Centerpiece with horses Franz Hagenauer ca. 1930

The creations of Werkstätte Hagenauer Wien may be regarded— in the best sense of the term — as a continuation of the Austrian design tradition established by the Vienna Secession and the Wiener Werkstätte. At the beginning of the twentieth century, these movements helped restore prestige to the applied arts in Vienna and developed a visual language that successfully united functionality with artistic ambition.

Franz Hagenauer designed this silver centerpiece bowl around 1930, during a period in which he employed similar motifs in the design of candlesticks, mirror frames, and other decorative objects. The stand is adorned with stylized horses, rendered in a highly ornamental manner that lends the piece a distinctive decorative character. Executed in openwork, the delicate base provides an elegant counterpoint to the hand-raised bowl, whose surface is enriched by a uniform hammered finish.

Particularly noteworthy is the fact that not only the bowl itself, but also the sculptural figural mount is made of solid silver. Comparable examples are more commonly found with mounts executed in nickel-plated brass, making the present version an especially rare and luxurious variant. Moreover, the mount bears Franz Hagenauer’s maker’s mark, documenting his personal involvement in ist execution and further enhancing the significance and desirability of this exceptional piece.

The creations of theWerkstätte Hagenauer Wien may be regarded— in the best sense of the term — as a continuation of the Austrian design tradition established by the Vienna Secession and the Wiener Werkstätte. At the beginning of the twentieth century, these movements helped restore prestige to the applied arts in Vienna and developed a visual language that successfully united functionality with artistic ambition.

Franz Hagenauer designed this silver centerpiece bowl around 1930, during a period in which he employed similar motifs in the design of candlesticks, mirror frames, and other decorative objects. The stand is adorned with stylized horses, rendered in a highly ornamental manner that lends the piece a distinctive decorative character. Executed in openwork, the delicate base provides an elegant counterpoint to the hand-raised bowl, whose surface is enriched by a uniform hammered finish.

Particularly noteworthy is the fact that not only the bowl itself, but also the sculptural figural mount is made of solid silver. Comparable examples are more commonly found with mounts executed in nickel-plated brass, making the present version an especially rare and luxurious variant. Moreover, the mount bears Franz Hagenauer’s maker’s mark, documenting his personal involvement in ist execution and further enhancing the significance and desirability of this exceptional piece.

Particularly noteworthy is the fact that not only the bowl itself, but also the sculptural figural mount is made of solid silver. Comparable examples are more commonly found with mounts executed in nickel-plated brass, making the present version an especially rare and luxurious variant. Moreover, the mount bears Franz Hagenauer’s maker’s mark, documenting his personal involvement in ist execution and further enhancing the significance and desirability of this exceptional piece.