original 1930s tubular steel wardrobe by John Hagemann in two Bauhaus colours.

This wardrobe from an early 1930s production immediately stands out through its striking and avant-garde colour composition: the radiant yellow of the doors forms a vivid contrast to the fresh Riviera blue of the side panels. Combined with the chromed tubular steel frame and the clean geometry, the result is a piece of furniture that is both functional and visually expressive.

The design originates from architect and designer Professor John Hagemann, a close collaborator of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. As site manager of Villa Tugendhat in Brno, he shaped one of the key buildings of classical modernism – and transferred this design approach directly into his furniture. This wardrobe was produced under licence by the Czechoslovak company Hynek Gottwald.

The construction is based on a chromed tubular steel frame with an additional chromed flat-steel band at the upper edge. The body and doors are made of blockboard panels veneered in beech — a characteristic material choice for Bauhaus furniture of the period.

We also offer two additional variants of this design, both produced by Thonet and therefore more typical for this furniture group. The fact that this licensed version was also carried out by Hynek Gottwald is remarkable in itself – and in the highly colourful execution shown here, it represents a rare divergence within the original design programme.

The bold use of colour reflects the Bauhaus approach to colour theory, in which chromatic surfaces were understood not as decoration but as active spatial elements. The Meisterhäuser in Dessau — including those of Wassily Kandinsky and Paul Klee — remain clear examples of how colour was considered an atmospheric and structural tool for everyday life. In the domestic reality of the 1930s, however, this concept was rarely implemented: although modern form was widely appreciated, most customers continued to order veneered furniture. A piece like this wardrobe therefore embodies not only a design but a cultural position within the Bauhaus era.

Because of this historical reluctance towards colour, original painted examples are difficult to find today. This wardrobe preserves its original paint layers and has been conservatorially treated by our restorers with the focus on preserving the original surfaces. It is among the most colour-intense and remarkable variants of this design we have encountered.

An authentic piece of Bauhaus modernism – with strong presence and museum-level quality.