Dagobert Peche (1887–1923) caused the formal language of the Wiener Werkstätte (WW) to explode.
He responded to the geometry of WW founders Josef Hoffmann and Koloman Moser with opulent designs derived from nature; he bestowed upon everyday objects a complexity that deliberately subverted logic and utility. Peche underpinned his approach theoretically with his book The Burning Bush, in which he called for the “overcoming of utility” in order to achieve a new artistic expression. The trained architect turned to the decorative arts in 1911 and experimented with various materials—silver, glass, ceramics, leather, and paper. He designed jewelry, furniture, and exhibition displays as well as sensational fabric and wallpaper patterns.
