Candelabrum Josef Hoffmann Wiener Werkstatte ca. 1928
Candelabrum, Josef Hoffmann, Wiener Werkstatte, ca. 1928, silver
Marked with hallmark Dianakopfpunze before 1922, silver fine “900”, “WW” for Wiener Werkstatte, artist’s monogram “JH” for Josef Hoffmann and “MADE/IN/AUSTRIA” Bib.: Waltraud Neuwirth, Katalog der Wiener Werkstatte 1928, Vienna 2004, p. 51
Description
During the production time of the Wiener Werkstatte, Josef Hoffmann and his designs provided a constant evolution of the “Wiener Stil”. This candelabrum also shows the genius of Josef Hoffmann with its light and elegant appearance and the slight indication of a floral shape. It was crafted between 1928 and 1930, and the design was also executed in a version with eight arms. Each arm is marked with the Austrian tax mark for 925 silver. Another remarkable fact is the perfect craftsmanship of the very small and technically highly complicated hammer stroke decoration. The execution with only five arms seems to be unique as the only other examples of this particular design show six or eight arms.
Artist
Josef Hoffmann (Brtnice 1870 - 1956 Vienna), co-founder of the Viennese Secession and of the Wiener Werkstätte, was an extremely productive and versatile architect and designer. Throughout his career he experimented with various forms, techniques and materials. In his designs, he was striving for a strong reduction of the form to the essential and was a pioneer of geometric Jugendstil. This is how his characteristic geometric style was established. The scope of his designs ranges from buildings and entire interiors, following the concept of the “Gesamtkunstwerk” (total work of art), all the way to small details of everyday life. One of his most significant works is the Palais Stoclet in Brussels, a Gesamtkunstwerk which he executed for a wealthy entrepreneur between 1905 and 1911 in collaboration with, among others, Gustav Klimt and Koloman Moser.
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