Pair of candlesticks Karl Hagenauer ca. 1929

Animal figures occupy a significant place within the extensive oeuvre of the Werkstätte Hagenauer, with the horse in particular assuming a central role. Equestrian motifs run like a common thread throughout the body of work created by Karl and Franz Hagenauer, reflecting both their fascination with dynamic movement and their preference for stylized form.
This elegant pair of candlesticks, made of nickel-plated brass, features two dynamically leaping horses, each rendered in a stylized and ornamentally abstracted manner to form the base. The fluid lines that capture the animals’ graceful motion are characteristic of the Art Deco style, for which the Werkstätte Hagenauer gained international recognition. Each horse supports two trumpet-shaped candle holders that rise organically from the composition, accentuating the verticality and formal balance of the design.
The design is documented in the Werkstätte Hagenauer’s sample book and stands as a quintessential example of the successful fusion of decorative art, meticulous craftsmanship, and modernist aesthetics.