Untitled / Desk for the Österreichische Postsparkasse

Otto Wagner

Otto Wagner created the desk shown here for Österreichische Postsparkasse (Austrian Postal Savings Bank) in Vienna. The piece of furniture was used in the open-plan office within the building, which was constructed between 1904 and 1912. Combined to form a group of four, it also served as a counting table in the counter hall. In total there were four of these counting tables, each made up of four individual desks, teamed with a cube-shaped stool. Both designs combine dark stained wood with aluminium trim. Unlike in the case of the stool, the coin-sized aluminium discs on the desk are purely decorative. They not only provide a colour and material accent, but also match the exterior facade of the building, which is constructed from aluminium caps on 17,000 steel nails. This element is also found on the inside of the building, and is particularly prominent in the marble wall panelling and aluminium-clad columns in the counter hall, for example. Text: Barbara M. Eggert