Chair, c. 1906

Josef Hoffmann (1870–1956) was one of the most important and productive bentwood furniture designers of Viennese Modernism. The company J. & J. Kohn (1867), founded after the commercial success of the Gebrüder Thonet, also specialized in the production of bentwood furniture. Like Koloman Moser (1868–1918), Adolf Loos (1870–1933), and Otto Wagner (1868–1918), Hoffmann also regularly worked with J. & J. Kohn for the production of his designs. Hoffmann and J. & J. Kohn´s most famous collaboration using bentwood is the furnitures of Cabaret Fledermaus. This chair from around 1906 produced with respect for the material consists of six main parts. The seat is connected to the legs with screws. Like the iconic chairs of Cabaret Fledermaus, the bottom screws are hidden inside wooden spheres. The S-shaped armrests soften the verticality and rigidity of the backrest, giving the chair a balanced and flowing appearance.

VB, 2025