Small Candy Basket, c. 1906

Like Josef Hoffmann (1870–1956), Koloman Moser (1868–1918), too, developed latticed objects which are hardly distinguishable from Hoffmann’s on account of their stylistic similarities (LM-4523). As the Wiener Werkstätte’s model books illustrate, Moser was the first to design an object with the typical square pattern in 1904 in the shape of his Flower Stand. He subsequently created a series of perforated vessels, such as tabletops, vases and baskets. The items were produced in an upmarket and a cheaper version, depending on the materials used. They were either fashioned from white-varnished sheet iron or from high-quality silver. Along with the material, customers also had a choice of different patterns. One and the same basket could be executed with a square, cloverleaf or flower pattern, though all designs had to adhere to a strictly geometrical shape specification.

MTh, 2021