Hoffmann Josef, 1870–1956, Wiener Werkstätte

Brooch

impressed with WW, Austria, Vienna, designed by J. Hoffmann in 1910, made by J. Souval for Wiener Werkstätte, base metal, enamel, diameter 4 cm Lit: e.g. Ambrož M., Viennese Art Nouveau and Modernism 1900-1925, MG Brno, 19 November 2004 - 27 February 2005, p. 146, etc. MAK, Wien, Archiv der Wiener Werkstätte, Modellnr. M 177, Inv. Nr. WWF 89-43-8.
The brooch dates from the first decade of the 20th century, when a characteristic feature of jewellery Wiener Werkstätte was determined by Josef Hoffmann together with Koloman Moser. Their work at this time was characterised by austere geometry and the fulfilment of the demand for material 'honesty'. Simplicity and purposefulness (so different from the ornateness of French Art Nouveau) does not deny the essential influence of the Scottish architect and designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh on Hoffmann's work in the first decade of the 20th century. Hoffmann's relatively extensive range of enamel jewellery, including including the brooch on offer, is admittedly typical of the artist's approach, it is nonetheless special in some ways. Brooches, pins and other enamel jewellery of various morphologies (circles, ovals, squares and polygons) and colours, based on non-ferrous metals, create a wide variability and the materials used provide a counterpoint to Hoffmann's Hoffmann's solitary jewellery made of precious metals and gems. It is these jewels are examples of truly fine art for everyone". In Czech and Moravian public collections, this line of Hoffmann's work is found only minimally. Round Hoffmann brooch - light green variant of the offered brooch - is located in the Moravian Gallery in Brno. Here it is still there is one square red enamel brooch and one blue and white square hat pin target. In the collections of the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague there is only one black and white enamel brooch by Hoffmann in the shape of an octagon."