Flower stand Marcel Kammerer Thonet ca. 1905

With Vienna’s Postsparkasse Otto Wagner realized his groundbreaking idea of a modern, functional building. His student Marcel Kammerer worked for several years as chief art director in Wagner’s studio and designed plenty of the furniture for the Postsparkasse, including this flower stand or “porte-bustes”.
First shown in 1905 in the magazine “Das Interieur”, the column is also depicted in the October 1906 issue of the sales catalog “Thonet Zentral Anzeiger”. The beautifully shaped curves were only made possible by the then innovative bentwood technique. According to the postulate of the Wagner School, all elements in this design follow a function. For example, the visible brass rivets and horizontal brass rods serve to stabilize the column while adorning it. Likewise, brass shoes on the feet protect against bumping and equally serve as ornamental elements. With this flower stand Marcel Kammerer contributed a truly iconic piece to Viennese Jugendstil. This furniture produced by Thonet can be considered as a classic of Jugendstil interior design.