Place Setting
1907 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The severe forms and clean, undecorated lines of this cutlery are typical of the early designs of Josef Hoffmann (1870-1956). A distinguished Austrian architect, Hoffmann was also one of the most influential designers of the 20th century.
In 1903, Hoffman and fellow architect and designer Koloman Moser visited England. Here they were inspired by the example of the Guild of Handicraft, a cooperative handicraft workshop set up Charles Robert Ashbee in the East End of London. On returning to Vienna they established the Wiener Werkstätte, and these exclusive Viennese workshops made this cutlery.
At first Hoffman’s metalwork designs for the Werkstätte were severely rectilinear and geometric, owing much to the work of the Scottish architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. However, towards the 1920s Hoffman’s designs became much more curvilinear.
In 1903, Hoffman and fellow architect and designer Koloman Moser visited England. Here they were inspired by the example of the Guild of Handicraft, a cooperative handicraft workshop set up Charles Robert Ashbee in the East End of London. On returning to Vienna they established the Wiener Werkstätte, and these exclusive Viennese workshops made this cutlery.
At first Hoffman’s metalwork designs for the Werkstätte were severely rectilinear and geometric, owing much to the work of the Scottish architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. However, towards the 1920s Hoffman’s designs became much more curvilinear.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 7 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Electroplate |
| Brief description | Electroplate, Vienna 1907, made by the Wiener Werkstätte, designed by Josef Hoffmann for the Cabaret Fledermaus. |
| Physical description | This collection of six pieces from an eleven piece place setting consists of one knife, one fork, one soup spoon, one dessert spoon, one teaspoon, a sugar spoon and a sweet corn holder. With the exception of the sweet corn holder, all the handles have straight sides, tapering inwards towards the top. The handles are elliptical in cross section and terminate with an elliptical dome, slightly inset on the base. On every spoon, the handles slope downwards at the junction with the bowl. The sugar spoon and soup spoon have elliptical bowls. The bowls for the dessert spoon and teaspoon are circular. The outside prongs of the fork taper slightly inward. The prongs themselves have been formed from a curved, oblong bowl with squared corners on the edge at the junction with the handle. The edges of the knife blade follow those of the handle, with the cutting edge curving sharply upwards at the end towards the leading edge. The sweet corn holder consists of an oval piece of metal with indentations on both sides to accommodate the thumb and forefinger and two short prongs at one end. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label | A co-operative for art and industry
Founded in Vienna in 1903, the Wiener Werkstätte was a co-operative of artists and craftspeople who created experimental designs, usually by hand, using new technical innovations and industrial materials. The geometric-patterned plant pot and table and the plain cutlery are characteristic of their work. Architect and designer Josef Hoffman co-founded the Werkstätte with artist Koloman Moser and with the support of industrialist Fritz Wärndorfer. The light and airy workshops provided good working conditions and the company pioneered paid holidays.
Punched metal plant pot
1905–10
Designed by Koloman Moser
Made by the Wiener Werkstätte, Austria-Hungary (now Austria)
Pierced and folded iron
Museum no. M.18-1982
Punched metal table
1910
Designed by Josef Hoffmann
Made by the Wiener Werkstätte, Austria-Hungary (now Austria)
Enameled and folded zinc
Museum no. M.8-1982
Cutlery set
1907
Designed by Josef Hoffmann for the Cabaret Fledermaus
Made by the Wiener Werkstätte, Austria-Hungary (now Austria)
Electroplated nickel silver
Museum no. M.10 to F-1982
The object sits in the 'Automation and Labour' section of the Design 1900-Now gallery opened in June 2021.(2021) |
| Summary | The severe forms and clean, undecorated lines of this cutlery are typical of the early designs of Josef Hoffmann (1870-1956). A distinguished Austrian architect, Hoffmann was also one of the most influential designers of the 20th century. In 1903, Hoffman and fellow architect and designer Koloman Moser visited England. Here they were inspired by the example of the Guild of Handicraft, a cooperative handicraft workshop set up Charles Robert Ashbee in the East End of London. On returning to Vienna they established the Wiener Werkstätte, and these exclusive Viennese workshops made this cutlery. At first Hoffman’s metalwork designs for the Werkstätte were severely rectilinear and geometric, owing much to the work of the Scottish architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. However, towards the 1920s Hoffman’s designs became much more curvilinear. |
| Bibliographic reference | Moderne Vergangenheit Wien 1800-1900, catalogue number 250, p.316, ill. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.10-1982 |
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| Record created | March 4, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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