JOSEF HOFFMANN Austria 1920 Deco Fluted Amphora Vase With Handles In 900 Silver
A fluted decorative amphora vase designed by Josef Hoffmann (1870-1956).
This is an exceptional and exceedingly rare Austrian Art Deco cabinet amphora vase, designed by Josef Hoffmann and executed by the Wiener Werkstätte, circa 1915–1922. Masterfully hand-crafted in solid high purity .900 silver, the vase embodies Hoffmann’s distinctive approach to Viennese modernism, combining disciplined geometry with elegant, sculptural curves. The amphora-form body rises from a circular integrated foot and is articulated with pronounced vertical ribbing and lobulated, melon-like fluting, a characteristic vocabulary found in Hoffmann’s silver hollowware of the late 1910s and early 1920s. The elongated form is complemented by two beautifully sculpted, curved side handles terminating in stylized scroll forms, while the upper rim is accented by a finely executed dotted border.
Hoffmann repeatedly explored vertically articulated, ribbed forms and elongated curves in his hollowware, creating a sophisticated balance between architectural structure and sensuous movement. Comparable Hoffmann designs executed by the Wiener Werkstätte are preserved in major museum collections and are documented in the Wiener Werkstätte archives.
The present example is offered in extraordinary, virtually as-made condition, with no dents and essentially no evidence of wear. Its exceptional preservation, rarity, sculptural presence, and impeccable craftsmanship make it a particularly desirable example of Austrian Wiener Werkstätte silver and early Art Deco design. A museum-quality and highly collectible masterpiece of Viennese modernism, this remarkable vase represents the sophisticated synthesis of architecture, decorative arts, and craftsmanship that made Josef Hoffmann and the Wiener Werkstätte internationally celebrated.
Josef Hoffmann
Josef Hoffmann was one of the most influential Austrian architects and designers of the early modernist movement. A co-founder of the Vienna Secession in 1897 and the Wiener Werkstätte in 1903, Hoffmann played a fundamental role in establishing Vienna as a center of progressive architecture and decorative arts. His work was characterized by rigorous geometry, refined proportions, and the integration of architecture, furniture, metalwork, textiles, and interiors into a unified artistic environment—the ideal of the Gesamtkunstwerk, or “total work of art.” Born on December 15, 1870, in Pirnitz, Moravia, Hoffmann studied architecture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna under the celebrated architect Otto Wagner. In 1895, he was awarded the Prix de Rome, allowing him to spend a formative period studying architecture and art in Italy. In 1897, Hoffmann joined Gustav Klimt, Koloman Moser, and other progressive artists in founding the Vienna Secession, rejecting the conventions of academic historicism in favor of a new, modern visual language. Six years later, in 1903, he and Moser established the Wiener Werkstätte, an innovative arts-and-crafts cooperative dedicated to exceptional design and craftsmanship across architecture, furniture, jewelry, ceramics, textiles, and decorative objects. Among Hoffmann's most important architectural achievements is the Purkersdorf Sanatorium, completed in 1903, whose disciplined geometric forms and functional interiors anticipated the development of modernist architecture. His greatest architectural masterpiece, the Palais Stoclet in Brussels, was constructed between 1905 and 1911 and represents one of the finest expressions of his concept of the total work of art. Hoffmann designed virtually every aspect of the residence, while its celebrated interiors incorporated mosaics by Gustav Klimt. Hoffmann also created some of the defining furniture and decorative objects of Viennese modernism, including the celebrated Kubus armchair, while producing metalwork, tableware, textiles, lighting, and complete interior schemes. His designs became synonymous with the distinctive geometric vocabulary of the Wiener Werkstätte. In 1920, Hoffmann was appointed city architect of Vienna, where he contributed to progressive public housing and civic projects. He continued teaching and influencing generations of designers throughout his career. Josef Hoffmann died in Vienna on May 7, 1956. Today, he is regarded as a foundational figure of Viennese modernism, whose synthesis of architecture, design, and craftsmanship profoundly influenced twentieth-century decorative arts. His work remains highly important to collectors and museums, particularly his Wiener Werkstätte designs, which exemplify the extraordinary marriage of geometric modernism, functionality, and meticulous craftsmanship.
Country: Austria, Vienna.
Period: Austrian-Hungarian empire, modernism, deco, 1915-1922.
Manufacturer: Wiener Werk-Stätte. (Werkstatte was the creator of the Wienever Werkstatte school in Austria).
Materials: Polished and hammered .900/.999 Silver.
Condition: Original as found, not polished, with retains of all the original aged patina.
Weight: 196.70 Grams, (126.10 Dwt).
Measurements: H. 155.7 mm by L. 102.1 mm by D. 88.4 mm, (6.13 x 4.02 x 3.48 Inches).
Hallmarks: Stamped with pre-1922 Austrian-Hungarian marks, the maker's logo mark associated to Josef Hoffmann, the mark of Diane inside an hexagonal cartouche for the assay and warranty of the .900/.999 silver, the control letter A for the city of Vienna, the silversmith manufacturer mark and signed in full as follows: "WIENER WERKSTATTE JH .800 WW A". "JH" monogram for (Josef Hoffmann's signature stamp). The multi-line mark "WW" stamp for "Wiener Werk-Stätte". The Rose mark (the workshop's symbol). The Silver Purity Marks, as "900" and Austrian Diana's head hallmark.
Condition: The overall condition of this Josef Hoffmann vase is excellent. Beside the little normal wear there is no damage and no dents. All parts are secured in their settings. This vase was carefully inspected to guarantee the condition & authenticity.
INVENTORY REF: D090326TERE/8.043
