Pair Austrian Art Deco Period Chrome Sconces Attributed to Carl Witzmann

Our client's chrome plated sconces with glass globes, attributed to Carl Witzmann (1883-1952), date from the second quarter of the twentieth century. Light fixtures are wired for use.  Chrome is in good condition with light scratches, consistent with age and use. Original glass globes are missing.

Witzmann attended the Wiener Kunstgewerbeschule and studied under Josef Hoffmann within the Wiener Werkstätte. The artist designs lighting fixtures for Woka as early as 1929, and recently the Viennese firm reissued a design by Witzmann almost identical to ours, but with rectangular wall plate.  The designer was son to the well-known master craftsman, Adolf Legerer, and studied from 1900 to 1904 at the Vienna School of Applied Arts in the architecture class under Hermann Herdtle and Josef Hoffmann. Witzmann remained friendly with his teacher Hoffmann throughout his life. In 1908 he received a teaching position at the Vienna School of Applied Arts. From 1901 Witzmann also worked as a freelance architect in Vienna. In addition to the Wiener Werkstätte, the artist also designed for Thonet, Backhausen and Lobmeyr. He also received acclaim nationally and internationally in the field of exhibition and furnishing and in the field of theater and cinema.