Bench from the Salon of Dr. Hermann Wittgenstein’s Apartment, Vienna, 1905/06

This bench was designed by the architect and designer Josef Hoffmann (1870–1956) in 1905/06 for the apartment of the physician Dr. Hermann Wittgenstein (1879–1953). With its strictly geometrical forms, the seating furniture appears very puristic. Hoffmann structured the backrest with rungs in the shape of square rods. Two vertical middle panels with panelled inlays invest the design with rhythm and, along with their practical use, also serve a decorative function. Even though it might not seem so at first glance, Hoffmann adapted the bench, a highly popular type of furniture already in the Biedermeier era, in keeping with geometrical Jugendstil. The surface of the silver oak bench was stained black and the pores rubbed white and blue. With this surface treatment, the designer incorporated the structure of the wood into the overall esthetic effect. Along with the bench, Hoffmann created two matching armchairs Armchair from the Salon of Dr. Hermann Wittgenstein’s Apartment which are also housed by the Leopold Museum. The piece was executed by the Wiener Werkstätte.

MR, 2021