The Austrian architect Josef Hoffmann was a central figure in the evolution of modern design, and a leader in an aesthetic movement born in Europe in the late 19th century that rejected florid, extravagant ornamentation in favor of a new emphasis on simplicity of line.
As a founder of the Vienna Secession — a union of artists and designers determined to upend Austria’s artistic conservatism — and later, a founder of the turn-of-the-century Wiener Werkstätte (in English: the Viennese Workshops), a design cooperative that produced superbly crafted furniture and housewares, Hoffmann was a pioneering practitioner of what would become a fundamental principle of modernism: that good design is a way of life.
Hoffmann came of age amidst a shift in the culture of the applied arts, as a conservative order that looked only to the past for inspiration was pushed aside. But what, exactly, would replace that order was in question — and Hoffmann’s career embodies the developing patterns of design’s new spirit. His architectural work reflects his time as a student of the Vienna architect Otto Wagner, who disdained excessive decoration and employed new materials such as steel girders and reinforced concrete to create buildings with airy, open interiors full of light.
As a designer of furniture and interiors, Hoffmann was consistently open-minded about the aesthetics he explored. He was an early adherent of the flowing, organic forms of the Art Nouveau design movement that began to flourish in the late 1880s — but by the opening of the Wiener Werkstätte in 1903, Hoffmann’s designs embraced the beauty of geometry in pieces that feature grids and angular forms.
Hoffmann’s greatest works reflect his ability to combine seemingly conflicting design visions into coherent wholes. His architectural masterpiece, the Stoclet Palace in Brussels, has an exterior that groups together simple geometric forms and spacious interiors marked by subtly naturalistic design details that lend rooms an air of charm and geniality.
Hoffmann’s signature furniture design is an adjustable lounge chair — the Sitzmaschine (1905) — that marries a curving frame with square and rectangular back- and side rests. This piece, like so many others by Hoffmann, reflects a groundbreaking, forward-thinking appreciation for the union of different looks and sources that marks the best of interior design in our own day. Moreover, items offered on 1stDibs — which range from enameled silver jewelry, to silver flower vase baskets and other decorative objects, to sofas, lighting pendants and sconces — testify to the astonishing breadth of Hoffman’s creative pursuits. He was truly a giant of design.
Set of four Nesting Tables by Josef Hoffmann, Vienna, 1904
By Josef Hoffmann
Located in Brussels, BE
Set of four Nesting Tables by Josef Hoffmann, Vienna, 1904
Wood
Guéridon/ Side Table by Jacob & Josef Kohn for Gustav Siegel, Vienna secession
By Jacob & Josef Kohn
Located in Brussels, BE
Guéridon/ Side Table by Jacob & Josef Kohn for Gustav Siegel, Vienna secession
Wood
Pair of Gueridons Thonet in the style of Josef Hoffmann
By Josef Hoffmann
Located in Brussels, BE
Pair of Gueridons Thonet in the style of Josef Hoffmann
Wood
Victor Horta Side Table, Art Nouveau, 1900s
By Victor Horta
Located in Brussels, BE
Victor Horta Side Table, Art Nouveau, 1900s
Wood
Stand by Marcel Kammerer, Model 9640 by Thonet, Vienna, 1900s
Located in Brussels, BE
Stand by Marcel Kammerer, Model 9640 by Thonet, Vienna, 1900s
Wood
Tables Gigognes, Lingel, Budapest
By Lingel Workshop
Located in Brussels, BE
Tables Gigognes, Lingel, Budapest Lingel furniture production, founded in 1864, was revived in 1997, continuing old traditions while adapting to modern needs. Only high-quality drie...
Wood
Josef Hoffmann Nest of Tables J. J. Kohn, 1904 Wiener Werkstatte
By Josef Hoffmann
Located in Sharon, CT
The four stacking tables with the vertical slats only (better, I think without the additional decorative squared grill ornament).
Wood
Four nesting tables Josef Hoffmann J. & J. Kohn ca. 1910
By J & J Kohn & Mundus, Josef Hoffmann
Located in Klosterneuburg, AT
four nesting tables, Josef Hoffmann, J. & J. Kohn, mod. Nr. 986, ca. 1910, marked Around 1905, Josef Hoffmann designed the four nesting tables. With their clean, minimalist lines an...
Beech
J & J Kohn Set Of 4 Nesting Art Nouveau Side Tables, Josef Hoffmann, Circa 1906
By Josef Hoffmann, Jacob & Josef Kohn
Located in Vienna, AT
Elegant Art Nouveau side table set consisting of four individual tables of different sizes that can be nested inside each other, first appearing in the Kohn catalogue of 1906. The at...
Beech
Nesting tables Thonet, 1910ca - Josef Hoffmann
By Thonet, Josef Hoffmann
Located in Praha, CZ
Vienna Secession, Restored. Minor repairs made, shellac polish renewed. Marked with Thonet company sticker on the bottom. Plan of the larger table: 43x33cm, height: 67cm, plan of th...
Beech, Bentwood
Josef Hoffmann Gueridon, circa 1910, Austria
By Josef Hoffmann
Located in Girona, Spain
Josef Hoffmann Gueridon. Made with bentwood. Vienna Secession Circa 1910, Austria. Vintage condition. The Austrian architect Josef Hoffmann was a central figure in the evolution of modern design, and a leader in an aesthetic movement born in Europe in the late 19th century that rejected florid, extravagant ornamentation in favor of a new emphasis on simplicity of line. As a founder of the turn-of-the-century Wiener Werkstätte (in English: the Viennese Workshops), a design cooperative that produced superbly crafted furniture and housewares, Hoffmann was a pioneering practitioner of what would become a fundamental principle of modernism: that good design is a way of life. Hoffmann came of age amidst a shift in the culture of the applied arts, as a conservative order that looked only to the past for inspiration was pushed aside. But what, exactly, would replace that order was in question, and Hoffmann’s career embodies the developing patterns of design’s new spirit. His architectural work reflects his time as a student of the Vienna architect Otto Wagner, who disdained excessive decoration and employed new materials such as steel girders and reinforced concrete to create buildings with airy, open interiors full of light. As a designer of furniture and interiors, Hoffmann was consistently open-minded about the aesthetics he explored. He was an early adherent of the flowing, organic forms of the Art Nouveau design movement that began to flourish in the late 1880s, but by the opening of the Wiener Werkstätte in 1903, Hoffmann’s designs embraced the beauty of geometry in pieces that feature grids and angular forms. Hoffmann’s greatest works reflect his ability to combine seemingly conflicting design visions into coherent wholes. His architectural masterpiece, the Stoclet Palace in Brussels, has an exterior that groups together simple geometric forms and spacious interiors marked by subtly naturalistic design details that lend rooms an air of charm and geniality. Hoffmann’s signature furniture design is an adjustable lounge chair, the Sitzmaschine (1905), that marries a curving frame with square and rectangular back- and side rests. This piece, like so many others by Hoffmann, reflects a groundbreaking, forward-thinking appreciation for the union of different looks and sources that marks the best of interior design in our own day. Moreover, items offered on these pages, which range from enameled silver jewelry, to a silver flower vase basket, to lighting pendants and sconces...
Bentwood
Wittmann Satztische Nesting Tables by Josef Hoffmann
By Wittmann, Josef Hoffmann
Located in New York, NY
Josef Hoffmann designed this simple four-part nest of tables at the turn of the century. * Ash black stained.
Ash
