Wiener Werkstätte ring
The concept behind the Wiener Werkstätte was part of a much larger movement towards collaborative guild-style workshops, beginning with the Arts & Crafts movement in Britain. It was founded in 1903 by Josef Hoffmann and Koloman Moser, with the backing of a prominent businessman and patron of the arts, Fritz Waerndorfer. The Wiener Werkstätte believed in hiring well-trained craftsmen, making their products more expensive than those created, for instance, by C. R. Ashbee’s Guild of Handicrafts in England. Hence the Wiener Werkstätte’s clientele were often members of the Viennese elite.
Jewelry was especially prized as an outward symbol of artistic independence. A surviving photograph held by the Museum of Applied Arts in Vienna confirms that this ring was designed by Dagobert Peche, who joined the Wiener Werkstätte in 1915 as artistic director. Peche was highly regarded by Josef Hoffmann, who upon Peche’s death in 1923 wrote, "Dagobert Peche was the greatest ornamental genius Austria has produced since the Baroque." The ring is accompanied by an original Wiener Werkstätte black leather box, embossed in gold lettering.
Jewelry was especially prized as an outward symbol of artistic independence. A surviving photograph held by the Museum of Applied Arts in Vienna confirms that this ring was designed by Dagobert Peche, who joined the Wiener Werkstätte in 1915 as artistic director. Peche was highly regarded by Josef Hoffmann, who upon Peche’s death in 1923 wrote, "Dagobert Peche was the greatest ornamental genius Austria has produced since the Baroque." The ring is accompanied by an original Wiener Werkstätte black leather box, embossed in gold lettering.
Artwork Details
- Title: Wiener Werkstätte ring
- Designer: Dagobert Peche (Austrian, 1887–1923) for the Wiener Werkstätte
- Date: ca. 1920
- Medium: Gold, pearls, diamonds, and sapphire
- Dimensions: a (ring): 1 x 7/8 x 1 in. (2.5 x 2.2 x 2.5 cm)
< 0.1 lb
b (box): 1-1/2 x 1-1/2 x 1-7/8 in. (3.8 x.3.8 x.4.8 kg) - Classification: Jewelry
- Credit Line: Gift of Jacqueline Loewe Fowler, 2020
- Object Number: 2021.54.38
- Curatorial Department: Modern and Contemporary Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Multiple artists/makers
1922
Multiple artists/makers
1922
Multiple artists/makers
1922
Multiple artists/makers
1922
Multiple artists/makers
1922
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.