An ebonised maplewood and rush salon suite
An ebonised maplewood and rush salon suite

DESIGNED BY JOSEF ZOTTI, MANUFACTURED BY PRAG RUDNIKER, CIRCA 1911

Details
An ebonised maplewood and rush salon suite
Designed by Josef Zotti, manufactured by Prag Rudniker, circa 1911
Turned framework, the chairs with rush seat and back, the oval tabletop overlaid with floral fabric
37¼in. (94.7cm.) height of chairs
27in. (68.5cm.) high; 27.1/8in. (69cm.) maximum width; 21.1/8in. (53.5cm.) maximum depth Dimensions of table (3)

Lot Essay

Cf: The Studio, Yearbook for 1912
See also: Josef Zotti. Architect und Designer, Hochschule fr Angewandte Kunst in Wien, 1993, pp. 28 & 128, pl. 7.8

Zotti, like Hans Vollmer and Otto Schmidt before him, studied under Josef Hoffmann before going on to design for Prag Rudniker. The chair design formed part of the exhibition of 1911 at the Kunstgewerbeschule to which Zotti contributed several pieces although he had completed his studies in 1909.
The strong, rigidly geometrical form of the chair contrasts somewhat with the traditional decorative 'bobbin' effect and the use of rush, a dying craft championed by Zotti. The design was taken up by Prag Rudniker, appearing in the catalogue of the following year and was discussed in The Studio yearbook for 1912.

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