Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Vienna Secession

Materials

Leather, Beech

Susi Singer pair of terracotta figures, sculptures, signed.
Susi Singer pair of terracotta figures, sculptures, signed.

Susi Singer pair of terracotta figures, sculptures, signed.

By Susi Singer

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Great sample of the very well known jewish artist Susi Selma Singer.We think these pieces were made in USA after she emigrated from Austria her native country.

Category

1950s American Modern Vintage Vienna Secession

Materials

Terracotta

Bentwood Armchair by Josef Hoffmann Succ
Bentwood Armchair by Josef Hoffmann Succ

Bentwood Armchair by Josef Hoffmann Succ

Located in Vienna, AT

Beech bentwood with canned seat, made in 1900-1910 by Josef Hoffmann Succ. in Bielitz (Poland) formaly Austria. Fully restored with new canning.

Category

Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Antique Vienna Secession

Materials

Cane, Beech

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Austrian Bentwood Queen Sized Bed by Jacob & Josef Kohn, 1900

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Located in Miami, FL

Designed by J & J Kohn, this mahogany stained bentwood bed features curved head and footboards swelling with decorative scroll form tendrils. J & J Kohn, No. 876, 1900 Catalog. He...

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Aquarius Zodiac Agate Cameo 925 Sterling Silver Pendant Necklace
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Aquarius Zodiac Agate Cameo 925 Sterling Silver Pendant Necklace

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Located in Jaipur, Rajasthan

Here's our aquarius zodiac carving cameo pendant necklace from the zodiac collection. The Cameo is made in Germany by an expert Cameo engraver on the re...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary German Contemporary Vienna Secession

Materials

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Josef Hoffmann Variation of Art Nouveau "Fledermaus" Armchair by Fischel
Josef Hoffmann Variation of Art Nouveau "Fledermaus" Armchair by Fischel

Josef Hoffmann Variation of Art Nouveau "Fledermaus" Armchair by Fischel

By Josef Hoffmann, Fischel

Located in Praha, CZ

- wooden parts made of beechwood has been refurbished and finished by shellac - original springs - needs to be reupholstered - made in Czechoslovakia - labeled by producer

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1890s Czech Art Nouveau Antique Vienna Secession

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Lovely Pair of Hand Carved Art Deco Turtle Sculptures Out of Oakwood Bookends
Lovely Pair of Hand Carved Art Deco Turtle Sculptures Out of Oakwood Bookends

Lovely Pair of Hand Carved Art Deco Turtle Sculptures Out of Oakwood Bookends

Located in Lisse, NL

Endearing pair of stylish and quality carved turtle bookend. If you like animal sculptures in general and turtles and turtle sculptures in particular then you will love this pair ...

Category

Early 20th Century European Art Deco Vienna Secession

Materials

Wood, Oak

Birds a Collection of 25 Bird Figures and Music Boxes
Birds a Collection of 25 Bird Figures and Music Boxes

Birds a Collection of 25 Bird Figures and Music Boxes

Located in New York, NY

A lifetime collection of birds. A set of 25 some made of porcelain some carved from wood or resin. Of the 25 of them 5 are music boxes. I actually think it's quite charming. Siz...

Category

Late 20th Century Vienna Secession

Materials

Porcelain, Resin, Wood

Gothic Bobbin Antique Bed, 19th Century Hardwood, Spindle Design
Gothic Bobbin Antique Bed, 19th Century Hardwood, Spindle Design

Gothic Bobbin Antique Bed, 19th Century Hardwood, Spindle Design

Located in New York, NY

A striking Gothic-style antique bed, featuring intricately bobbin-turned posts and stretchers, dating to the 19th century. This beautifully crafted piece captures the romanticism and...

Category

19th Century English Gothic Revival Antique Vienna Secession

Materials

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Josef Hoffmann "Haus Koller" Armchair for Wittmann – Viennese Secession Elegance
Josef Hoffmann "Haus Koller" Armchair for Wittmann – Viennese Secession Elegance

Josef Hoffmann "Haus Koller" Armchair for Wittmann – Viennese Secession Elegance

By Wittmann, Josef Hoffmann

Located in Dronten, NL

A stunning Haus Koller Armchair designed by Josef Hoffmann and produced by the esteemed Austrian manufacturer Wittmann. Originally conceived in 1911 for the Koller House in Oberwalte...

Category

Early 2000s Austrian Vienna Secession Vienna Secession

Materials

Velvet, Beech

20th Century Vienna Secession Single Bentwood Headboard
20th Century Vienna Secession Single Bentwood Headboard

20th Century Vienna Secession Single Bentwood Headboard

By Jacob & Josef Kohn

Located in Miami, FL

20th century midcentury Vienna Secession single bentwood bed in the style of Jacob and Josef Kohn.

Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vienna Secession

Materials

Bentwood

Rare & Early 1900's Pair of Josef Hoffmann Fledermaus Armchairs by J & J Kohn
Rare & Early 1900's Pair of Josef Hoffmann Fledermaus Armchairs by J & J Kohn

Rare & Early 1900's Pair of Josef Hoffmann Fledermaus Armchairs by J & J Kohn

By Jacob & Josef Kohn, Josef Hoffmann

Located in Oakland, CA

Pair of early 20th Century Josef Hoffman Fledermaus armchairs, constructed by Josef and Jacob Kohn of Austria. Newly upholstered in Josef Hoffmann designed linen fabric. The finish a...

Category

Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Antique Vienna Secession

Materials

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4 Black Bentwood & Cane Josef Hoffman Prague 811 Armchairs for Stendig by Thonet
4 Black Bentwood & Cane Josef Hoffman Prague 811 Armchairs for Stendig by Thonet

4 Black Bentwood & Cane Josef Hoffman Prague 811 Armchairs for Stendig by Thonet

By Thonet, Josef Hoffmann, Stendig Co.

Located in Topeka, KS

Iconic vintage Bauhaus black painted bentwood & cane Josef Hoffman Prague 811 armchairs imported by Stendig for Thonet, a set of 4. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that these are vintage and not new so will have signs of use and wear even if it has been refinished or restored. Specifically, there have been a few small repairs in the caning of all chairs and one chair seat has been replaced completely. It has been replaced with sheet cane and not individually woven. Please see photos, zoom in for details, and see long description as they are part of the condition report. We attempt to portray any imperfections. Circa, Early to Mid-20th Century. Much like a fine wine or the Mona Lisa, some things just get better with age… That’s just a fact! Including these iconic vintage black painted bentwood & cane Josef Hoffman Prague 811 armchairs by Stendig for Thonet! Talk about the ability to withstand the hands of time!! This Josef Hoffman 811 chair was originally designed in 1925 but remains a current and fabulous design that is highly sought after today. This set of 4 is comprised of beautiful black painted bentwood frames bearing slender rounded arms, slightly flared legs, and marvelous natural cane seats AND backs!! SPECTACULAR!!! Can’t you just SEE these beauties surrounding your kitchen table, breakfast nook, game table, or simply used as extra seating in the family room? We certainly can! Just the right touch of Bauhaus magnificence to any room and they’re sure to complement your home with their classic, historical excellence, whatever your style whether its Bauhaus, Art Deco, Mid-Century Modern, or Modern!! Josef Hoffman was one of Austria's most important architects and designers and was central to the development of art and design in Vienna. He grew up with three sisters and was nicknamed Pepo. His father was the town mayor and a successful businessman. He was a founding member of the Vienna Secession, a radical anti-historicist movement, and together with Koloman Moser created the Wiener Werkstatte cooperative workshop. A highly individualistic architect and designer, Hoffmann's work combined the simplicity of craft production with a refined aesthetic ornament. Between 1901 and 1905, he designed four villas in Vienna and a sanatorium in Brussels that was called “Stoclet House”, for which he developed a “cubistic” language of form, with an emphasis on straight, unadorned lines. In 1905, he established the Kunstschau with painter Gustav Klimt and, two years later, founded the Deutscher Werkbund. Hoffmann worked well into his 80s, continuing to use the geometric motifs that influenced the art deco style of the 1920s. In 1928 his work appeared in the Art in Industry exhibition held at Macy’s in New York City, where it exerted a strong influence on American designer Donald Deskey. Hoffmann is one of the seminal figures in the modern decorative arts movement of the first half of the 20th century. Stendig was totally the brainchild and passion of Charles W. Stendig. You cannot write or talk about Stendig without explaining Charles. He was a pioneer of import goods in the mid-century. After serving in WWII as a paratrooper, he studied business with emphasis on international trade at NYU and City College of New York. Afterward first working for Raymor, another pioneering distribution company, for about two years, departing to start his own business: Stendig. He opened his first showroom in 1956 in midtown Manhattan. He is credited for sparking America’s interest in furniture from Finland, Switzerland, Italy, and Czechoslovakia. He imported from the likes of Thonet, Asko, and De Sede; and from iconic designers including Le Corbusier, Josef Hoffmann, Eero Aarnio, Tapio Wirkkala, Marcel Breuer, Jonathan De Pas, Donato D’Urbino, Paolo Lomazzi, Carlo Mollino, Carlo Scarpa, and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni to name just a few. By the late 1960’s, Stendig had showrooms in Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco with a large headquarters in NYC. They were exciting and good times but short lived. The business was a challenge and when an offer was made by Burlington Industries to purchase, Charles agreed. He stayed on till 1976 to oversee and then retired. I have searched the internet to no avail to find out if a Stendig division is still in operation. But I can only find the Stendig Calendar, the only calendar in MoMA’s collection, which was designed for Stendig by Mossimo Vignelli, still offered. But I am having a hard time deciding who is creating and offering it. I do know Burlington Industries was bankrupt by 2001, purchased in 2003, merged with Cone Mills in 2004 and subsequently into ITG or International Textile Group. But the Stendig name reins as an icon of high style mid-century offerings. Thonet was founded by Michael Thonet. Michael was born in 1796 and was apprenticed by his father to a cabinetmaker. Shortly after he married, Michael opened his one-man cabinetmaking shop creating furniture and cabinetry in the traditional manner by carving the needed parts and then joining them together. In 1830 he began experimenting with bending wood into curved shapes and thus began a successful furniture company that has remained continually in operation for nearly 200 years. Thonet’s early work was very Biedermeier in style and not made for the common man. Gradually his designs became more Art Nouveau. In 1951 his chairs for the Crystal Palace at the London World’s Fair won a prize medal and by the late 1950s he began to make his first “consumer” chair. In 1875, a year before Michael’s death, Thonet’s five factories made 620,000 chairs. Then in 1876 after his death the company became Gebruder Thonet. But all was not roses. In 1869 the Thonet patents lapsed and by 1893 there were 52 bentwood companies in Europe. However, Thonet persevered. They branched out. They merged. They added designs by Le Corbusier and Breuer and alternative materials such as tubular chrome in place of bentwood to their offerings. Business boomed and waned through the years and there was even a Thonet revival, so to speak, beginning in the 1940s on into the mid-20th century. Till today, in the 21st century, Thonet is still a furniture company to be reckoned with almost 200 years later. We are in love with this iconic set of 4 Prague 811 chairs...

Category

Early 20th Century Czech Bauhaus Vienna Secession

Materials

Cane, Bentwood, Paint

19th Century Pet or Doll Bed
19th Century Pet or Doll Bed

19th Century Pet or Doll Bed

H 32 in W 21 in D 14.5 in

19th Century Pet or Doll Bed

Located in East Hampton, NY

Exquisite pet/ doll bed in the Louis XXI style. all original silk brocade drapery and upholstery. and remnants of trims. mattress is stuffed horsehair. ostrich feather floret. (the h...

Category

Mid-19th Century Antique Vienna Secession

Materials

Silk

Antique 19th Century Cherry Colonial Non Traditional 3/4 Cannonball Post Bed
Antique 19th Century Cherry Colonial Non Traditional 3/4 Cannonball Post Bed

Antique 19th Century Cherry Colonial Non Traditional 3/4 Cannonball Post Bed

Located in Dayton, OH

Antique 19th century cannonball post bed. Made of cherry with traditional Colonial styling that features reticulated headboard with serpentine crest and tall turned posts. Dimensio...

Category

19th Century American Colonial Antique Vienna Secession

Materials

Pine

Previously Available Items
Kolomon Moser or Josef Hoffman Armchair Beechwood, Marquetry and Leather, 1907
Kolomon Moser or Josef Hoffman Armchair Beechwood, Marquetry and Leather, 1907

Kolomon Moser or Josef Hoffman Armchair Beechwood, Marquetry and Leather, 1907

By Josef Hoffmann, Koloman Moser

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This rare and unusual armchair inlaid made of bent beech and plywood, marquetry, leather, brass inlays is attributed to Koloman Moser or Josef Hoffman, J&J. Kohn, Model No. 422, Aust...

Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Vienna Secession

Materials

Leather, Beech