the Wiener Werkstätte (designer(s) unknown)
Leather Bonbon Eggbox
circa 1917 (?)
An understatement in many respects, it is fortunate for us that no one has yet discarded this wonderful piece of leather work simply for its seemingly minimal or boring design, or for an ignorant understanding of its ‘limited usage’. This is an egg remarkably well kept, with its silky pillowed interior in mint condition (void of any irksome stains) and its gilded handiwork showcasing little chipping or fading. Considering that this has survived for nearly a century since its creation as well as that it is made up of such easily degradable and delicate materials, it is a wonder that this precious facet of the short-lived Wiener Werkstätte is only being sold for a mere 65 Euros. It is likely, however, that in its heyday the egg would have been no more expensive than its price today, as the Austrian Arts and Crafts movement who made it was one who passionately promoted hand-made works of art for the everyday home - therefore affordable, tasteful and useful, and brilliantly executed to boot. The movement’s imminent downfall, though, proved that such ideals were not yet fully appreciated by its targeted clientèle, let alone the more international market, and soon its avant-garde endeavours were overruled by the more eye-catching, sought-after and ostentatious name-branded works of art which were to blossom before the coming Second World War.
From a positive angle, it is arguably best that the movement experienced an abrupt end to its small window of expression because this motived its members to experiment and create to the fullest. Its end was felt far before its arrival, either through funding matters or the short supplies of materials and workers in relation to the demands and commissions of those who did value its work. As a result, each of the Wiener Werkstätte products were made with the utmost care and attention despite the risk of never being sold or even publicly seen. Once deemed too crafty or unworthy of true artistic merit, works like this leather egg now resurface to a continually maturing society, one riddled with pattern lovers and decorative art vintage collectors who are able to read more clearly the message engrained in such objects - that art, despite age, era or type, can be anything and everything so long as its expression is valued.
