With the opening of the special exhibition "HERE WE ARE! WOMEN IN DESIGN 1900 - TODAY", the Vienna Furniture Museum laid the foundation for its annual focus on "Women in Design" at the beginning of the year. Against the backdrop of the struggle for equal rights, the exhibition tells a new, polyphonic design story, emphasising that women have made a decisive contribution to the development of modern design.

In the museum’s permanent exhibition, women from Austria from the eighteenth century to the present day are also present on many levels as patronesses and clients, architects, craftswomen and designers.

From March to September 2024 the Austrian ceramicist Gudrun Baudisch was presented with her with the works she made for the "Wiener Werkstätte", at her "Keramik Hallstatt" studio and as a member of "Gruppe H".

Since June 2024, the new thematic trail "For her: rooms for women" leads through the permanent exhibition. Even in imperial times women at court were able to implement their own personal tastes in questions of interior design and set the prevailing style. At the same time, the furnishings of rooms for women established and reinforced their roles in society, while also sometimes challenging them.

A tour of the museum’s permanent exhibition gives visitors the opportunity to discover furnishings and ensembles that were specifically made for women – from Maria Theresa‘s love of East Asia to Maria Ludovica’s Egyptian Cabinet and Empress Elisabeth’s furniture from the Hermes Villa to Lucy Rie’s flat.

It was not until the twentieth century that women in Austria gradually gained access to higher artistic and technical studies, opening up opportunities for independent employment as architects, craftswomen and designers.

Displayed on the gallery of the Vienna Furniture Museum is "From Her: Furniture by Women", showcasing pieces by Margarete Schütte-Lihotsky and other renowned Viennese and Austrian designers.

Following this, to mark the centenary of the Augarten Vienna Porcelain Manufactory as part of Vienna Design Week we are showing "Do it differently! Women designers at the Augarten Porcelain Manufactory". (September 20, 2024 to  January 5, 2025)

Hedy Lamarr was an exceptional personality: multi-faceted, clever, creative, the most beautiful woman in the world. A Hollywood icon endowed with an extraordinary inventive spirit. Glamor and partying weren't her cup of tea. She preferred to stay at home.

The exhibition presents the actress, inventor, Viennese Hedy Lamarr on what would be her 110th birthday and tells of her growing up in a middle-class Jewish Viennese family, her naked appearance in the movie "Ecstasy", her marriage to the notorious munitions dealer Fritz Mandl up to her escape from the golden cage to Hollywood.

Photo Header: Loheland photo workshop: Jump (Montage), c. 1930, Photo: Loheland-Archiv, Künzell

THEME PATH – FOR HER & BY HER: ROOMS FOR WOMEN & FURNITURE BY WOMEN

Schönbrunn Group:
Geschäftsführer/CEO
Mag. Klaus Panholzer

Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Wirtschaft: Sektion VII – Kulturelles Erbe, Abteilung 2 – Historische Sammlungen:
Leitung Mag. Anja Hasenlechner
und Stellv. Leiterin Dr. Eva B. Ottillinger

Bundesmobilienverwaltung:
Dienststellenleitung Christian Pollak und Team

Möbelmuseum Wien:
Leitung Mag. Petra Reiner,
Ausstellungsmanagement Dr. Stephan Becker

Curation, introduction, exhibit labels:
Dr.in Eva B. Ottillinger

Two Historical texts:
Mag. Dr. Renate Pölzl, MA

Elaboration of guide texts:
Mag. Veronika Gufler MA
Mag. Dr. Renate Pölzl, MA

Guides:
Mag. Veronika Gufler, MA
Cornelia Juen, MA
Mag. Dr. Renate Pölzl, MA

Translation:
Sophie Francis Kidd, MA

Graphic design:
Anja Schmutterer, MA

Print:
Alexejew Art Design GmbH

Exhibition Installation:
Bundesmobilienverwaltung

Display podiums:
Tischlerei Blauensteiner