Secessionistic Cabinet by Willhelm Schmidt attributed for Miksa Max, Budapest, 1905

Object: sideboard
Design: Wilhelm Schmidt zug. (Vienna, around 1905)
Model number: –
Execution: Miksa (Max) Schmidt (Budapest, around 1905)
Dimensions in cm (H x W x D): 180 x 88 x 38
Materials: cut glass, alabaster, brass, white oak
Condition: professionally restored
Provenance: Budapest
Literature:-

Additional Information:
Wilhelm Schmidt (1880–after 1928), a furniture designer and architect from Bohemia, studied with Prof. Josef Hoffmann at the Vienna School of Applied Arts and from 1901 worked for the most important Viennese art furniture company “Friedrich Otto Schmidt”. He was part of the “Viennese Art in the House” group and campaigned for the renewal of furniture design. Schmidt’s collaboration with “Friedrich Otto Schmidt” and the advice of Adolf Loos contributed to the modern direction of the company. Schmidt’s style was characterized by the constructive qualities of his teacher Prof. Josef Hoffmann and a design appropriate to the material.

Miksa (Max) Schmidt (1861–1935) was an interior decorator and art collector from Vienna. After his training and work experience, he joined the company “Friedrich Otto Schmidt” in 1889, which he managed with his brother from 1894. Under her leadership, the company expanded and specialized in furniture based on Hungarian designs and historical models. The company was significantly influenced by the architect Adolf Loos, who worked as a consultant and manufactured art furniture based on designs by the most important designers such as Prof. Josef Hoffmann, Koloman Moser & their students, such as Wilhelm Schmidt.