Josef Hoffmann Furniture
The Austrian architect Josef Hoffmann was a central figure in the evolution of modern design, and a leader in an aesthetic movement born in Europe in the late 19th century that rejected florid, extravagant ornamentation in favor of a new emphasis on simplicity of line.
As a founder of the Vienna Secession — a union of artists and designers determined to upend Austria’s artistic conservatism — and later, a founder of the turn-of-the-century Wiener Werkstätte (in English: the Viennese Workshops), a design cooperative that produced superbly crafted furniture and housewares, Hoffmann was a pioneering practitioner of what would become a fundamental principle of modernism: that good design is a way of life.
Hoffmann came of age amidst a shift in the culture of the applied arts, as a conservative order that looked only to the past for inspiration was pushed aside. But what, exactly, would replace that order was in question — and Hoffmann’s career embodies the developing patterns of design’s new spirit. His architectural work reflects his time as a student of the Vienna architect Otto Wagner, who disdained excessive decoration and employed new materials such as steel girders and reinforced concrete to create buildings with airy, open interiors full of light.
As a designer of furniture and interiors, Hoffmann was consistently open-minded about the aesthetics he explored. He was an early adherent of the flowing, organic forms of the Art Nouveau design movement that began to flourish in the late 1880s — but by the opening of the Wiener Werkstätte in 1903, Hoffmann’s designs embraced the beauty of geometry in pieces that feature grids and angular forms.
Hoffmann’s greatest works reflect his ability to combine seemingly conflicting design visions into coherent wholes. His architectural masterpiece, the Stoclet Palace in Brussels, has an exterior that groups together simple geometric forms and spacious interiors marked by subtly naturalistic design details that lend rooms an air of charm and geniality.
Hoffmann’s signature furniture design is an adjustable lounge chair — the Sitzmaschine (1905) — that marries a curving frame with square and rectangular back- and side rests. This piece, like so many others by Hoffmann, reflects a groundbreaking, forward-thinking appreciation for the union of different looks and sources that marks the best of interior design in our own day. Moreover, items offered on 1stDibs — which range from enameled silver jewelry, to silver flower vase baskets and other decorative objects, to sofas, lighting pendants and sconces — testify to the astonishing breadth of Hoffman’s creative pursuits. He was truly a giant of design.
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Brass
1910s Austrian Jugendstil Vintage Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Silver
1910s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Wood, Beech
1960s European Modern Vintage Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Bentwood, Cane
19th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Antique Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Fabric, Wood
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Beech, Lacquer
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Brass
Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Antique Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Wood, Upholstery
1990s Austrian Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Upholstery, Wood
Early 20th Century European Art Nouveau Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Wood, Mahogany
Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Antique Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Fabric, Beech
1910s Austrian Vienna Secession Vintage Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Metal, Silver, Silver Plate
1910s Austrian Vienna Secession Vintage Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Beech
1910s Austrian Vienna Secession Vintage Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Metal, Brass
1910s Austrian Vienna Secession Vintage Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Beech
2010s Austrian Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Ash
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Leather, Cotton, Upholstery, Oak
2010s Austrian Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Fabric, Leather
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Fabric, Wood
2010s Austrian Art Nouveau Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Brass
1920s Austrian Arts and Crafts Vintage Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Leather, Cotton, Upholstery, Oak
Early 20th Century Austrian Jugendstil Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Bentwood
20th Century Austrian Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Glass
1930s Austrian Bauhaus Vintage Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Beech
Early 20th Century Czech Art Deco Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Rattan
1960s Croatian Jugendstil Vintage Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Fabric, Beech
Late 19th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Bentwood
1920s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Silver
2010s Austrian Vienna Secession Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Silver Plate
1910s Czech Art Deco Vintage Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Wood, Walnut, Beech, Lacquer
1910s Austrian Art Nouveau Vintage Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Glass, Art Glass
Early 20th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Silver, Silver Plate, Metal
Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Antique Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Beech
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Straw, Wood
2010s Austrian Art Deco Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Crystal, Brass
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Brass
1930s Czech Bauhaus Vintage Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Velvet, Bentwood
Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Antique Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Bentwood
1950s Slovenian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Bentwood
1920s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Beech
2010s Austrian Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Fabric
1910s Czech Art Deco Vintage Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Wood, Lacquer, Glass, Beech, Walnut
2010s Austrian Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Leather, Fabric
2010s Austrian Art Nouveau Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Brass
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Cane, Beech
Early 1900s Austrian Antique Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Fabric, Wood
Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Beech, Bentwood
1930s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Fabric, Beech
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Brass
Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Beech
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Brass
Early 1900s Hungarian Art Nouveau Antique Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Silver
2010s Austrian Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Leather
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Crystal, Brass
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Brass
Early 20th Century Austrian Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Fabric, Wood, Bentwood
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Josef Hoffmann Furniture
Crystal, Brass
Josef Hoffmann furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Creators Similar to Josef Hoffmann
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 20, 2024The difference between Loos and Hoffmann comes down to their design philosophies and styles. Austrian and Czechoslovak architect Adolf Loos was a forerunner of the International Style and 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. Austrian architect Josef Hoffmann was a central figure in the evolution of modern design and a leader in an aesthetic movement born in Europe in the late 19th century that rejected florid, extravagant ornamentation in favor of a new emphasis on a simplicity of line. As a founder of both the Vienna Secession — a union of artists and designers determined to upend Austria’s artistic conservatism — and the Wiener Werkstätte (in English: the Viennese Workshops), a design cooperative that produced superbly crafted furniture and housewares, Hoffmann was a pioneering practitioner of what would become a fundamental principle of modernism: that good design is a way of life. While Loos believed that art and the design and production of everyday items were distinct fields, Hoffmann wished to infuse art into architecture and furniture. Shop a range of Adolf Loos and Josef Hoffmann furniture on 1stDibs.
- What did Josef Hoffmann invent?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 7, 2024Josef Hoffmann invented the Sitzmaschine, an adjustable lounge chair that the Austrian designer unveiled in 1905. Literally called a “machine for sitting,” it was originally created for a sanatorium in Purkersdorf, near Vienna. It has a curving frame with square and rectangular back and side rests. Like so many other designs by Hoffmann, this piece reflects a forward-thinking appreciation for the union of different sources, here the Arts and Crafts movement and modern design. Find a collection of Josef Hoffmann furniture and decorative objects on 1stDibs.