Accession Number
1962/2.4

Title
Fluted Vase

Artist(s)
Josef Hoffmann

Object Creation Date
circa 1905

Medium & Support
silver

Dimensions
10 7/8 x 8 1/16 x 7 3/8 in. (27.5 x 20.4 x 18.6 cm);10 7/8 x 8 1/16 x 7 3/8 in. (27.5 x 20.4 x 18.6 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. William Muschenheim

Label copy
March 28, 2009
Hoffmann was one of the founders of the Vienna Secession in 1897 and went on to become a founder, in 1903, of the Wiener Werkstätte. The firm’s mission was to create objects of applied art of such high quality and beauty that life itself became a unified work of art. In his pieces Hoffmann emphasized refined proportions and superb workmanship. Though prior to 1900 his work had much in common with the curving forms of Jugendstil, or Art Nouveau, after 1900 it took on a clean geometric quality. These modernist lines are seen in the fluted shape and hammered surfaces of this elegant and impeccably crafted vase.

Subject matter
This vase is characteristic of the high quality work and hand-made aesthetic typical of crafts produced by the Weiner Werkstätte. Hoffmann was one of the founders of the Weiner Werkstätte and Hoffmann's emphasis on refinement of proportion and superb workmanship are evident in this vessel.

Physical Description
This vase consists of two fluted elements: the container which has a slightly flaring lip, and a foot that is also fluted. The surfaces of the vase have a hand-worked character and are not smoothly finished

Primary Object Classification
Decorative Arts

Primary Object Type
vase

Additional Object Classification(s)
Decorative Arts

Collection Area
Modern and Contemporary

Rights
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Keywords
modern and contemporary art
vase