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.
Austrian Painted Ceramic Centerpiece by Vally Wieselthier for Wiener Werkstätte
By Vally Wieselthier, Wiener Werkstätte
Located in North Miami, FL
Early 20th century Vienna Secession austrian painted ceramic centerpiece by Vally Wieselthier for Wiener Werkstätte By: Vally Wieselthier, Wiener Werkstätte Material: ceramic, paint...
Ceramic, Paint
Art Nouveau Silver Plated Centerpiece Bowl By J. Hoffmann for Wiener Werkstätte
By Josef Hoffmann, Wiener Werkstätte
Located in North Miami, FL
Art Nouveau austrian polished silver plated centerpiece bowl By Josef Hoffmann for Wiener Werkstätte By: Josef Hoffmann, Wiener Werkstätte Material: silver, silverplate, metal Techn...
Silver, Silver Plate, Metal
$3,250
H 4.25 in W 2.75 in D 4.75 in
Antique Austrian Wiener Werkstätte Ceramic Horse Salt Cellar by Alice Ehmann
By Wiener Werkstätte
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine signed Wiener Werkstätte salt cellar. By Alice Ehmann ca. 1927. Entitled "Tier mit Schale" ("Animal with Shell"). In the form of a stylized horse with a bowl on its back. ...
Ceramic
$1,600
H 4.75 in Dm 13 in
Art Deco Macassar Wood and Silver Plate Centerpiece Bowl by Orbrille, circa 1930
By Travail Francais
Located in Atlanta, GA
French Art Deco Silver Plate Centerpiece Bowl by Orbrille, Paris, circa 1930 A striking example of French Art Deco craftsmanship, this modernist centerpiece or serving bowl was desig...
Metal, Silver Plate
Vally Wieselthier Art Deco Ceramic Tea Pot, USA, 1940s
By Vally Wieselthier, Wiener Werkstätte
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful Art Deco tea pot with lid, dated circa 1940, made of pottery / stoneware with lovely brown glaze, designed by Vally Wieselthier. In very good ...
Ceramic, Pottery, Stoneware
$2,669
H 8.86 in W 6.3 in D 5.52 in
Wiener Werkstaette Art Ceramics Expressive Style Beer Mug by V. Wieselthier 1919
By Vally Wieselthier, Wiener Werkstätte
Located in Vienna, AT
Slender jug, which widens in the upper part and narrows at the top again, with spout and opposite handle, surface decorated in relief with three antique-style heads and stylized, sla...
Ceramic
$2,785 / item
H 4.73 in Dm 3.94 in
Set of 6 Champagne Coupes "Series B" by Josef Hoffmann for Wiener Werkstätte
By Josef Hoffmann, J.L Lobmeyr
Located in Beograd, RS
Masterpiece of early modernity! The lead-free crystal Champagne Coupes "Series B" designed by Josef Hoffmann for Wiener Werkstätte in 1912. Available 2 sets of 6 pieces. Listed price...
Crystal
$2,272
H 2.56 in W 7.09 in D 5.32 in
Wiener Werkstaette Art Ceramics Expressive Style Bowl by Vally Wieselthier, 1921
By Vally Wieselthier, Wiener Werkstätte
Located in Vienna, AT
Bowl on an oval ground plan with flared, wavy and curved walls on four swept-out feet, fruit and leaf decoration in relief on the bowl base and on the outside, colored glazed in an e...
Ceramic
Art Nouveau Centerpiece in Silver Plated Metal and Glass by WMF
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Exquisite Art Nouveau centerpiece crafted by WMF (Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik), one of Germany’s most renowned manufacturers of decorative metalwork in the early 20th century....
Metal
$10,212 / set
H 6.3 in W 0.79 in D 1.78 in
Children's Cutlery Silver Josef Hoffmann Wiener Werkstatte circa 1923 Jugendstil
By Josef Hoffmann, Wiener Werkstätte
Located in Klosterneuburg, AT
Silver children’s cutlery set designed by Josef Hoffmann and Eduard J. Wimmer-Wisgrill manufactured by Wiener Werkstatte ca. 1923 marked hammer-strok...
Silver
Kitty Rix for Wiener Werkstatte 1920's Cat Ceramic
By Kitty Rix, Wiener Werkstätte
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A wonderful ceramic, pottery cat designed by Kitty Rix and executed by the Wiener Werkstatte in the late 1920's. It was produced as a lamp and has an old leviton fixture and some new...
Pottery
Fos Ceramic Centerpiece
By Fos Ceramiche
Located in New York, NY
FOS Ceramiche was founded from an IDEA of Piero Mazzotti and Andri Ioannou as a manufacture of art and design in Faenza, a city that is synonymous with M...
Ceramic
$4,061
H 7.09 in W 7.49 in D 5.24 in
Wiener Werkstaette Art Ceramics Expressive Style, Vase, by V. Wieselthier 1927
By Vally Wieselthier, Wiener Werkstätte
Located in Vienna, AT
Cylindrical base, vessel above rising in a tulip shape, flared rim, two curved bands applied offset on the sides as handles, three-leaf flowers in relief on the front and back. Geome...
Ceramic
$1,900
H 6.69 in W 16.13 in D 13.57 in
Art Deco Modernist Silver Plate Decorative Bowl Centerpiece, circa 1930
By Francois Frionnet
Located in Atlanta, GA
This stunning Art Deco polished silver plate pedestal bowl, centerpiece, or serving bowl was designed by Silversmith Francois Frionnet, Paris, circa 1930. The modernist design, featu...
Metal, Silver Plate
Silver plate by Josef Hoffmann for the Wiener Werkstatte
By Wiener Werkstätte, Josef Hoffmann
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
A hand-carved silver bowl, hallmarked on the bottom. In the style of the Wiener Werkstätte, Vienna workshop, designed by Josef Hoffmann Austria, circa 1920. Height: 16.5 cm (6.49 in...
Silver
Sold
H 13 in W 18.12 in D 0.4 in
Koloman Moser Chanukiah, 1904 Jugendstil, Wiener Werkstaette Style, Re-edtion
By Wiener Werkstätte, Koloman Moser, Woka Lamps
Located in Vienna, AT
Koloman Moser designed this Chanukkia for Hermann Wittgenstein 1904, other images show the interior for Hermann Wittgenstein as well as a documentation of Deutsche Kunst und Dekorati...
Brass
Sold
H 6.03 in Dm 6.3 in
Josef Hoffmann/Vally Wieselthier/Wiener Werkstaette a Glass Centrepiece, 1917
By Josef Hoffmann, Wiener Werkstätte, Vally Wieselthier
Located in Skanninge, SE
An amazing vase with Reclining Female Figures. Designed, circa 1917, executed by Johann Oertel & Co, Haida for the Wiener Werkstätte. Hoffmann, Jose...
Enamel