{"title":"Jacob and Josef Kohn: Masters of Austrian Bentwood Furniture","description":"\u003ch2 data-start=\"200\" data-end=\"240\"\u003ePioneers of Modern Design in Vienna\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"242\" data-end=\"667\"\u003eFounded in Vienna in 1849 by \u003cstrong data-start=\"271\" data-end=\"297\"\u003eJacob Kohn (1791–1866)\u003c\/strong\u003e and his son \u003cstrong data-start=\"310\" data-end=\"336\"\u003eJosef Kohn (1814–1884)\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong data-start=\"338\" data-end=\"354\"\u003eJ. \u0026amp; J. Kohn\u003c\/strong\u003e quickly became one of the most influential furniture manufacturers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Their innovative use of Austrian beech and mastery of bentwood techniques positioned them as rivals to the renowned Thonet Brothers, reshaping European furniture design in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"669\" data-end=\"703\"\u003eInnovation and Craftsmanship\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"704\" data-end=\"1131\"\u003eThe Kohn firm produced an extensive range of modern furniture — from chairs, stools, and coat racks to children’s doll furniture. Their designs were celebrated for their practicality, elegance, and technical sophistication. By harnessing the possibilities of bentwood, J. \u0026amp; J. Kohn pioneered new forms that balanced strength with graceful curves, helping to democratise stylish, functional furniture across Europe and beyond.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"1133\" data-end=\"1179\"\u003eCollaboration with the Wiener Werkstätte\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1180\" data-end=\"1673\"\u003eAt the turn of the 20th century, J. \u0026amp; J. Kohn’s collaboration with the \u003cstrong data-start=\"1251\" data-end=\"1272\"\u003eWiener Werkstätte\u003c\/strong\u003e, co-founded by architect \u003cstrong data-start=\"1298\" data-end=\"1316\"\u003eJosef Hoffmann\u003c\/strong\u003e, marked a high point in their creative output. This partnership produced distinctive furniture characterised by bentwood, cane, and upholstered designs that reflected the ideals of the \u003cstrong data-start=\"1502\" data-end=\"1547\"\u003eArt Nouveau and early Modernist movements\u003c\/strong\u003e. Distributed widely through their expansive showroom network, these pieces became hallmarks of avant-garde Viennese design.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"1675\" data-end=\"1707\"\u003eMergers and Transformation\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1708\" data-end=\"2087\"\u003eFollowing World War I, economic pressures and intense competition led to mergers with other manufacturers. By the early 1920s, J. \u0026amp; J. Kohn merged with the Mundus company, forming \u003cstrong data-start=\"1888\" data-end=\"1903\"\u003eMundus-Kohn\u003c\/strong\u003e, and shortly thereafter \u003cstrong data-start=\"1928\" data-end=\"1945\"\u003eThonet-Mundus\u003c\/strong\u003e. While the \u003cstrong data-start=\"1957\" data-end=\"1967\"\u003eThonet\u003c\/strong\u003e brand continued to expand and thrive post–World War II, the name J. \u0026amp; J. Kohn eventually disappeared from production.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"2089\" data-end=\"2110\"\u003eEnduring Legacy\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2111\" data-end=\"2503\"\u003eToday, J. \u0026amp; J. Kohn furniture remains highly collectable, prized for its craftsmanship, elegance, and historical importance. Iconic designs include \u003cstrong data-start=\"2259\" data-end=\"2305\"\u003ebentwood wingback chairs by Josef Hoffmann\u003c\/strong\u003e, beech nesting tables, and a wide range of seating and side tables. These timeless creations continue to exemplify the artistry and innovation of one of Austria’s most important furniture makers.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"two-ebonised-viennese-secessionist-settees","title":"Two Ebonised Viennese Secessionist Settees","description":"\u003cp\u003eTwo Ebonised Viennese Secessionist Settees | Benches\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese exceptional benches hail from the Viennese Secessionist movement, a period known for its innovative take on modern design at the turn of the 20th century. Their striking appearance is characteristic of the era’s focus on geometric form and refined craftsmanship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOrigin: Austria, Vienna\u003cbr\u003eDate: Circa 1910\u003cbr\u003eMaterial: Ebonised wood, original striped velvet upholstery\u003cbr\u003eDimensions: Height: 78 cm (30.7 in), Height of seat: 51 cm (20 in), Width: 122 cm (48 in), Depth: 46 cm (18.1 in)\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Retain excellent original upholstery, with a well-preserved ebonised finish; one bearing the Kohn label\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExpertly crafted in Vienna and attributed to the esteemed designer Josef Hoffmann for Kohn, these ebonised Secessionist settees embody the transition from ornate nineteenth-century styles to the clean lines and understated elegance that defined the early modernist aesthetic. Similar examples are held in renowned museum collections and celebrated for their role in advancing modern furniture design in Europe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNotable Features:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFine ebonising lends a sleek, rich finish, offset by the original striped velvet upholstery which remains in superb condition\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe settees showcase the geometric simplicity and balanced proportions identified with the Viennese Secessionist style, pioneered by Josef Hoffmann and his contemporaries\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWith one bench retaining the rare Kohn manufacturer’s label, these are highly desirable for collectors seeking authenticated pieces linked to a distinguished maker\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTheir comfortable scale and timeless design make these benches suitable both for sophisticated display and practical seating, enhancing any modern or period-inspired interior\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese settees are an excellent illustration of the power and purity of Secessionist design, fusing artistic innovation with functional appeal. The ebonised seating is particularly sought-after for its rarity and collectable status, offering a unique opportunity to acquire pieces reflecting both historical and aesthetic significance.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Collection TH20","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51216306372945,"sku":"4438","price":14500.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0935\/5873\/5185\/files\/f_40031492_1717570415677_bg_processed.webp?v=1748951608"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0935\/5873\/5185\/collections\/IMG_1141.jpg?v=1757530224","url":"https:\/\/nwtiques.com\/collections\/kohn.oembed","provider":"Nicholas Wells Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}