Furniture

One focus of the Art Collection is on the lifestyle of the Viennese bourgeoisie. It is documented in the museum by means of furniture, lighting, representations of interiors and designs for interior decoration, whereby the main focus in terms of period is on the 19th century. Among the central sub-collections are objects from the Biedermeier Period, Historicism as well as several examples of bentwood furniture that was newly developed at the time by Thonet furniture makers. The “Grillparzer Room” – the Austrian playwright’s apartment reconstructed from original parts – is also an authentic and by and large complete example of Viennese style of living around 1850. 

The 20th century is mainly documented by the artistic works of Viennese architects. Among the highlights of the collection is the living room and chimney room from Adolf Loos’s own apartment reconstructed from original pieces of furniture dating from 1903. The furniture designs of Oswald Haerdtl, architect of the Wien Museum on Karlsplatz that opened in 1959, also represent an important focus.