SHAPES 
As already mentioned above, the painters were provided with the undecorated glass- 
ware on behalf of the Lobmeyr Company. Most of it probably came from Meyr’s Neffe / 
Adolf (the A in front of numerous shape numbers can in all probability be interpreted as 
“Adolf”). The complicated technique of bronzite decoration with its usually detailed orn- 
amentation necessitated above all simple shapes. These simple designs were empha- 
sised especially by Hoffmann’s line decorations or - in the case of floral decorations - at 
least by division into segments. The cross-sections of the glassware were either circu 
lar, oval or polygonal (“octogonal bronzite”), the sides smooth or “faceted” (polygonal 
cutting). 
Bronzite decorations were used for drinking Services, toilet sets, flower sets and individ 
ual pieces (vases, goblets, etc.). The shapes of the drinking Services included a decan- 
ter with stopper, water, wine, Champagne and liqueur glasses, and sometimes also a 
beer glass and a Champagne flute (the Champagne glass was normally shallow, i. e. a 
“Champagne coupe”). 
The same types of shapes were also used for the drinking Service with Hoffmann’s var- 
iant A, B and F bronzite decorations: decanter with stopper (serial number A 9376-11), 
stemmed glass (A 9377-11), “Champagne glass, shallow” (A 9378-11) and liqueur glass 
(A 9379-11), and water beaker (T. S. 226). 
Toilet sets consisted of flacons (often in two different sizes), powder box, comb, needle 
and jewellery dishes. 
Flower sets were made up of low oval bowls (jardinieres) and tall cylindrical vases 
(beaker shaped, sometimes not unlike beer glasses in shape). 
The shapes and decorations for bronzite decorated glassware were probably developed 
simultaneously. Occasionally shapes evolved several years earlier were used (e. g. the 
beaker of drinking Service T. S. 226, which was probably created around 1905, and a few 
even older shapes). 
Additions to the original shapes of a Service or a set can be seen from the later dates of 
the serial numbers (shape numbers). 
THE DESIGNERS 
As a general rule it should be borne in mind that the shapes and decorations of decor 
ated glassware are not necessarily the work of the same artist. The designers of most of 
the bronzite decorations are known: Josef Hoffmann, Ludwig Heinrich Jungnickel, Ur 
ban Janke, Oswald Dittrich and Arnold Nechansky. Some decorations are the joint work 
of two artists (Janke and Jungnickel), while a few decorations have not yet been attri- 
buted to any specific artist. 
JOSEF HOFFMANN 
Josef Hoffmann created a number of designs for bronzite decorations, probably in 1910, 
but at the beginning of 1911 at the latest: on the one hand strictly linear decorations, 
and on the other stylised floral ornamentation. In the majority of cases Hoffmann used a 
beaker shape for these decorations (T. S. 226). 
On 8th April 1911 Karl Fiedler received an order from Lobmeyr to produce one beaker 
each decorated with variants A, B, D and E, and two decorated with variant F. He de- 
livered these in mid June, and in September 1911 he received two further Orders for 
these decorations. The records show that in September 1911 Fiedler received his first 
order for a beaker with decoration C. 
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