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Decorative art from 18th to 20th century
Josef HOFFMANN (1870–1956), Vase on a pedestal base
Wiener Werkstätte, Vienna, circa 1917–1924.
Repoussé and hammered brass, formerly gilded.
Signed under the upper rim: WIENER WERK STÄTTE, JH, MADE IN AUSTRIA.
Height: 28 cm.
Neck diameter: 16 cm.
Base diameter: 12 cm.
A central figure in early 20th-century Viennese design, Josef HOFFMANN founded the Wiener Werkstätte in 1903, a workshop that became one of the most important centers of European decorative arts.
This vase belongs to the metalwork produced by HOFFMANN between 1917 and 1924, a period marked by a search for clean, perfectly proportioned forms. Resting on a flared pedestal base, the fluted body is enlivened by regular hammering that subtly captures the light. The slightly undulating upper rim softens the overall geometric rigor.
The surface retains an antique patina with golden and green hues, characteristic of the original finishes of the Wiener Werkstätte and highly sought after by collectors today.
The metal objects designed by HOFFMANN illustrate the transition between the Vienna Secession and 20th-century modernism. With its sculptural presence and the quality of its craftsmanship, this piece is a representative example of avant-garde Viennese design.
Comparable examples are held at the MAK – Museum für angewandte Kunst, Vienna, and the Museum of Modern Art, New York.
Bibliography:
-Christian Witt-Dörring (dir.), The Wiener Werkstätte 1903–1932: The Luxury of Beauty, Prestel Verlag, 2017.
-Peter Noever (dir.), Josef Hoffmann: Der Preis der Schönheit, Ostfildern, Hatje Cantz, 2010.
-Waltraud Neuwirth, Wiener Werkstätte: Kataloge 1903–1932, Vienna, Verlag Galerie Welz, 1984.
Comparable results:
Dorotheum, Vienna, December 11, 2023, lot 19: comparable vase, sold for €7,800 including fees.
DIANE CHATELET – IMPOSSIBLE GALLERY
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