PAIR OF 'THEBAN' STOOLS, FROM THE VILLA DUSCHNITZ, VIENNA, 1915

The design of this lot is a derivative from the ancient Egyptian three legged 'Thebes' stool, now in the collection of the British Museum, dating to 1550-1300 B.C. This was first utilised by Liberty & Co., who retailed a version of this, together with a four-legged stool, from 1884 (patent number 16.673). This was sold in their London showrooms until 1907 and was also retailed by Samuel Bing in Paris. Loos first used the design in his apartment in 1903 and his affection for the design was evident as he repeatedly employed it in his commissions until 1927.
These stools were placed in the reception room at the top of the staircase of the Villa Duschnitz. Loos remodelled an existing villa between 1915-1916 for the Viennese industrialist and art collector Kommerzialrat Willbald Duschnitz, with whom he had a close personal friendship. Today this commission is celebrated as an example of Gesamtkunstwerk, a 'total work of art', credited as being one of the architect's most spectacular interior designs.

For a contemporary photograph showing the stools in situ see www.christies.com