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| Viennese Revival |
Assessing Acquisitions
04/01/2004
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As with all antiques, factors such as rarity,
provenance (ownership history), historical significance and condition are
critical components of the value of Wiener Werkstätte objects. Important pieces
often have a provenance documented in books about the workshop, or recorded in
the archives at the Museum of Applied Arts in Vienna, and include those created
on commission from important clients, such as the Purkersdorf Sanatorium in
Vienna (a spa/hospital where Hoffmann and Moser collaborated on decoration) and
the Stonborough-Wittgenstein family (longstanding patrons of the Wiener
Werkstätte). Items such as these are the most sought after and have skyrocketed
in value.
 “When buying silver and other metalwork, be sure to check for the
Wiener Werkstätte stamps, which changed over the years,” advises Denis Gallion
of Historical Design. “People try to pass off works that look like Wiener
Werkstätte—whether unmarked or seemingly signed—that are not authentic. And keep
in mind that condition flaws such as dents, which destroy the structural purity
of a piece, or broken inlaid stones will reduce the value of an item.”  Back to main article: "Viennese Revival"
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