Casket Karl Hagenauer ca. 1923

In the 1920s, the Werkstätte Hagenauer expanded its product range to include a wide array of decorative everyday objects, such as candlesticks, writing sets, and various containers and storage boxes in diverse designs.

Among these is the featured brass casket – a small, footed box with a lid adorned by an ornamental panel depicting a flute-playing putto amidst grapevines.
The design clearly reflects the influence of the Wiener Werkstätte, particularly the formal language of Josef Hoffmann and Dagobert Peche. In this piece, Karl Hagenauer draws on their stylistic vocabulary, blending geometric clarity with playful ornamentation.
The casket is cast in brass and polished to a high gloss – a signature finish of the Werkstätte Hagenauer. Also characteristic is the workshop’s philosophy of combining contemporary design with exceptional craftsmanship, while using durable, affordable materials. This approach made modern aesthetics accessible to a broader audience beyond the elite bourgeoisie.