1903, for the apartment of Michael Leiss, Vienna, manufactured by F. O. Schmidt, polished mahogany, upholstered and covered with leather, on brass-mounted castors, height 70 cm, width 90 cm, depth 68 cm, height of seat 40 cm. (DRAX)

Original surface-finish of the wood. The leather covering replaced about 20 years ago.

Lit.:
B. Rukschcio, R. Schachel, Adolf Loos. Leben und Werk, Salzburg 1982, p 432, no. 23 – B. Rukschcio, Studie zu Entwürfen, Projekten und ausgeführten Bauten von Adolf Loos, Vienna 1973, W. V. W. 24.03.

Provenance:
apartment of Michael and Karoline Leiss, 1130 Vienna, No. 16 Reichgasse (now No. 16 Beckgasse) – by descent to Gustav Wassmann, 1971 – from 1973 onwards owned by the latter’s daughter – sold in 1989 – private ownership, Vienna

In 1903, Michael Leiss had his apartment in Reichgasse decorated by Adolf Loos, who was a friend of his, as is attested to by surviving correspondence. It seems to have been Leiss who informed Lina Loos in 1904 of her husband’s decision that they should separate. When Leiss died in 1952, the furniture passed into the possession of Karoline, his widow, who left it to Gustav Wassmann in 1971. In 1973, the latter gave it to his daughter as a wedding present. Only part of the furniture, which in literature was considered lost, has survived: apart from the armchairs and tea table offered for sale here, it includes a games table, a desk, and a large cabinet.