Brooch from the Estate of Emilie Flöge, 1911

This brooch was designed in 1911 by the co-founder of the Wiener Werkstätte, the architect and designer Josef Hoffmann (1870–1956). The square object is made from silver and malachite, a green ornamental stone. For the design, Hoffmann used geometrical basic forms, including squares, circles, triangles and rectangles. These enter into a charming interplay with vegetal elements, such as heart-shaped leaves, with the border between figuration and abstraction appearing almost seamless. The piece of jewelry has an interesting provenance, as it hails from the estate of the designer, couturier and entrepreneur Emilie Flöge (1874–1952). Flöge was the sister-in-law and closest confidante of the painter Gustav Klimt (1862–1918) and, together with her two sisters, ran the haute couture fashion salon “Schwestern Flöge” furnished by the Wiener Werkstätte. She repeatedly took items of Wiener Werkstätte jewelry on commission but, rather than selling them, kept them for herself.

MR, 2021