Master Art

SCHULE PROFESSOR JOSEF HOFFMANN
WIENER KUNSTGEWERBESCHULE

EXTRAORDINARY SECESSIONIST WALL SCONCE

designed and executed: Vienna, around 1906

Our wall sconce was made in 1906. The ornaments show numerous stylistic elements used by Josef Hoffmann and Koloman Moser. Above all, the border edging was employed by both of them for silver table services presented in the Wiener Werkstätte premises at Neustiftgasse 32–34 in a 1906 exhibition entitled "Der gedeckte Tisch" (The Set Table). It was produced in a number of variations, which only differed in minor details. A further characteristic of this wall sconce are the two small doors to the left and right of the glass-covered lamp. They probably served to provide access to stop cocks for water or gas or perhaps the fuse box was concealed behind them. The sconce might also have been attached to a piece of furniture or wooden wall panelling.