Josef Hoffmann Wood Table for Kohn, circa 1920

Measures: diameter 60, height 72 cm.

In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beautiful patina.

Josef Hoffmann (December 15, 1870-May 7, 1956) was an Austrian architect and designer of consumer goods.

Hoffmann was born in Pirnitz / Brtnice, Moravia (now part of the Czech Republic), Austria-Hungary. He studied at the Higher State Crafts School in Brno / Bru¨nn beginning in 1887 and then worked with the local military planning authority in Wu¨rzburg, Germany. Thereafter he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna with Karl Freiherr von Hasenauer and Otto Wagner, graduating with a Prix de Rome in 1895. In Wagner’s office, he met Joseph Maria Olbrich, and together they founded the Vienna Secession in 1897 along with artists Gustav Klimt, and Koloman Moser. Beginning in 1899, he taught at the Kunstgewerbeschule, now University of Applied Arts Vienna. With the Secession, Hoffmann developed strong connections with other artists. He designed installation spaces for Secession exhibitions and a house for Moser which was built from 1901-1903. However, he soon left the Secession in 1905 along with other stylist artists due to conflicts with realist naturalists over differences in artistic vision and disagreement over the premise of Gesamtkunstwerk. With the banker Fritz Wa¨rndorfer and the artist Koloman Moser he established the Wiener Werksta¨tte, which was to last until 1932. He designed many products for the Wiener Werksta¨tte of which designer chairs, most notably “Sitzmaschine” chair, a lamp, and sets of glasses have reached the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, and a tea service has reached the Metropolitan Museum of Art.