Steindl (Josef) Furniture Design, 1888-1928

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Summary

Title:

Josef Steindl furniture design

Dates:

1888-1928

Creators:

Steindl, Josef

Abstract:

Architect and professor at the Royal Technical School for Woodworking in Wal. Mesertitsch, and a noted designer of modern, functional furniture in the 20th century. Steindl designed primarily bentwood and metal tubular furniture. He was, however, also a master of historical furniture styles as seen in his work of the 1880s and 1890s and in the ornamentation for his bentwood pieces. Collection comprises 315 original drawings and 571 photographic prints of furniture designs by Steindl, many in historical styles of the 1890s.

Extent:

4.0 linear feet (7 boxes, 6 flat file folders)

Language:

Collection material is in German

Preferred citation:

Josef Steindl furniture design, ca. 1888-1928, Getty Research Institute, Research Library, Accession no. 930025.

http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa930025

Background

Scope and content:

This collection of ca. 315 original drawings and ca. 571 photographic prints of furniture designs by Josef Steindl covers the years from ca. 1888 to 1928. Ninety photographs are cyanotypes, 54 are of blueprints. Each series in the container list describes the drawings first, followed by the photographs. Few images are dated. Steindl assigned series numbers to his designs. These and his signature or monogram are noted. Designs that fall into the category "historic style" are also noted. Photographers' names and furniture manufacturers' stamps, such as Gebrüder Thonet and Jacob and Josef Kohn are also mentioned. Photographers include A. Mocsigay, Strelisky (Budapest), Victor Angerer (Vienna), H. Jandaurek (Teschen), Photographie Olga (Vienna), J. Hybsa and R. Lechner (Vienna).

Arrangement note

The papers are organized in 2 series: Series I. Individual pieces of furniture and room and furniture ensembles; Series II. Miscellaneous.

Biographical / historical:

Josef Steindl, architect and professor at the Royal Technical School for Woodworking in Wal. Mesertitsch, was a noted designer of modern, functional furniture in the 20th century. His designs were intended for manufacture by the leading furniture factories in Eastern Europe in the early 1900s, the Thonet Bentwood Furniture factory and Jacob and Josef Kohn factory. The two firms merged in Vienna, 1914 (Kohn's archives were destroyed in the late 1930s).

Steindl designed primarily for the bentwood, metal and tubular steel furniture industry in Moravia between 1880 and 1930. However, he was also a master of historical furniture styles as is shown in his work of the 1880s and 1890s. Steindl's command of historical ornament and construction can be seen in his interior designs for cafés, restaurants and various room ensembles. It is also apparent in his ornamental designs for bentwood furniture.

Acquisition information:

The collection was acquired May 25, 1993.

Processing information:

Rose Lachman processed the collection and wrote the finding aid.

Physical location:

Request access to the physical materials described in this inventory through the catalog record for this collection. Click here for the access policy.

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:: Finding aid prepared by Rose Lachman.
Date Encoded:: This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2016-03-29T14:14-0700

Access and use

Restrictions:: Open for use by qualified researchers.
Terms of access:: Contact Library Rights and Reproductions.