Jugendstil Vitrine Joseph M. Olbrich attr. A Nagel Vienna ca. 1905

The Jugendstil vitrine is part of a complete dining room manufactured by fine Viennese cabinetmaker A. Nagel. The exquisite ensemble dating from ca. 1905 also includes an extendable dining table with six chairs, a large sideboard, a grandfather-clock and a side table. Stylistically very similar, the Secessionist furniture and a large sideboard designed by Joseph Maria Olbrich are illustrated in the exhibition catalog of the 1984 Venice Biennale “Le Arti a Vienna”. Thus, we feel confirmed in our assumption to attribute the whole ensemble to famous architect-designer Olbrich.
The vitrine is made of solid oak finest Viennese cabinetmaker quality bearing a relief-like ornamentation with mother-of-pearl inlays on the front. The two-piece body is stained and polished, its interior in the upper part lavishly veneered with thuja-wood. Display case and hinged drawer enthuse with their relief carvings, contrasting mother-of-pearl ornaments and faceted glass.
Particularly charming are the decorative elements made of cast and chased brass featuring stylized flowers on the display case door and drawer-fitting. The vitrine perfectly reflects the taste of the wealthy upper class in Vienna around 1900 and testifies to the superb quality of Fine Viennese cabinetmaking of the time.