Wiener Werkstätte Cupboards
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.
1910s Austrian Jugendstil Vintage Wiener Werkstätte Cupboards
Oak
Early 20th Century Austrian Jugendstil Wiener Werkstätte Cupboards
Oak
1930s Unknown Art Deco Vintage Wiener Werkstätte Cupboards
Glass, Mahogany
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Wiener Werkstätte Cupboards
Wood, Glass
18th Century Swedish Baroque Antique Wiener Werkstätte Cupboards
Wood
Late 19th Century European Antique Wiener Werkstätte Cupboards
Wood
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Wiener Werkstätte Cupboards
Aluminum
Early 20th Century Scottish Arts and Crafts Wiener Werkstätte Cupboards
Wood
20th Century North Korean Wiener Werkstätte Cupboards
Iron
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Wiener Werkstätte Cupboards
Glass, Oak
20th Century Unknown Wiener Werkstätte Cupboards
Pine
1890s German Art Nouveau Antique Wiener Werkstätte Cupboards
Walnut, Pine
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Wiener Werkstätte Cupboards
Iron
Late 18th Century French French Provincial Antique Wiener Werkstätte Cupboards
Oak