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.
Augarten Art Déco 'Melon' Red-White Mocha Set, By Josef Hoffmann, Vienna, 20th
By Augarten Porzellanmanufaktur, Josef Hoffmann
Located in Vienna, AT
In 1929, Josef Hoffmann, founder of the legendary Wiener Werkstätte, designed this world-famous mocha service. Hoffmann was one of the greatest designers of the 20th century and a me...
Porcelain
Augarten Vienna Porcelain Figurine Nude
By Augarten Porzellanmanufaktur
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Lovely porcelain figurine of a nude by the Augarten Porcelain Manufacture of Vienna, Austria. Marked with the company logo on the base. In excellent condition. Some museum wax and st...
Porcelain
$4,400Sale Price|20% Off
H 3.94 in Dm 6.5 in
Josef Hoffmann Silver Bowl for Wiener Werkstätte, Art Deco, 16.5\"
By Wiener Werkstätte, Josef Hoffmann
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
A silver bowls hand carved, made of silver and hallmarked on the lower bottom. In style of Wiener Werkstätte, Vienna Wokshop, designed by Josef Hoffmann Austria, circa 1920.
Silver
Josef Hoffmann Silver-Plated Dinner Cutlery, Model 135
By Josef Hoffmann
Located in Soho, London, GB
Iconic cutlery set designed by Josef Hoffmann in 1902 and dubbed MODEL 135. This contemporary edition is crafted by the original Viennese manufacturer of Hoffmann designs and offered...
Silver Plate
Jugendstil basket by Hans Ofner/Josef Hoffmann
By Hans Ofner, Josef Hoffmann
Located in Hronská Breznica, Banskobystrický kraj
Silverplated brass jugendstil basket by Hans Ofner/Josef Hoffmann with glass inlay. Original vintage condition with patina.
Brass
$1,569Sale Price / set|30% Off
H 1.58 in Dm 9.85 in
20th Century French Art Deco Limoges Porcelain Service Tableware 49 Pieces
By Limoges
Located in LEGNY, FR
Beautiful Art deco Limoges porcelain dinner service with a yellow border and flower decoration in the middle. 49 pieces : - 31 din...
Porcelain
Art Deco Set Decanter and 6 Glasses from 1930
Located in Kraków, Małopolska
We present very good condition, elegant and functional Art Deco set decanter and 6 glasses. Highly recommended item will be perfect complementation of the rooms in not only Classic ...
Glass
$1,964
H 7.49 in Dm 8.67 in
Brass secessionist baskets and toothpick holder by Hans Ofner/Josef Hoffmann
By Hans Ofner, Josef Hoffmann
Located in Hronská Breznica, Banskobystrický kraj
Brass secessionist baskets and toothpick holder by Hans Ofner/Josef Hoffmann with glass inserts in original vintage condition.
Brass
$320 / set
H 0.79 in Dm 4.34 in
Rosenthal, Germany, "Sanssouci", Four Mocha Cups with Saucers, circa 1930s
Located in København, Copenhagen
Rosenthal, Germany, "Sanssouci". Four mocha cups with saucers decorated with flowers and gold. In perfect condition. circa 1930s. First factory quality. Dimensions mocha cup: D 7...
Porcelain
Art Deco Set Decanter and 6 Glasses Moser
Located in Kraków, Małopolska
I offer you a classic Art Deco set of a decanter and 6 glasses - produced in the 1930s in Karlsbad (today's Karlove Vary in the Czech Republic) in the prestigious Ludwik Moser crysta...
Glass
Jugendstil sugar box by Hans Ofnar or Josef Hoffmann
By Hans Ofner, Josef Hoffmann
Located in Hronská Breznica, Banskobystrický kraj
Jugendstil sugar box by Hans Ofnar or Josef Hoffmann in original condition with patina. Size of the glass part is 6x10cm.
Alpaca, Glass
Art Deco Set Decanter and 6 Glasses .
Located in Kraków, Małopolska
We present very good condition, elegant and functional Art Deco set decanter and 6 glasses. Highly recommended item will be perfect complementation of th...
Glass
$799 / item
H 0.4 in Dm 11.82 in
Josef Hoffmann - Wiener Werkstatte - Art Deco Copper Hand Hammered Plates
By Josef Hoffmann
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Josef Hoffmann - Wiener Werkstatte - Art Deco Copper Hand Hammered Plates. We have 5 plates that will be sold individualy. WIENER WERKSTATTE The Wiener Werkstatte (Vienna Workshop) exerted an enormous influence on artists and designers throughout the first part of the 20th century. In 1897 a group of progressive artists and designers, led by architect Josef Hoffman and painter Koloman Moser, formed the Vienna Secession which became the Wiener Werkstätte Produktiv-Gemeinschaft von Kunsthandwerken, Wien (the Viennese Workshop and Production Cooperative of Art Works in Vienna) in 1903 when they received backing from a prominent businessman. This enabled them to equip workshops especially for working on modern design in a range of applied arts like glass, metalwork and jewellery.Online art courses The aim of the Wiener Werkstatte artists and designers was to bring good design and art into every part of people's lives. They also wanted to break with the past and bring new style to everything they produced. Emphasis was placed on the beautiful and unique as well as faultless craftsmanship. The concept was modeled after Charles Robert Ashbee's Guild of Handicraft. By 1905 it had over a hundred craftsmen, of whom 37 were masters of their trade, its strong point being handmade metalware whose reductive style proved its dependence on hand production. In addition to the workshops on its own premises, the Wiener Werkstätte had recourse to free-lance craftsmen, students at Kunstgewerbeschule of Vienna (the School of Applied Arts, where both Hoffmann and Moser taught) and contemporary industry. Furniture production, for example, though at one point part of the Werkstätte's program, was more congenially licensed to outside manufacturers such as Gebrüder Thonet and J. & J. Kohn. In 1907, the Wiener Werkstätte took over distribution for the Wiener Keramik, a ceramics workshop of kindred spirit headed by Michael Powolny and Berthold Löffler...
Brass, Copper
Sold
H 7.88 in W 11.82 in D 11.82 in
Augarten Art Déco 'Melon' Mocha Set, Designed By Josef Hoffmann, Vienna, 20th
By Josef Hoffmann, Augarten Porzellanmanufaktur
Located in Vienna, AT
In 1929, Josef Hoffmann, founder of the legendary Wiener Werkstätte, designed this world-famous mocha service. Hoffmann was one of the greatest designers of the 20th century and a me...
Porcelain
Sold
H 15.75 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in
Augarten 'Melon' Art Déco Mocha Set, Designed By Josef Hoffmann, Vienna, 20th
By Josef Hoffmann, Augarten Porzellanmanufaktur
Located in Vienna, AT
In 1929, Josef Hoffmann, founder of the legendary 'Wiener Werkstätte, designed this world-famous mocha service. Hoffmann was one of the greatest designers of the 20th century and a m...
Porcelain
Sold
H 15.75 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in
Augarten 'Melon Set', Art Deco Mocha Set Designed By Josef Hoffmann, Vienna
By Augarten Porzellanmanufaktur, Josef Hoffmann
Located in Vienna, AT
In 1929, Josef Hoffmann, founder of the legendary 'Wiener Werkstätte, designed this world-famous mocha service. Hoffmann was one of the greatest designers of the 20th century and a member of the 'Vienna Secession' with artists such as Gustav Klimt, Adolf Loos and Otto Wagner. Due to its numerous curves, it still places the highest demands on Augarten's porcelain painters when it comes to handling the air brush. The exoticism of the fruit shapes with the perky handle knob as well as the pleasantly grippy handles, whose softly undulating shape elegantly reflects the softly ribbed walls of the vessels, characterise the charisma of this service. Manufactory: Augarten Vienna / Austria Made circa 1955-1971 White porcelain, painted, glossy finish 'Melon Set black-white' - Mocha set for 6 persons 15 pieces: 1 coffee pot, lidded - height = 17.5 cm / 6.88 in 1 sugar urn...
Porcelain
Josef Hoffmann Porcelain Mocha "Melon Service" Designed, 1929
By Josef Hoffmann
Located in Sharon, CT
Produced by Augarten, the complete service, consisting of: a Mocha Pot 19oz., a creamer 2oz., a sugar bowl 8oz. and 6 cups & saucers 1oz.
Porcelain