attributed to Georg Niemann (a student and later assistant to Theophil Hansen), late 19th century, walnut frames partly with moulded decoration, turned and fluted front feet and armrests, the seats covered with fabric, filigree backrests, consisting of: 1 settee, 2 chairs and two armchairs with different height, seats covered at a later date, heavy signs of age and use, some small parts missing, incl. two fragmentary armchairs.

Provenance:
Formerly from the Panhans hotelier family.

Georg(e) Niemann (1842 Hanover - 1912 Vienna) was a German-Austrian architect, archaeologist, draftsman and etcher. In Vienna, he was a student of (and soon an assistant to) Theophil Hansen, who also became the godfather of his son Theophil Gustav Niemann (also an architect). Niemann gained special importance as an archaeologist in Greece (Samothrace) and Asia Minor (Ephesus), but also in Croatia (Diocletian's Palace in Split). He was member of the Künstlerhaus from 1870 onwards, and became a professor at the Vienna Art Academy in 1873, serving as its rector from 1903-1905. He created buildings in Vienna such as the Radetzky Monument (together with Zumbusch), the tomb of Theophil Hansen or the villas Zumbusch and Simon.

Lit.:
Sitzglegenheit des Architekten Theophil Hansen. Die stilistische Ableitung und Einordnung in das Wiener Möbel, thesis, Eva-Maria Orosz, Vienna, January 2000, ill. 138, 139.