Jacob & Josef Kohn by Gustav Siegel Vienna Secession Model 957 Server

Description

Exceedingly scarce period Viennese Secessionist Movement Art Nouveau model 957 beechwood server designed by Gustav Siegel for Jacob and Josef … more Exceedingly scarce period Viennese Secessionist Movement Art Nouveau model 957 beechwood server designed by Gustav Siegel for Jacob and Josef Kohn. circa 1900

An exceptional example, fine quality and appearance, made of stunningly bent Austrian beech wood strutting, the frame finely squared and molded with grooved center section, retaining the original mahogany stained hand polished shellac finish. Born in Vienna, the multi-tier table features three shelves, two with fluted edge, attached to tall curved strutting supports, resting on sturdy rail feet. Signed, retaining original paper labels to underside.

This model, designed by Gustav Siegel (1880-1970) and present in the Jacob & Josef stand in Paris, entered the catalogue in the 1902 supplement, but was already illustrated in the advertisement poster printed from the French Paris World Exposition 1900.

A student of the prominent architect, designer and founding member of the Vienna Secession Josef Hoffmann from 1899, on the recommendation of Hoffmann in 1900, Siegel was employed by the furniture factory Jacob & Josef Kohn as chief designer and designed a furniture group for the dining room and bedroom, which was presented at the Paris World Exposition 1900.

This model server was part of that collection. At the show Kohn presented this model as a piece of "service furniture" adding that the struts could be used as handles for easily moving the object when serving.

It entered the catalogue in the 1902 supplement, but was already illustrated in the advertisement poster printed after the French Exposition.

The idea of the struts used as handles for moving the object more easily was also applied to the 958 model ("tea table") and to another model manufactured a few years before and attributed to Josef Hoffmann (model no. 987), becoming a trademark of the Viennese company.

In 1904 the 957 model was reworked by Gebrüder Thonet (model no. 9231), which produced it in a very similar fashion as a tea table without struts/handles. The 957 was referred to as a "registered model" (Gesettzlich geschützt) in a supplement for the Kohn shop in Berlin."

Jacob & Josef Kohn, also known as J. & J. Kohn was an Austrian furniture and interior designer in Vienna. Founded in 1849 by Jacob Kohn (1791–1866) with his son Josef Kohn (1814–1884) after establishing themselves with mastery of everything from chairs to coatracks and even doll furniture, they would rise through the turn of the late 19th - early 20th century to one of the leading furniture makers in Austria-Hungary, eventually merging with their rival Gebrüder Thonet in 1921 to become the world’s largest furniture manufacturer.

Kohn's works can be seen in a number of museum around the world today, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Museum of Applied Arts in Vienna and Disseny Hub Barcelona.

Good size and proportions for a variety of different uses, including as a bar cart, dessert table, wine tasting or cocktail drinks stand, etegere - whatnot open display, plant stand, dining sideboard server, service tray table, entry console and more.

Dimensions: (approx)
38" x 16" x 37 1/2" (h),
19" x 14" top shelf 33" off ground,
37" x 13" second shelf 24" off ground

Provenance:
Acquired from a wonderfully curated mcm collection, privately held estate, Lords Highway, Weston, Connecticut.

Good antique condition. Highly desirable original, unrestored condition.

Presents splendidly, with beautiful patina over the whole, warm, rich coloring and charming antique character. Wear and tear commensurate with age and indicative of use, including overall loss to finish, distressed finish, light scratches, dings and cosmetic imperfections. Strong, sturdy, stable, and structurally sound. Functional, versatile and absolutely beautiful! less