Werkstatte Hagenauer (Austria) ceramics

The Werkstatte Hagenauer was a family-owned workshop in Vienna, Austria, that produced fine handcrafted objects for decoration and use over its nearly ninety-year history. The workshop was founded in 1898 by Carl Hagenauer, who began as an apprentice at Würbel & Czokally, a silverware producer in Vienna. He then trained as a goldsmith before founding his own business. The workshop's early output was mostly small figurines and useful objects, such as cigarette boxes, ashtrays, and candlesticks.

In the early 1900s, Carl Hagenauer began to experiment with new materials and techniques, such as nickel-plating and chrome-plating. He also began to collaborate with other artists, such as Josef Hoffmann and Otto Prutscher. During this period the Werkstätte Hagenauer produced a wide range of items, including sculptures, figurines, decorative objects, and household items. Their pieces were typically made of metals like brass and bronze and were characterized by more... their modernist and often abstract designs. Many of their sculptures depicted human figures and animals, often with elongated forms and simplified features.

The workshop's output during this period was characterized by its sleek, geometric forms and its use of modern materials. The workshop's work was well-received by critics and collectors, and it soon became one of the leading producers of Art Deco metalwork in Austria.

In the 1920s, the workshop was taken over by Carl Hagenauer's son, Karl Hagenauer. Karl Hagenauer continued to develop the workshop's style, and he also expanded the workshop's output to include furniture, lighting, and other objects. The workshop also began to export its products to other countries, such as the United States and Great Britain.

The Werkstätte Hagenauer faced challenges during the tumultuous years of the early 20th century, including both World Wars and the changing artistic landscape. Despite these challenges, the workshop continued to create notable pieces until it eventually closed its doors in 1987. Today, the workshop's retail premises, opened in 1938 on Vienna's Opernring, survives today as a museum and shop. less...