A rare and magnificent two-tiered cabinet by Eduard Wimmer-Wisgrill, 1932.   This unique cabinet was designed by Wimmer-Wisgrill for a bridge room in a 1932 exhibition and was manufactured by the illustrious Wiener Werkstatte.  The Austrian Museum in Vienna (MAK) has period photos of the cabinet in situ.  This striking cabinet is embellished with gold leaf in a chevron pattern and then incised with geometric patterns on alternating strips.  The cabinet rests on a simple black painted support; the interior is painted black.  The Wiener Werkstätte (or Vienna’s Workshop), founded by Josef Hoffmann and Koloman Moser in 1903, is one of the most important influences on 20th Century design, decorative and fine arts. Unlike other international Arts and Crafts movements, the Wiener Werkstätte did not have any populist aspirations and catered to its wealthy patrons during its 29-year existence. The Workshop produced a wide range of products including ceramics, fashion and furniture. Their emergence is associated with the Vienna Secession and the Art Nouveau movement, however aesthetically the Werkstätte is more geometric and less ornamental, like Bauhaus but with a greater emphasis on objects rather than architecture.   Eduard Josef Wimmer-Wisgrill joined the Werkstätte in 1907 and became the first artistic director of the fashion department. He held the position from 1910-1922, producing their first fashion and textiles collection in 1911. His importance and contribution can not be understated. Clothing and textiles were the most lucrative areas for the Werkstätte and likely kept the whole operation in business during financial difficulties. The fabrics, color schemes and silhouettes influenced continental fashion and Wimmer-Wisgrill was described as “the Poiret of Vienna” by a contemporary Berlin newspaper. After leaving the Wiener Werkstätte, Wimmer-Wisgrill would live for several years in the United States being involved with the fashion and Arts and Crafts courses at the Art Institute of Chicago. He moved back to Vienna in the late 1920’s and returned to academia at the Kunstgewerbeschule Vienna (or the School of Applied Arts). In addition to fashion, Wimmer-Wisgrill also designed a wide number of items including jewelry, wallpaper, metalwork, stage sets, interiors and furniture. It is likely that some of his furniture designs have been erroneously attributed to Josef Hoffmann. Wimmer-Wisgrill also designed furniture for Niedermoser, underscoring the idea that he may have created more furniture than previously believed. The uncontested Wimmer-Wisgrill furniture pieces are embellished with patterns that are clearly influenced by textiles. His work can be found in the permanent collections of the Neue Galerie, the MAK in Vienna and the Textile Museum in Washington D.C.

Excellent Restored Condition

55.75 H  52.75 W  21.25 D