Josef Hoffmann

Bent beech wood, stained, surface cleaned and slightly repolished, new upholstery covered with an original Jugendstil fabric, excellent condition

H 108 cm, SH 46 cm, W 44 cm, D 44 cm

J. & J. Kohn commissioned Josef Hoffmann to design a reasonably priced house complete with fixtures, fittings and furniture for the Kunstschau 1908. To furnish the house, Hoffmann used many pieces of his already well-known furniture such as the "sitting machine", the so-called "Fledermaus" suite etc. On the veranda, there was also a seven-ball bench. For me, the seven-ball bench, armchair and chairs are amongst the most modern and pioneering designs that Hoffmann ever developed for serial production by J. & J. Kohn. This design is truly one of the precursors of modernism. As is often the case, the prophet was not heard in his own land, and few chairs of this design were sold. This is also one of the reasons why it is one of the most sought-after collector’s items of Josef Hoffmann’s entire oeuvre.