Pencil Holder

Josef Hoffmann|Wiener Werkstätte

ca. 1910 · Wood, mother-of-pearl, ebony, silver, suede · Modern and Contemporary Art

Hoffman’s simple grid showcases the marquetry of precious wood and mother-of-pearl. This pencil holder belongs to a desk set (MMA 1977.72.1ab–5) that is an early example of a modernist aesthetic based on geometry rather than natural elements, a formal conceit that spanned various scales, from buildings to ink pads. The basic volumes and shapes of the set suggest mini-architecture, or an urban landscape.

Artist

Josef Hoffmann|Wiener Werkstätte

Date

ca. 1910

Medium

Wood, mother-of-pearl, ebony, silver, suede

Department

Modern and Contemporary Art

Credit line

Purchase, Anonymous Gift, 1977