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Rare pair of Vienna Secession Modern Chairs by Adolf Loos

Creator: Adolf Loos
Offered by: Tishu

Description
On offer is a rare original paired Fan-Back Chairs designed by Adolf Loos (1870-1933) circa 1908-20s. As part of the Vienna Secession movement, these chairs display modern silouette emerged from the beginning of the century, a design departure from tradition spearheaded by a group of artists and designers in Vienna including Gustav Klimt, Josef Hoffmann, Otto Wagner and Koloman Moser. Constructed from solid oak, the chairs feature a carved heart-shape seat and a fan-shaped back distinguished by partially overlapping spindles that spray upwardly like a peacock tail. The design is simple yet sophisticated and manages to be functional yet visually interestingly from different angles. The upholstery on these chairs is of a jacquard-like textile in rose red color with lace fringe. This may be original or at least a mindful historical replacement to accentuate the heart-shaped seats. Small in dimensions as they were intended to be used as side chairs, it measures 28.2"h x 14.5"w x 20"d with a seat height of 15.2".
Historical background and literature: first designed for the Beck apartment in 1908, these chairs were subsequently utilized in many other projects by Loos until late 1920s.
Kunstler, Auftraggeber, Produzenten, Wagner, Hoffmann, Loos und das Mobeldesign der Wiener Moderne (bohlau) pages 95 and 102 as shown.
Rukschcio, Schachel, Adolf Loos, p. 107, no. 106, cat. 63 (dining room, Beck apartment); Adolf Loos, Wohnungen, p. 92; Ottillinger, Adolf Loos, p. 39, no. 26 (cf fan-back Windsor chair, c. 1928), p. 147, no. 200 (Vogl apartment).
For a similar chair see lot 75 of sale "Jugendstil and 20th Century Arts and Crafts" Dorotheum on May 30th, 2018.

More Information

Documentation:	Documented elsewhere (similar item)
Origin:	Austria
Period:	1900-1919
Materials:	Solid wood and fabric
Condition:	Good. Rich antique patina with overall wear and rubbing from use, resulting in the loss of surface finish (but fabulously so), historical small dings along most edges. Upholstery is clean with the seam of fringes slightly separated as shown.
Creation Date:	1908
Number of Pieces:	2-3
Styles / Movements:	Modern, Secession
Incollect Reference #:	577249

Dimensions

W.	14.5 in;	H.	28.2 in;	D.	20 in;
W.	36.83 cm;	H.	71.63 cm;	D.	50.8 cm;

Seat H.	15.2 in;
Seat H.	38.61 cm;

Message from Seller:

Tishu, based in Atlanta, GA, offers a diverse collection ranging from Neolithic art to 20th-century collectibles, with a focus on Mid-century design, Japanese and Korean art, Asian textiles, and Contemporary Aboriginal art. Driven by a passion for timeless beauty, the gallery is open by appointment only and offers works that span 5,000 years of history. Reach them at 305-400-0561 or tishu@tishugallery.com.