Descriptive Summary
Biographical / Historical Note
Administrative Information
Scope and Content of Collection
Descriptive Summary
Title: Josef Steindl furniture design
Date (inclusive): 1888-1928
Number: 930025
Creator/Collector:
Steindl, Josef
Physical Description:
4.0 linear feet
(7 boxes, 6 flat file folders)
Repository:
The Getty Research Institute
Special Collections
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
Los Angeles, California, 90049-1688
(310) 440-7390
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.
Request Materials: Request access to the physical materials described in this inventory through the
catalog record for this collection. Click here for the
access policy .
Language: Collection material is in
German
Biographical / Historical Note
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.
Administrative Information
Access
Open for use by qualified researchers.
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
Josef Steindl furniture design, ca. 1888-1928, Getty Research Institute, Research Library, Accession no. 930025.
http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa930025
Acquisition Information
The collection was acquired May 25, 1993.
Processing History
Rose Lachman processed the collection and wrote the finding aid.
Scope and Content of Collection
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.