A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE WIENER WERKSTÄTTE 1903-1932
The following dates are taken mainly from the relevant entries in the commercial, mark
and trade registers, and from the newspaper cuttings compiled by the Wiener Werkstätte
itself in its archives (WWAN)
1903 Founding of the “Wiener Werkstätte Produktivgenossenschaft für Gegenstände des
Kunstgewerbes registrierte Genossenschaft mit unbeschränkter Haftung” by Josef
Hoffmann, Kolo Moser and Fritz Waerndorfer. - First premises: Heumühlgasse 6,
Vienna IV. From October 1903 on: Neustiftgasse 32-34, Vienna VII. - “Rose” mark
first registered. - Trade licence applications for goldsmiths, silversmiths and jewel-
lers, for girdlers and bronze workers, for painters and varnishers, and for joiners
1903-1905 Construction and furnishing of Purkersdorf Sanatorium
1904 Trade licence application for bookbinding. - Exhibition in the Hohenzollern-
Kunstgewerbehaus in Berlin
1905 “Programme” of the Wiener Werkstätte. - Exhibition in the Miethke gallery, Vienna
(bookbindings and end-papers, Stoclet model)
1905-1911 Construction and furnishing of Palais Stoclet, Brussels (Hoffmann, Klimt,
Powolny, Löffler, Czeschka, Jungnickel and others)
1906 Founding of the “Wiener Keramik” by Michael Powolny and Berthold Löffler (sales
co-operative with the Wiener Werkstätte). - International exhibition of book art in
Frankfurt am Main. - Austrian exhibition in London. - Conversion and furnishing of
Hochreith hunting lodge (Hoffmann, Czeschka, Luksch)
1907 Sales outlet of the Wiener Werkstätte at Graben 15, Vienna I. - Adaptation and fur
nishing of “Fledermaus” cabaret (tiles in bar by “Wiener Keramik”). - Business pre
mises for K.K. Hof- und Staatsdruckerei. - “Die Gartenkunst” horticultural exhibi
tion in Vienna. - Beginning of the numbered Wiener Werkstätte postcards and
posters. - Moser and Czeschka leave the Wiener Werkstätte. - Wimmer begins to
work for the Wiener Werkstätte.
1908 “Kunstschau” (art exhibition) in Vienna. - Kokoschka “Die träumenden Knaben”
(published by the Wiener Werkstätte)
1909 Almanac of the Wiener Werkstätte (Brüder Rosenbaum). - Sales outlet in Karlsbad
probably in 1909. - Sale of dolls by Marion Kaulitz
1910 Application for licences for dressmaking, fashion design and electrical engineering
1911 Trade licence for fashion design and dressmaking. - Head of the fashion depart-
ment: Eduard Josef Wimmer
1913 WIENER WERKSTÄTTE registered as trade mark for the first time. - Fashion show
by the Wiener Werkstätte in the Hohenzollern-Kunstgewerbehaus in Berlin. From
this time on there were regulär fashion shows in many cities. - Exhibition of wall-
papers. - “Künstlerwerkstätten” (artists’ ateliers) probably from 1913 onwards.
1914 Following liquidation, founding of the “Betriebsgesellschaft m.b.H. der Wiener
Werkstätte, Produktivgenossenschaft für Gegenstände des Kunstgewerbes''. -
Handicrafts trades reclassified as factories. - Wiener Werkstätte monogram (WW)
registered for the first time. Exhibition of books and graphic arts in Leipzig.- Exhibi
tion of arts and crafts (“Werkbundausstellung”) in Cologne. - Establishment of a
sales outlet in Cologne
1915 Otto Primavesi, Olmütz, managing director. - Dagobert Peche with the Wiener
Werkstätte until 1923. - First stage costumes and sets by the Wiener Werkstätte
1916 Branch opened in Berlin. - Wiener Werkstätte house of fashion, Kärntner Straße 41
(Palais Esterhazy), Vienna I
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