Wiener Werkstätte Vitrines
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 Vitrines
Oak
Late 19th Century European Antique Wiener Werkstätte Vitrines
Wood
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Wiener Werkstätte Vitrines
Aluminum
1930s Unknown Art Deco Vintage Wiener Werkstätte Vitrines
Glass, Mahogany
Late 18th Century French Louis XV Antique Wiener Werkstätte Vitrines
Iron
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Wiener Werkstätte Vitrines
Glass, Oak
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Wiener Werkstätte Vitrines
Glass, Walnut
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Wiener Werkstätte Vitrines
Iron
Late 18th Century French Louis XV Antique Wiener Werkstätte Vitrines
Iron
Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Antique Wiener Werkstätte Vitrines
Wood
2010s Dutch Scandinavian Modern Wiener Werkstätte Vitrines
Steel
Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Antique Wiener Werkstätte Vitrines
Wood
1880s French Louis XVI Antique Wiener Werkstätte Vitrines
Walnut
