Desk, c. 1907

This desk and chair were designed by the architect and designer Josef Hoffmann (1870–1956) around 1907. The co-founder of the Wiener Werkstätte frequently created unique items of furniture and entire furnishings for wealthy clients. Hoffmann further worked with companies including Gebrüder Thonet and Jacob & Josef Kohn. They produced Hoffmann’s designs in greater numbers and operated on an almost industrial level in terms of the strict division of labor and aid of machines. This made the products affordable to a slightly broader public. With these reduced designs, Hoffmann used basic geometrical forms, such as spheres, squares and rectangles, and made sure the bentwood technique was executed with respect for the material.

MR, 2021