Not currently on display at the V&A

Candleholder

ca. 1920 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Josef Hoffman studied architecture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna under Carl von Hasenauer and Otto Wagner and was influenced by their theories of a functional, modernist architecture. After winning the Rome prize in 1895 and joining Wagner's office, he established his own office in 1898 and taught at the Vienna Kunstgewerbeschule from 1899 to 1936. He was a founding member of the Vienna Secession, an avant-garde group of artists and architects. In 1903 he founded the Wiener Werkstätte with Koloman Moser. Hoffman's earliest works reflect the Vienna Secession's variant of Art Nouveau and his later work shows a pioneering use of geometric and abstract design. His most famous building, the Palais Stoclet in Brussels, built 1905-1911, exemplifies the ideal of the 'Gesamtkunstwerk' or 'total work of art'.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silver-plated metal
Brief description
Silver-plated metal candleholder, made by Josef Holi for Wiener Werkstätte, Vienna, ca. 1920.
Physical description
The candleholder consists of a rectangular band of metal which curves downward at each end to form curled feet. The top surface has six cylindrical nozzles attached to it and has a curved underside. The two edges have a beaded finish.
Dimensions
  • Height: 10.6cm
  • Length: 45cm
  • Width: 6cm
Marks and inscriptions
Two marks of the Wiener Werkstätte and the mark of Josef Holi. (On underside.)
Summary
Josef Hoffman studied architecture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna under Carl von Hasenauer and Otto Wagner and was influenced by their theories of a functional, modernist architecture. After winning the Rome prize in 1895 and joining Wagner's office, he established his own office in 1898 and taught at the Vienna Kunstgewerbeschule from 1899 to 1936. He was a founding member of the Vienna Secession, an avant-garde group of artists and architects. In 1903 he founded the Wiener Werkstätte with Koloman Moser. Hoffman's earliest works reflect the Vienna Secession's variant of Art Nouveau and his later work shows a pioneering use of geometric and abstract design. His most famous building, the Palais Stoclet in Brussels, built 1905-1911, exemplifies the ideal of the 'Gesamtkunstwerk' or 'total work of art'.
Collection
Accession number
CIRC.469-1976

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJanuary 10, 2008
Record URL
Download as: JSON