Wiener Werkstätte Sterling Silver
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.
Early 1900s Austrian Jugendstil Antique Wiener Werkstätte Sterling Silver
Lapis Lazuli, Silver
Early 20th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Wiener Werkstätte Sterling Silver
Silver
1920s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Wiener Werkstätte Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
1920s Austrian Jugendstil Vintage Wiener Werkstätte Sterling Silver
Silver
20th Century Austrian Wiener Werkstätte Sterling Silver
Glass
1920s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Wiener Werkstätte Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 1900s Austrian Jugendstil Antique Wiener Werkstätte Sterling Silver
Brass
1910s Vintage Wiener Werkstätte Sterling Silver
Silver
Early 20th Century Czech Art Deco Wiener Werkstätte Sterling Silver
Crystal
1920s Austrian Vienna Secession Vintage Wiener Werkstätte Sterling Silver
Metal, Silver Plate
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Ceramic
1920s Czech Art Deco Vintage Wiener Werkstätte Sterling Silver
Crystal
Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Antique Wiener Werkstätte Sterling Silver
Metal, Brass
2010s American Wiener Werkstätte Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century English Georgian Wiener Werkstätte Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
1920s American Vintage Wiener Werkstätte Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver