Essentially dubbed the Frank Llyoyd Wright of Europe by Wright himself, Adolf Loos possessed a talent for architecture and interior design as potent as his outspoken criticism of Art Nouveau and excessive ornamentation. A forerunner of the International Style, Loos exercised immense restraint in his building projects as well as his designs for chairs, tables, storage pieces and other furniture, and wrote prolifically on his disdain for taking a decorative approach to architecture.
The son of a stonemason and sculptor, Loos was born in 1870 in what is now Brno in the Czech Republic. He studied architecture in Dresden in 1889, completed a year of military service and moved to the United States by 1893. He visited the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago and came to appreciate the American approach to design over his three-year stay before returning to Vienna.
An avid proponent of simplicity, Loos hated fluff above all else. In his best known essay, “Ornament and Crime,” he states “the evolution of culture is synonymous with the removal of ornamentation from objects of everyday use” — a principle evident in both his architectural work and furniture. His writing was profoundly influential for practitioners of the International Style that would emerge later as well as the likes of prolific Swiss-born French architect and modernist prophet Le Corbusier.
Loos challenged the prevailing architecture and decorating styles of his time, and disliked the ornate work associated with the Vienna Secession and Gesamtkunstwerk — the concept of a house as total work of art — an ideal pursued by a collective born from the Secession called the Wiener Werkstätte. To Loos, design should prioritize function, and any ornamentation devoid of a structural purpose was childish and unnecessary.
Loos’s furniture — alongside the work of fellow Austrian architect Josef Hoffman — was the subject of an exhibition at the Museum of Applied Arts in 2014. His architecture projects, including the Viennese Goldman and Salatsch building, the Austrian Steiner House and the Villa Müller in Prague, are celebrated by design enthusiasts all over the world.
Find vintage Adolf Loos seating, lighting and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Set of 6 shot glasses by Adolf Loos for Bakalowits & Söhne
By Adolf Loos, Bakalowits & Söhne
Located in Hronská Breznica, Banskobystrický kraj
Set of 6 shot glasses by Adolf Loos for Bakalowits & Söhne with brass edge. Alpaca tray. Original vintage condition with signs of use.
Alpaca, Glass
Black Clay Mezcal Shot Glasses
Located in Napa, CA
4 pack.
Clay
$215 / set
H 2.56 in Dm 1.58 in
fferrone Set of 2 Czech Contemporary Dearborn Mini Shot Liqueur Glasses Handmade
By Felicia Ferrone
Located in Chicago, IL
Dearborn shot liqueur mini glasses, set of two. A pair of Czech contemporary glass handcrafted is the perfect modern shot glass or liqueur glass for after dinner libations. Also t...
Glass
$450Sale Price / set|30% Off
H 3 in Dm 2.13 in
Set of Six 1950s Shot or Cocktail Glasses with Whimsical "Say When" Graphics
By Anchor Hocking
Located in Ferndale, MI
Fun graphics in pink and black on this set of six aperitif or shot glasses. Say When for 1 to 4 ounces of hooch. I believe made by Anchor Hocking glass...
Glass
$165 / set
H 3.75 in Dm 2.5 in
Moroccan Royal Blue Shot Glasses with Gold Moorish Design Set of 6 Barware
By Culver Ltd., Carl Moser 1
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan Royal Blue Shot Glasses with Gold Moorish Design Set of 6. Set of six royal cobalt blue shot drinking glasses barware with gold Moorish desi...
Glass
Moroccan Clear and Silver Overlay Shot Glasses Set of 6
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan Set of six clear and silver overlay Moorish style glasses. Decorated with a classical silver pattern overlay frieze. Use these elegant glasses for Moroccan tea, or any hot or cold drink. In fantastic condition, perfect for the holidays and gorgeous on display in a cabinet or bar while not in use. handmade Czech Bohemia...
Glass
Set of Six Handblown Italian Moorish Green with Gold Shot Glasses
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Set of six green and gold handblown Moorish shot glasses. Use them for Moroccan tea, or any hot or cold drink. Shot glasses very light finely decorated ...
Glass
$2,727Sale Price|20% Off
H 7.88 in W 5.91 in D 7.09 in
Antique Pitcher by Koloman Moser for Adolf Meyr's Neffe
By Koloman Moser
Located in Purkersdorf, AT
Extremely rare pitcher by Koloman Moser for the Wiener Werkstätte. Colorless glass, greenish gradation from top to bottom; optically blown. Meteor pattern. Manufactured by Adolf Meyr...
Blown Glass
$710
H 2.56 in W 9.65 in D 6.3 in
W&G silver-plated alpaca bowl attributed to Kolo Moser or Adolf Loos
By Koloman Moser, Adolf Loos
Located in Lugo, IT
Alpaca silver bowl by W&G attributed to Kolo Moser or Adolf Loos Good condition. Thank you
Alpaca
Set of 5 Mid-Century German Owl Style Metal Shot Glasses, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century German Owl Style Metal Shot Glasses, 1960s, Set of 5, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969. Additional information: Materials: Metal...
Metal
Crystal Glasses of 24 Pieces, Set for 8
Located in Delft, NL
Crystal glasses of 24 pieces, set for 8 An english set of crystal glasses with diamond cut and oval pattern. Mid-20th century. 8 pieces of small water or lemonade glasses of 9 cm high and 5.5 cm diagonal 8 pieces of small glasses (shots glasses) of 4.7 cm high and 3.5 cm diagonal 8 pieces of small sherry or dessert wine glasses...
Crystal
Set of 5 Gold Engraved Glasses for 4 People
Located in Paris, FR
Exquisite set of 20 glasses composed of 5 types of glasses made from solid glass and with a large golden rim with wonderful engraved abstract adornments. This set reflects the timele...
Gold
$426 / set
H 7.88 in W 14.57 in D 9.45 in
Murano Liqueur Set 8 Shot Glasses and Decanter, with Serving Tray, circa 1938
Located in Verviers, BE
Murano liqueur set 8 shot glasses and decanter, with serving tray, circa 1938 Art Glass Murano Italie Colored decoration. Set with a decanter a...
Brass
Adolf Loos Wine Bottle, after 1931
By Adolf Loos
Located in Sofia, BG
Drinking service No. 248 LOOS Design: Adolf Loos, 1931 for the Weiner workshop Manufacturer: Lobmeyr, Vienna Measures: Ø 8.3cm, H 29.5cm Mouth-bl...
Glass