More than just a button - 55.200 Euro for a Josef Hoffmann button at the Art Nouveau Auction

Button designed by Josef Hoffmann

What may look like a piece of precious jewellery is in fact 'just' a button. But then a button becomes much more than just a button when it is designed by Josef Hoffmann and wrought for the Wiener Werkstätte ("Vienna Workshops") by a goldsmith. The difference was made abundantly clear by the enormous sum of 55.200 Euro, about ten times the original estimate, a British bidder paid for this item at the Art Nouveau Auction held at the Vienna Dorotheum on 28th November 2007. Measuring 2,5 x 2,5 cm, the jewelled button of gilt silver is set with opals and small corals and was designed by Josef Hoffmann in 1908/10; the goldsmith was Karl Ponocny.

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	Button designed by Josef Hoffmann
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