Josef Hoffman

Executed by: Wiener Werkstätte

Solid pear and veneer, dyed black and polished, some retouches and repairs, newly upholstered, very beautiful, expertly reworked original condition.

The wealthy Jewish Viennese Mori(t)z Gallia had his wife Hermine portrayed by Gustav Klimt in 1903. In 1912, he commissioned Josef Hoffmann to build a residential house at Wohllebengasse 4 in Vienna. He moved into the master's apartment, which was very generously furnished by Hoffmann. In 1938, he and his family were forced to give up their home under the National Socialist regime. The family was, however, able to take most of the furnishings and art objects along to Australia.