Josef Hoffmann was born in Austria in 1870. At the age of 17, Josef Hoffmann started studying classic architecture in Brunn. From there, he studied architecture under Karl Freiherr von Hasenauer at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts. At that time, von Hasenauer was one of Europe's most popular architects. After von Hasenauer's death, Otto Wagner, Europe's most famous 19th-century architect, took over the class. Josef Hoffmann went on to work for Wagner later in his career. Two of Hoffmann's enduring furniture designs, the Hoffmann Cubus and the Hoffmann Velvet Chair, have remained very popular into the 21st century. The Josef Hoffmann Velvet Armchair was developed in 1911 for the "House Kohler." Josef Hoffmann based the Velvet Armchair design on a previous model from the vestibule of Palais Stoclet in Brussels (1905-1911), and this piece represents an iteration of that design. The Velvet Sofa we see here differs from that model primarily in how Josef Hoffmann was more liberal in his use of decorative border, in this case, the striped piping. This design also features the derivations of the armchair and three-seat sofa, as shown here. Made In Italy. Dimensions: H 36 1/4" D 32 1/4" W 78 3/4" SH 16" ArH 26" Material: Velvet upholstered three-seat sofa with striped piping. Hardwood frame covered with expanded foam. Velvet available in a variety of colors.
