Stained wood, marquetry
Vienna, Austria, around 1920
Designer: Otto Prutscher (1880-1949) – Austrian architect and craftsman
Furniture Factory Knobloch, Vienna 7, Karl-Schweighofer-Gasse 10-12
Elaborate marquetry
With key
Dimensions: 182.5 x 112 x 25 cm
Good condition
Provenance: Austrian private collection

The Austrian architect Otto Prutscher designed this shelf around 1920 as part of the interior of the well-known furniture factory August Knobloch’s Nachfolger at Vienna. The shelf itself is designed in a very sober manner. The small door upper right, elaborately decorated with fine marquetry, is a real eye-catcher. It depicts an oriental scene with a scantily clad snake charmer, who performs a sensual dance before her master. In the background one can discern the Taj Mahal. Through the use of various, partly polychrome veneers, the detailed image looks as if painted with the finest of brushes. The perspective view is fascinating. This is an extravagant piece of furniture, which perfectly illustrates Prutscher’s aesthetic consciousness.



The bookshelf is in good condition with signs of age and wear. A key is included. The shelf measures 182.5 cm in height, 112 cm in width and 25 cm in depth. (tfa)



Otto Prutscher (1880-1949)

Otto Prutscher was born in Vienna in 1880. After an apprenticeship with his father as a carpenter, Prutscher first attended a technical college. In 1895 he travelled to Paris and London. Afterwards he studied at the Kunstgewerbeschule as a student of Franz Matsch and Josef Hoffmann. From 1902 he taught at the Graphische Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt and later at the Vienna School of Applied Arts. Prutscher worked for the Wiener Werkstätte and was a member of the Vienna Künstlerhaus. He worked for the magazine ‘Interieur’ and participated in numerous exhibitions. He created several large residential complexes as well as interiors and designed furniture, jewellery, porcelain and textiles. In 1947 Otto Prutscher was awarded the Austrian State Prize for Architecture.

Shipping costs excl. statutory VAT and plus 2,5% (+VAT) shipping insurance.