Exceptional and rare living room set composed by a table with four chairs, and sofà, a Book cabinet and Pedestal by Ludwig Alter, Darmstadt, Germany, 1908 circa.
Part of a living room ordered and executed in 1908 by Ludwig Alter for a noble family from Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany.
Original unrestored condition and step by step restoration detailed photo documentation available.

Macassar, solid and veneered. Amboyna, Macassar, abalone and white mother of pearl inlay, surface professionally repolished, solid Macassar support pillars mounted on Macassar veneered table base, twin Macassar spheres as legs, central pillar executed to the artistic level, highest quality cabinet making from Ludwig Alter, supplier to the Court of Ernst Ludwig IV the Grand Duke Hessen-Darmstadt and the famous Art Colony, Mathilenhöhe.” Furniture is in excellent condition. Ludwig Alter, between others was also commissioned by: Count Erbach-Schönberg in Schönberg, Count Solms-Laubach in Laubach, Count Isenburg zu Meerholz in Meerholz, Castle Gettenbach, Baron von Riedesel in Stockhausen, Baron von Riedesel zu Eisenbach in Eisenbach.
In the beginning of the 20th century, Darmstadt was an important centre for the art movement of Jugendstil, the German variant of Art Nouveaux. Annual architectural competitions led to the building of many architectural treasures of this period.
Provenance: private ownership, Darmstadt, Germany.
Sizes:
Table 70 x 70 and 77 cm high
2 Armchairs 57 x 49 cm and 102 cm high. Seat height 47 cm.
2 chairs 44 x 44 cm and 94 cm high. Seat height 47 cm.
Book Cabinet/ Bookcase/Vitrine : 106 wide, 46 deep and 200 cm high.
Sofa : 155 wide, 70 deep and 47 cm seat hight.
Pedestal : 43 x 27 and 130 high.

The Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig founded the “Mathildenhöhe Artist’s Colony” in 1900 and called the most important people of the time to Darmstadt and result was the collaboration between artist and artisan, between creative will and the technical ability of the workshops, an extremely fruitful work. The exhibitions of the artists’ colony in 1901, 1904 – which were followed by more exhibitions in 1908 and 1914 – made a decisive breakthrough into something completely new and paved the way for a new furnishing art and for the first time directed the attention of the whole world to the growth of the young German art. The joyful willingness to make sacrifices of the companies and workshops that took part in this ideal task, the breakthrough in German Interior art towards independence, is reflected in the story and will always be remembered. And the chronicler will not forget the high share of the Ludwig Alter family in this service. Together with the artists: Patriz Huber, Peter Behrens, Olbrich, Albinmüller, Schumacher, Lossow, Edm. Körner, Billing and others, Ludwig Alter brought furniture to a technical perfection. Spatial creations that were exhibited in Darmstadt were also shown in Turin in 1902, in St. Louis in 1904 with highest awards, Moscow in 1906, and in Mannheim in 1907. The economic condition of the Weimar Republic did not stop the production at the Alter furniture factory until the year 1929 when it was definitively given up and finally liquidated in 1936 during Nazi regime.
Source: Walter Kuhl, Darmstadt.
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Details
Dimensions
Height: 30.32 in. (77 cm)
Width: 27.56 in. (70 cm)
Depth: 27.56 in. (70 cm)
Seat Height: 17.72 in. (45 cm)
Style
Art Nouveau (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques
Wood
Place of Origin
Germany
Period
1900-1909
Date of Manufacture
1908
Condition
Excellent
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location
Rome, IT