Dining room Joseph Maria Olbrich attr. 1911

Embracing the Gesamtkunstwerk philosophy, many Viennese architects were not only involved in the architecture of their buildings but also in the design of their interiors, including the creation of bespoke furnishings.
Herrmann for architect Maximilian Rossipaul. The furniture shares a striking stylistic similarity with Secessionist designs by Joseph Maria Olbrich, which are featured in the exhibition catalog of the 1984 Venice Biennale Le Arti a Vienna. This strengthens our attribution of the entire ensemble to Olbrich. The set includes a credenza, a glass cabinet, an extendable dining table with a pedestal base, six armchairs with dark red leather upholstery, a floor clock, and a round sidetable.
This prestigious dining room embodies the tastes of the affluent upper middle class around 1900, reflecting their preference for the modern style of the time. The furniture is crafted from black-grey smoked oak, with hammered metal fittings at their bases. The grandfather clock, credenza, and glass cabinet showcase minimal, geometric carvings. The design emphasizes the inherent beauty of the materials, with the natural qualities of the wood and stone replacing traditional ornamentation. The flat surfaces are brought to life by the rich grain of the oak, enhanced with a light application of lime wax. The credenza and glass cabinet are topped with Nero Portoro stone, a striking black marble veined with gold. This focus on materiality encapsulates the modern aesthetic that defines Viennese Jugendstil furniture.