Vienna Media News 11/2011 On the trail of Wiener Werkstätte designs

World-famous textiles manufacturer Backhausen was one of Wiener Werkstätte's main suppliers, working with the design collective from its inception in 1903. The Wiener Werkstätte museum at Backhausen's headquarters sheds light on the long-standing cooperation between the two enterprises. It contains a selection of the 3,500 different fabric patterns that Backhausen has collected during the course of its illustrious history. Many of the works are attributable to young designers who were involved in the Viennese art nouveau and Wiener Werkstätte movements. Backhausen produces an exclusive range of fabrics, carpets and accessories based on the original Wiener Werkstätten designs.

Woka Lamps Vienna produces exclusive lighting based on contemporary Wiener Werkstätte and Jugendstil designs. Many of the high-quality reproductions can be seen in the city center showrooms and on the Woka website. Josef Hoffmann's crystal chandelier for the Palais Stoclet in Brussels, Otto Wagner's outdoor lighting for Vienna's Stadtbahn commuter railway and Adolf Loos' designs for gentlemen's outfitters Knize are among the highlights. The lights are made exclusively by hand and, in some cases, using original tools. Each comes with a certificate of authenticity.

Now in its sixth generation, legendary Viennese glass and lighting producer Lobmeyr is a byword for time-honored, quality manufacturing. The company (est. 1823) also has a long-standing tradition of working with leading designers to produce various timeless classics such as the B series drinking glasses which are manufactured according to the original sketches by key Wiener Werkstätte creative Josef Hoffmann. There are several Josef Hoffmann designs in the Porzellanmanufaktur Augarten portfolio to this day. Introduced in 1929, his Melonenservice (a striking striped mocha set) has been in production ever since its introduction in 1929 - as has his Atlantis tea service (1930).

• Backhausen, Schwarzenbergstrasse 10, 1010 Vienna, www.backhausen.at
• Woka Lamps Vienna, Singerstrasse 16, 1010 Vienna, www.woka.com
• J. & L. Lobmeyr, Kärntnerstrasse 26, 1010 Vienna, www.lobmeyr.at
• Augarten Wien, Spiegelgasse 3, 1010 Vienna, www.augarten.at