The furniture in this extraordinary study was designed in 1913 by Hans Bolek, an extremely talented student of the legendary Josef Hoffmann, and was impressively presented at the renowned Winter Exhibition of the Austrian Museum of Art and Industry (ÖMKI) in 1913/1914, together with a living room. The masterful craftsmanship was carried out by August Ungethüm, who was also trained under Hoffmann and was known for his excellent craftsmanship. International interior design magazines and daily newspapers praised the room at the time for its groundbreaking style and craftsmanship, which brought it attention and recognition far beyond Austria’s borders. The entire study was purchased on November 6, 1913, by the then Minister of Public Works, Baron Ottokar Trnka von Laberon, further underscoring its high cultural and political value. Hans Bolek’s work during his training period comprises only a few complete room furnishings, which makes this ensemble an exceptionally rare and art-historically significant testimony to Viennese Art Nouveau. The furniture is characterized by a clear, elegant design that was strongly influenced by Josef Hoffmann’s style. Particularly noteworthy is the harmonious combination of strictly geometric forms with flowing floral elements— two seemingly contradictory styles that Bolek brought into aesthetic harmony with particular sensitivity and skill. This stylistic synthesis emphasizes the Viennese Art Nouveau’s pursuit of a combination of aesthetic purity, decorative expressiveness, and functional clarity.
