Master Art

Designed by: Josef Hoffmann attr., Vienna, around 1914
Executed by: Jakob Soulek

Walnut and walnut veneer, decoratively cut plinth and cornice, seven drawers, one door, iron locks, brass fittings, surface professionally repolished

H 123 cm, W 54.5 cm, D 41.5 cm

Until 1914, the Jakob Soulek company was frequently commissioned by Wiener Werkstätte to execute their works, as the latter had to outsource furniture production as early as 1906. Besides, there was also a long-standing connection between Hoffmann and Soulek. Hoffmann's influence on these two pieces is obvious. The use of the decorative plinth and the cornice work (half round), the framing of the seven drawers, the strict architectural structure which is reminiscent of classical models: all of these are stylistic elements Hoffmann liked to use at the time. Even though the furniture is not signed, it is with a probability almost bordering certainty evident that these two chests were authored by Hoffman and executed by Soulek. Fittings, locks and workmanship all clearly point in this direction.