Vienna 1903-32: decorative arts from the Wiener Werkstätte

The shared dream of Josef Hoffmann and Koloman Moser to fuse architecture and the applied arts into a Gesamtkunstwerk (total work of art) resulted in the founding of the Wiener Werkstätte (Vienna Workshops) in 1903. Historical Design has put together a spectacularly wide-ranging exhibition (until 15 June) of works not only by these two creative geniuses (right, Josef Hoffmann, Wiener Werkstatte, “Gitterwerk”, 1905) , but also Gustav Klimt, Adolf Loos, and Joseph Urban. Splendid examples include several important pieces of Hoffmann’s furniture and metalwork, along with an early bentwood collector’s vitrine and a desk (around 1905) by Moser. Prices range from $1,000 to $150,000.