painted beechwood
bench: 39¹⁄₂ x 79 x 52 in. (100.3 x 200.7 x 132.1 cm)
table: 30³⁄₄ x 31 x 19¹⁄₄ in. (78.2 x 78.8 x 48.9 cm)

Dr. Hugo Koller and Broncia Koller-Pinell, circa 1911
Chris and Crysta Gallery, Vienna
Acquired from the above by the present owner, 1995

W. Michel, "Kunst-Patriotismus", Deutsche Kunst und Dekoration, Vol. XXXVII, 1915-1916, p. 401 (present lot illustrated)
E. F. Sekler, Josef Hoffmann The Architectural Work, Wien, 1982, pp. 127 (present lot illustrated), 357 (for a discussion of the commission)
B. Manner, Broncia Koller: 1863-1934, Wein, 2006, p. 129 (for a discussion of the commission)

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Lot Essay

Dr. Hugo and Broncia Koller commissioned their friend Josef Hoffmann to design and furnish their Vienna apartment, summer house, and laboratory factory. Dr. Koller studied medicine at the University of Vienna and eventually specialized in electrochemistry. He met Jewish painter Broncia Pinell in the 1880s and the couple married soon after.

Broncia studied painting and sculpture in Vienna before spending five years in Munich where she studied in the atelier of Ludwig Heterich and Ludwig Kühn. In Vienna, she grew closer to Gustav Klimt and eventually exhibited with him and his group at the Kunstshacu in 1908 and 1909. In 1913, she join the Bund österreichischer Künstler, founded by Kilmt, Koloman Moser, and Josef Hoffmann.

The couple lived in Salzburg shortly after their marriage before relocating to Vienna where they befriended and entertained many Secessionist arts and members of the Wiener Werkstätte. They established a salon in their home and encouraged the work of younger artist's in addition to more established designers. Once they acquired their summer home in Oberwaltersdorf, the couple decorated according to plans designed by Moser and Hoffmann. Their couple's exquisite home and collection remained in the family until 1966.