Side Table By Jacob & Josef Kohn, Austria, 1916

This Austrian side table by Jacob & Josef Kohn, dating from 1916, exquisitely illustrates the Kohn firm's transition from the artisanal craftsmanship of the late 19th century to the clean, modern aesthetic that would soon define Viennese design. Renowned for their pioneering work in bentwood furniture and their collaborations with leading designers of the era, Kohn furniture from this period embodies a rare balance of elegance, innovation, and meticulous craftsmanship. Made of richly finished wood, the table features a rectangular top supported by four slender legs connected by gracefully curved stretchers. The apron is adorned with finely carved fan-shaped cutouts, a decorative motif that reflects the enduring influence of Secessionist geometry while retaining the warmth and softness characteristic of early 20th-century Austrian furniture. The lower supports provide both structural stability and visual harmony, creating a rhythmic interplay of vertical and horizontal lines. By 1916, Jacob & Josef Kohn had established themselves as one of Europe's most influential furniture manufacturers, shaping the visual language of modern interiors. Their creations from this period reveal a shift towards lighter forms, subtle ornamentation, and a pursuit of functional beauty; qualities that would soon merge into the emerging aesthetic of the Wiener Werkstätte and the beginnings of modernism.