- Designed By - Josef
Hoffmann
- When - 1905
- Made From - Bent beech wood, turned wood, plywood and
brass
- Manufactured By - Jacob & Josef Kohn
- More Info -
This chair is believed to be
inspired by an adjustable chair designed in the 1860s by the English arts and crafts architect Philip Webb. It’s name meaning ‘a
machine for sitting’ shows what Hoffmann was trying to achieve with this chair. He wanted to move away
from mechanised products that he regarded as inhuman and so used a simple more
decorative method of adjusting the chair. The five ball shapes along the back
of the curved bentwood form allow the sitter to adjust the angle of the back,
giving five options. These balls seen throughout the chair and the square
patterns are a big characteristic of Hoffmann’s chairs. Reclining chairs like
this were often used by people to pulmonary tuberculosis.
This chair was
presented at the Vienna Art Show in 1908. The chair was produced until 1916. An example of
this chair is shown in the Museum of Modern Art. A small number were produced with a pull out footrest
and cushions were also available.
- Designed By -
Josef Hoffmann
- When -
1910
- Made From -
Hardwood frame, foam and leather
- Manufactured By - ?
- More Info - Sometimes
spelt Kubus, this iconic chair
was presented at the International Exhibition held in Buenos Aires. The
upholstery is made up of hand stitched leather squares. Hoffman loved geometric
design and using squares and cubes which led him to get the nickname ‘Quadratl-Hoffmann’ (little
square Hoffmann).It is available in many different colours of leather. There is
also a 2-seater and 3-seater sofa version of this chair and a matching
footstool.
- Designed By - Josef Hoffmann
- When - 1905
- Made From - Beech
- Manufactured By - Wittmann
- More Info - This
chair was specially designed for the theatre cabaret ‘Fledermaus’ in Vienna 1907.
There were two versions of the chair, one with a solid back and one with bars
along the back, which was available with or without an upholstered seat. It was
also available natural or painted. The chair is not particularly comfortable but
it still became a classic and it shows Hoffmann’s style and unique features,
such as the spheres under the seat, very well.
