Desk and armchair Bruno Paul Vereinigte Werkstatten Munchen ca. 1907

In 1897, Bruno Paul, along with Richard Riemerschmid and others, founded the “Vereinigte Werkstätten für Kunst im Handwerk” in Munich. During this time, he also worked as a caricaturist for “Simplicissimus” and designed furniture and expansive interior design projects.
This desk with armchair was part of an ensemble. Bruno Paul designed a very similar desk around 1903 to furnish the gentlemen’s study at Faber-Castell Castle in Nuremberg. The ensemble has an interesting provenance, since it was owned by the first German gynecologist, Dr. Hermine Heusler-Edenhuizen (1872-1955). A contemporary photograph from the 1920s clearly shows the desk in her Berlin apartment or practice.
Bruno Paul adorns the outside of this piece of furniture with geometric inlays and a lively reflective veneer. His standing as a modern designer is confirmed by the inner workings of the desk, including ingenious storage areas on the front and seat side.
When considering this elegant yet compact piece of furniture, it is easy to see why Bruno Paul was also an acclaimed interior designer for yachts and luxury liners.