Wiener Werkstätte

The Wiener Werkstätte was founded in 1903 by artist Koloman Moser and architect Josef Hoffmann, two key members of the Vienna Secession. The company wanted to bring modern, high quality design and craft into every area, such as art, ceramics, textiles, glassware, fashion, silver and furniture. It continued the Vienna Secession’s idea of the Gesamkustwerk (total art).

A pamphlet from 1905 outlined their program: “The limitless harm done in the arts and crafts field by low quality mass production on the one hand and by the unthinking imitation of old styles on the other is affecting the whole world like some gigantic flood…It would be madness to swim against this tide. Neverthless we have founded out workshop. Where appropriate we shall try to be decorative without compulsion and not at any price.”

Many of the Wiener Werkstätte images in the shop were designed as stationary, ex-libris, book design and its brilliant postcards. In all 925 postcards were printed between 1907-1920, some limited runs and others in runs of up to 1,000 postcards. Encompassing primitivism, expressionism and art deco, the Wiener Werkstätte postcards reflect vibrant spare-war Vienna. 

The Wiener Werkstätte used postcards to advertise their projects such as Kunstschau in 1908 (WW 1-4) and the Cabaret Fledermaus in 1907. Artists include: Joseph Maria Olbrich, Josef Hoffmann, Gustav Klimt, Koloman Moser, Max Kurzweil, Wilhelm Bernatzik, Rudolph Kalvach, Charlotte Billwiller, Mathilde Flögl, Susi Singer, Marianne Leisching, Maria Likarz, Emil Hoppe and Gustav Kalhammer.