Wiener Werkstätte

Wiener Werkstätte is the German for Vienna Workshops, which was founded in 1903 by Josef Hoffman and Koloman Moser, the funding for which was supplied industrialist Fritz Warndorfer. Their idea was that design schools should include practical classes on making art (rather just designing it); fine and decorative art should be seen on equal footing; and fine arts, architectural arts and decorative arts should be unified.

The Wiener Werkstätte created works of craftsmanship in a very distinctive style, the Wiener Werkstätte Style. The avant-garde, artistic, yet timeless designs influenced generations of architects and designers in the 20th century. The Bauhaus in Germany, Art Deco in America from 1920 to 1940, Scandinavian design from 1940-1960, as well as Italian design between 1960 and 1980, are all strongly influenced by the Wiener Werkstätte.

The workshop mainly dealt with creating jewellery, fabrics for clothing, ceramics, pottery and furniture, all characterized by simple shapes, minimal decoration and geometric patterning.

While many Arts and Crafts era workshops, such as those founded in England, were interested in integrating the craft tradition with mass production techniques for a mass market, the Wiener Werkstätte concentrated on good design for a more select market. Hoffman said, "Since it is not possible to work for the whole market, we will concentrate on those who can afford it."

The workshop also believed that design schools should include practical classes on making art (rather just designing it); fine and decorative art should be seen on equal footing; and fine arts, architectural arts and decorative arts should be unified.
Due to poor finances, the Wiener Werkstätte closed in 1932.

For more information on Wiener Werkstätte visit http://wiener-werkstaette.com/

back to tv show "more information"

or to more bonus features