History

The story of the historical »Wiener Werkstätte«

The idea of the Wiener Werkstätte is the integration of art into the different areas of life. „Every object and every building project is worthwhile and as a consequence should be well designed.“ The main purpose of the company was to produce objects of well chosen individualism and exquisiteness in order to be in contrast to mass-production.

1903: Formation of the company Neue Wiener Werkstaette by Josef Hoffmann, Kolomann Moser and Fritz Waerndorfer, who belonged to a group of visual artists and craftspeople. On three floors in Neustiftergasse in the 7th district of Vienna next to office and exhibition rooms the facilities for metal, gold and silver work are located as well as carpentry, paint shop, bookbindery and the manufacture of leather.

1904: First exhibition in Vienna. Big order by Emilie Flöge for the arrangement of fashion house „Flöge“ in Vienna.

1905: Fist public appearance at the Miethke gallery in Vienna. Large order by Christof Zuckerkandl: Construction and interior fitting of the Purkersdorf sanatorium by Josef Hoffmann and Kolomann Moser.

1904-1911: Large order by Adolphe Stoclet: Construction and complete furnishing of the „Palais Stoclet“ in Brussels for the business tycoon Adolphe Stoclet.

1907: After some troubles between Fritz Waerndorfer and Kolomann Moser the latter leaves the company. Three stores are opened in Vienna City.

1914: The first financial crash. The company is liquidated. Fritz Waerndorfer emigrates to America. A new type of company is established.
A change of style is carried out in consequence of the First World War and of the new creative director Dagobert Peche, which is shown by ornaments as a main focus.

1917: New stores are established in Zürich and Marienbad.

1920: Again financial crash and re-organisation. The main clientele decreases drastically due to the fall of the upper classes. The commercial crisis leaves its traces all over Europe; additional, the permanently changing company members of the Wiener Werkstaette even worsen the product and marketing strategies.

1920-1932: There is no ending in sight for the financial troubles.

1932: The company is forced to declare bankruptcy.

The MAK – Austrian Museum of Applied Art in Vienna – owns a unique collection of masterpieces of the Wiener Werkstätte.