Two snake lamps Wilhelm Kralik-Sohne Helosinware Wien ca. 1900

During the Jugendstil period, Vienna was one of the most important art centres in Europe. This circumstance offered the artists of that time a rich variety of specialized companies, which provided a huge assortment of different techniques for the artistic execution of designs. A fine example of the collaboration between different manufactures can be found in these lamps: the large shade was made by Kralik, the bowl in the foot of the lamp was produced by Helosinware Austria and the bronze frame was probably cast and worked by a Viennese company. The famous sculptor Edgar Brandt made wonderful bronzes with snake motifs during this period, probably his bronzes were inspiration for these two extraordinary works.