DESCRIPTION

A patinated brass handled candle holder by Karl Hagenauer for Werkstätte Hagenauer Wien. The candle holder dates from the 1950’s.

The candle holder is 3 3/4 inches tall, 2 1/2 inches at its widest and 3 5/8 inches deep. Some of the Hagenauer markings are barely legable on the bottom, but the candle stick is well documented.

Carl Hagenauer (1872-1928) was an award-winning designer and craftsman, he founded what became the Werkstätte Hagenauer Wien in Vienna, Austria in 1898, his workshop was a success in its early years. His oldest of two sons, Karl Hagenauer (1898–1956), joined the family business in 1919 and eventually assumed leadership of the business in 1928. Karl Hagenauer enrolled at the Universität für Angewandte Kunst (University of Applied Arts) at age eleven. He studied with Josef Hoffmann and Oskar Strnad and created designs for the Wiener Werkstätte art collective. After wartime service in the infantry, he resumed his training and qualified as an architect. He designed the company’s trademark “wHw” ( Werkstätte Hagenauer Wien) and registered it in 1927. The first catalogue to use the trademark dates to 1928, the year his father died and Karl Hagenauer assumed leadership of the business. While Hagenauer was the principal designer of everyday objects, and some sculptures, his younger brother Franz Hagenauer (1906-1986 ) joined the company in the 1930’s and specialized in sculpture. The company later also produced furniture, chiefly designed by Julius Jirasek. Karl Hagenauer exhibited his products at international fairs and traveled to America to visit two prestigious dealers: Rena Rosenthal (1880-1966) owner of an exclusive gallery in Manhattan and John Wanamaker (1838-1922), a pioneer of the department store concept, with major Philadelphia and New York stores. The scale of exports to the USA between 1920 and 1938 is obvious today with so many early Hagenauer objects showing up in American estate sales and antique shops. The Museum of Modern Art has Hagenauer pieces in their collection in New York. Being pretty much a workaholic, the stress became so great, Karl Hagenauer died of a heart attack at the age of 57 in 1956. Franz took leadership of the company and became principle designer of decorative objects. Architect Julius Jirasek designed some furniture at this time. Franz Hagenauer died in 1986, former work master Karl Schmidt took over briefly. But without agreement with Franz’s heirs on a contract, the workshop closed in 1987.

CONDITION

The candle holder is in good vintage condition. There is some light scratching and light patination loss. The signature is barely legable on the bottom.

SHIPPING

The candle holder will be carefully packed using bubble wrap and a rigid cardboard box. The carrier will be Federal Express Ground for businesses or Federal Express Home Delivery, the piece will be insured for the sold price, a Federal Express tracking number will be emailed to the buyer on the day of shipment, which is usually within two business days after purchase, and the package will have to be signed for.

PLEASE NOTE DESCRIPTION, CONDITION AND PHOTOGRAPHS CAREFULLY, FEEL FREE TO ASK QUESTIONS AND TO REQUEST OTHER PHOTOGRAPHS, RETURNS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.  THIS ITEM IS SOLD "AS IS" AND "AS DESCRIBED".