Master Art

Executed by: J. & J. Kohn, model no. 418, from 1906

Marked: paper label: "Josef Stula Tapezierer & Dekorateur Teschen West/Schlesien, 18/IV 1907".

Beech bentwood and plywood, stained black, limed oak decoration, surface cleaned and slightly repolished, retouches, 4 panels with linear inlays in brass,  reupholstered, very beautiful original condition.

H 76 cm, SH 42 cm, W 162 cm, D 70 cm

A variant of this settee was shown at the World Exhibition in Milan in 1906.

I do not know of any bentwood furniture whose production was technically more challenging than this settee. The individual side and back sections consist of up to 16 seamlessly joined bent beech elements. These have to nestle perfectly together to simulate a closed surface. To achieve such a perfect connection, a special iron mould had to be produced for each arch. This required the highest level of precision. The goal was not only to excel with cutting-edge products, but also to demonstrate to the Thonet Brothers, who exhibited in the next room, that products made by J. & J. Kohn are not only top-of-the-line, but indeed more artistic and technically superior.

To date, experts are only aware of one table, one armchair and this settee.

We would like to thank Giovanni Renzi for his kind information and for providing us with the documentation.