Josef Hoffmann

Designed by: Josef Hoffmann, Vienna, 1899/1900
Executed by: Anton Pospischil, Kunstmöbeltischlerei Wien

Solid mahogany and mahogany veneer on coniferous wood, linear inlay in boxwood, maple veneer interior with four abstract floral carvings in mahogany on side and rear panels, numerous facetted, ground and polished crystal-glass elements, fittings in copper or copper-plated brass, two round door medallions of hammered copper sheeting, hinges of copper-plated brass, surface slightly repolished, facetted mirror replaced, very good original condition

Our large sideboard is the central piece of the dining-room that Josef Hoffmann designed in 1899/1900 for the World Exhibition in Paris and which was presented in the Austrian Museum for Art and Industry in February 1900 in a pavilion that had also be designed specially for the Paris show. The four abstract floral carvings affixed to the rear walls of the side elements or side elements themselves are reminiscent of the formal language of Charles Rennie Mackintosh who, in November 1900, took part in the VIIIth Secession exhibition along with his wife, Margaret McDonald, and Josef Hoffmann, Koloman Moser, Leopold Bauer, Charles Robert Ashbee as well as numerous other artists.

At this point in time Hoffmann was already a professor at the Vienna Kunstgewerbeschule [School of Arts and Crafts]. It is likely that he and his patron, Fritz Waerndorfer, personally handed over the invitation to Mackintosh in Glasgow. Hoffmann took inspiration for his own designs also from the Scotsman’s work.