Greyhound Karl Hagenauer ca. 1930

The slender greyhounds were a very popular motif in the Art Deco period, just think of the iconic sculpture of Chiparus’s sophisticated lady with two sighthounds, an epitome of refined lifestyle.
Their characteristic silhouette made them also an ideal motif for the product range of Werkstatte Hagenauer in the 1930s. With their sleek body, pointed snout and powerful legs the animals seem predestined to be celebrated in a cast or carved form, as seen be here. Thus, this greyhound masterfully carved from hardwood radiates powerful elegance.
What makes this collectible even more special is the rare marking “RENA” indicating that it was explicitly manufactured for Rena Rosenthal’s gallery in the USA. She owned an art store in New York from about 1920-1950, selling Austrian design and high-quality decorative arts.
Together with the three-line markings “ATELIER/HAGENAUER/WIEN”, the production of this ebonized sculpture can be narrowed down to the period from circa 1930 onwards and is an excellent example of the lively international export activities of Werkstatte Hagenauer.