Source: Wikipedia

Established in 1903, the Wiener Werkstätte (Vienna Workshop) was a production community
of visual artists. The workshop brought together architects, artists and designers whose first
commitment was to design art which would be accessible to everyone. The work most
representative of the Wiener Werkstätte is probably the Stoclet Palace in Brussels.

The enterprise, sometimes also named incorrect: Wiener or Weiner Werkstatte, Wiener
Werkstaetten, evolved from the Vienna Secession, founded in 1897 as a progressive
alliance of artists and designers.

From the start, the Secession had placed special emphasis on the applied arts, and its
1900 exhibition surveying the work of contemporary European design workshops
prompted the young architect Josef Hoffmann and his artist friend Koloman Moser to
consider establishing a similar enterprise in Austria.

Finally in 1903, with backing from the industrialist Fritz Wärndorfer, the Wiener Werkstätte
saw the light of day. From three small rooms, it soon expanded to fill a three-story building
with separate, specially designed facilities for metalwork, leatherwork, bookbinding,
woodworking and a paint shop.

The undertaking "WIENER WERKSTAETTE" had a clear aim: to make all facets of human
life into one unified work of art.

This began with the creation of - for that time extraordinarily - advanced working conditions
for the craftsmen, and it ended with the wish to create everything entirely anew, whether or
not it was needed for everyday use or schould act as decoration.

It was also decided only to approve objects of outstanding individuality and beauty, and
great value was put on the exclusive and exquisite craftsmanship.

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