Wiener Werkstätte Side Chairs
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 20th Century Austrian Jugendstil Wiener Werkstätte Side Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Deco Wiener Werkstätte Side Chairs
Beech
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Wiener Werkstätte Side Chairs
Velvet, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wiener Werkstätte Side Chairs
Brass
2010s Austrian Wiener Werkstätte Side Chairs
Leather, Fabric
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Wiener Werkstätte Side Chairs
Steel, Metal
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Wiener Werkstätte Side Chairs
Bentwood, Textile
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Wiener Werkstätte Side Chairs
Fabric, Walnut
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Wiener Werkstätte Side Chairs
Cane, Wood
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Wiener Werkstätte Side Chairs
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Wiener Werkstätte Side Chairs
Foam, Beech, Plywood
1930s Czech Bauhaus Vintage Wiener Werkstätte Side Chairs
Rattan, Beech, Bentwood
Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Wiener Werkstätte Side Chairs
Brass
Early 20th Century Austrian Jugendstil Wiener Werkstätte Side Chairs
Beech
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Wiener Werkstätte Side Chairs
Bentwood