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ONLINECOLLECTION

Brooch from the Estate of Emilie Flöge, 1911

Leopold Museum,
Vienna
Silver, malachite
4.2×4.2 cm

Artists

  • Josef Hoffmann

    (Pirnitz 1870–1956 Vienna)

Currently on display at OG4
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.

Object data

Artist/author
  • Josef Hoffmann
Title
Brooch from the Estate of Emilie Flöge
Date
1911
Art movement
Wiener Werkstätte, Art Nouveau
Category
Arts and crafts
Material​/technique
Silver, malachite
Dimensions
4.2×4.2 cm
Credit line of the permanent loan
Private collection
Keywords

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Provenance

Provenance research
Leopold Museum i

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