Joseph Maria Olbrich

Joseph Maria Olbrich was one of the most important leaders of the Vienna Secession. Olbrich was a brilliant Austrian architect and designer who joined forces with Josef Hoffmann and other Vienna Secessionists, worked under Otto Wagner in the 1890s and, in 1899, moved to Darmstadt at the invitation of the Duke of Hesse. Olbrich’s major commissions included the Secession Building, Vienna, Austria; Café Niedermeyer, Troppau, Austria (modern-day Opava, Czech Republic); and the Ernst Ludwig House, the Olbrich House, and the exhibition buildings at the influential Darmstadt Artists’ Colony.

Works associated with this person or group

  • Fork (Germany), 1901

    Four tines; long handle tapers then swells at end, with two concave lobes. Back side has engraved oval near head and long lines extending down sides. JO monogram in square…

  • Knife (Germany), 1901

    Long scalpel-shaped blade; handle slightly pistol-shaped, engraved with linear borders and oval cartouches at top and bottom, lower one with leafy motif. JO monogram in square at lower end of…

  • Spoon (Germany), 1901

    Bowl has slightly pointed head, handle tapers then swells at end, with two concave lobes. JO monogram in square at lower end of handle, backside.