Modernism: Wiener Werkstätte - Sitzmaschine Armchair

In 1904, Josef Hoffmann designed a nursing home near Vienna. Most of his interior furnishings for the project, including this reclining armchair, were produced by the Wiener Werkstätte. Made with patients in mind, the wooden recliner included both seat and back cushions for comfort. The back can be easily adjusted by moving the rod that fits between the knobs behind the armrests. This ball motif became a common element in Hoffmann's designs for both furniture and metalware. The Sitzmaschine (sitting machine) was first exhibited in 1908 in Vienna. This early model of it is extremely rare and was executed with a two-tone finish.

Part of the Modernism Web site, featuring objects from the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and curator David Ryan, this video was originally produced in 1999. http://www.artsmia.org/modernism/

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• modernism
• design
• style
• Wiener
• Werkstätte
• art
• furniture
• minneapolis
• institute