In 1913, the Münchner Bund acquired the Josef Hoffmann letterbox for its collection, which in 1925 formed the backbone of Die Neue Sammlung. Josef Hoffmann had, in 1903, co-founded the Wiener Werkstätte and it was his avowed goal to create a new form of arts-&-crafts that was adapted to the needs and technological opportunities of the day. His designs characteristically possessed strictly geometric, often cubic features. The letterbox is likewise a product of that period. The clear grid structure is mirrored in countless other items Hoffmann designed, which led to him being nicknamed “Quadratl-Hoffmann” – Square Hoffmann. His designs, formally so emphatically pared back, not only catch the eye, but also functioned as the role model for the abstract art of the early 20th century as well as for avant-garde movements such as De Stijl or Russian Constructivism. In this way, they mark the beginning of a new artistic outlook.