EXHIBITIONS: Stunning new show at Neue Galerie NY: "Wiener Werkstätte 1903-1932: The Luxury of Beauty"

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know that I'm a big fan

of both the Wiener Werkstätte (Vienna Workshops) artists and the 

Neue Gallerie NY. So I'm very excited about NGNY's recently-opened 

exhibition "Wiener Werkstätte 1903-1932: The Luxury of Beauty".

 
                                      Welcome to the Neue Galerie

The Neue Galerie NY, arguably the toniest museum in the city, is highlighting some of the most luxe decorative arts produced by the Wiener Werkstätte in its current special exhibition. "Wiener Werkstätte 1903-1932: The Luxury of Beauty" runs from October 26, 2017 through January 29, 2018; it showcases 400 pieces of functional artwork by Josef Hoffmann, Kolomon Moser,  Dagobert Pesche and other icons of Art Nouveau design.

 Josef  Hoffmann brooch, 1904
acquired by arts patron Fritz Waerndorfer for Lili Waerndorfer
Silver, gilt, diamond, moonstone, opal, lapis lazuli, coral, leopardite

Above: Josef Hoffman tobacco case for Otto Primavesi, 1912

Hoffmann's brooches and boxes, encrusted with semiprecious stones,
  exemplify the Wiener Werkstätte’s luxurious aesthetic.
To read more about Josef Hoffmann, a co-founder of the
Wiener Werkstätte, please check out my article for 
Style 1900 magazine, linked here: Josef Hoffmann Interiors

 The show will explore the workshop’s extensive output in a variety of media, including ceramics, drawings, fashion, furniture, glass, graphic design, jewelry, 
metalwork, textiles and wallpaper.

Josef Hoffmann, Brass centerpiece, 1924

Jewel box by Dagobert Peche, 1920

Gilt silver

Metropolitan Museum on Art

Josef Hoffmann teapot, 1904
Silver, ebony, raffia

Museum of Fine Arts Boston

Josef Hoffmann coffeepot, 1906, private collection

Silver and snakewood

To read a recent NY Times article about this exhibition,
link here.


 The Neue Galerie was established in 2001
by businessman/philanthropist Ronald Lauder
For more information about the notable history of this venue,
its permanent collection (which includes Gustav Klimt's
splendid Adele Bloch-Bauer I) and special exhibitions
visit neuegalerie.org 

Gustav Klimt, Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I, 1907

The movie Woman in Gold, starring Helen Mirren,
tells the story of how this painting was stolen by the Nazis, but 
eventually returned to its rightful owner, Maria Altmann,
  Bloch-Bauer's niece. It was purchased by the Galerie at auction 
in 2006 for $135 million, and is now on permanent display there.

Above: The Galerie's elegant, Viennese-style Café Sabarsky
It is outfitted with period objects, including lighting fixtures by Josef Hoffmann, furniture by Adolf Loos, and banquettes upholstered with a 
1912 Otto Wagner fabric. 
A stop-off here for coffee and pastries never goes amiss!

~oOo~

OBJECTS OF DESIRE: Glamorous paper dresses

Whether or not this story about a 4-year-old fashionista who

calls herself "Mayhem" is true, the dresses themselves are really fab!
They are created from paper, inspired by classic films and

red carpet fashion that she sees on television.

A slinky little number from the flapper era,

with "feather" fascinator

Mayhem is prone to floating over rainbows,

and coming back with ideas.

Lupita Nyong’o's dress for the Golden Globes

A gown for the modern bride

Link here to read about the design prodigy who calls herself "Mayhem".

~oOo~

Originally posted on Valentine's Day, 2014