Karl Hagenauer was an important and popular figure in the decorative arts in Vienna in the decades bracketing the Second World War. While primarily a maker of sculptural decorative pieces, Hagenauer — in the same spirit as his peer Carl Auböck— created a wide array of household objects, from barware to office accessories, all designed with wit and a sleek modernist aesthetic.
Hagenauer’s father was a trained metalsmith who founded a bronzewares manufactory that produced decorative metalwork and housewares in both traditional and the then-novel Art Nouveau styles and cast small sculptures based on Old Masters paintings. After studying art and design at Vienna’s School of Applied Arts, where his teachers included architect Josef Hoffmann, a founder of the Wiener Werkstätte, he joined his father’s workshop in 1919 and began crafting items that reflected Hoffman’s modernist aesthetic. In the 1920s and ’30s, he developed an often-imitated style that combines the lithe, lissome lines of Art Nouveau (known in central Europe as Jugendstil) with the simple, unadorned forms of Art Deco. He worked primarily in brass — both polished and nickel-plated — as well as wood.
In addition to domestic items such as smoking accoutrements, teapots, trays, bowls, candleholders and tableware, Hagenauer produced a wide array of small-scale sculptures. (His younger brother, Franz— who took over the family business when their father died — was also a noted sculptor, with a style that could be described as Art-Deco-meets-Brancusi.) Karl’s sculptures fall into two main groups: humorous and whimsical animal and character figures that will remind many of the work of artist Tom Otterness and sleek, stylized animal and human forms, many with an African theme — an “exotic” connotation that was a 20th-century remnant of colonialism. As you will see from the items on offer, Karl Hagenauer was an artist-designer of great talent and many moods: affable, stylish and practical.
Patinated Solid Brass Karl Hagenauer Candle Holder, Werkstatte Hagenauer Wien
By Karl Hagenauer
Located in Doraville, GA
A patinated brass handled candle holder by Karl Hagenauer for Werkstätte Hagenauer Wien. The candle holder dates from the 1950’s. The candle holder is 3 3/4 inches tall, 2 1/2 inche...
Brass
Karl Hagenauer candle holder around 1930s ( signed )
By Karl Hagenauer, Werkstätte Hagenauer Wien
Located in Wien, AT
Karl Hagenauer candle holder around 1930s ( signed ) Original condition Original patina
Brass
Hagenauer Vienna Brass Candelabra Mid-Century Candle Holder, Austria, 1940s
By Karl Hagenauer, Werkstätte Hagenauer Wien
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful Austrian two-arm mid century brass candleholder / candlestick, designed and executed by Karl Hagenauer / Werkstatte Hagenauer in the 1940s. In very good condition, marked...
Brass
$2,498Sale Price|25% Off
H 9.02 in W 10.01 in D 4.49 in
Austrian Midcentury Brass and Black Metal, Locomotive by Hagenauer Vienna
By Werkstätte Hagenauer Wien, Karl Hagenauer
Located in Vienna, AT
A rare model of a locomotive, handmade of metal and brass by Werkstatte Hagenauer Vienna in the 1920s. Marked on its bottom WHW, Hagenauer Wien, made in Austria, handmade. Very nice ...
Brass, Metal
Pair of Carl Auböck Patinated Brass Candle Holders
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Utrecht, NL
Pair of patinated candle holders designed by Carl Aubock in 1948. This signature piece from the Auböck collection is hand made manufactured in Vienna Austria workshop ever since 1948...
Brass
$16,024Sale Price / set|25% Off
H 20.48 in W 8.27 in D 8.27 in
Franz Hagenauer Werkstätte Hagenauer Vienna pair of brass candlesticks ca. 1930
By Werkstätte Hagenauer Wien, Franz Hagenauer
Located in Klosterneuburg, AT
Pair of candlesticks brass Franz Hagenauer Werkstatte Hagenauer Wien circa 1930 Austrian Art Franz and Karl Hagenauer won the gold medal at the 1930 Milan Triennale for their design...
Brass
$636Sale Price|20% Off
H 2.25 in W 11.5 in D 6.5 in
Werkstätte Hagenauer Wien, Oblong Hammered footed Brass Bowl, Karl Hagenauer
By Werkstätte Hagenauer Wien, Karl Hagenauer
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Werkstätte Hagenauer Wien, Oblong Hammered footed Brass Bowl, Karl Hagenauer Austria, Circa 1950s A fine example designed by Karl Hagenauer for the...
Brass
Art Deco Large Candle Holder by Just Andersen, Denmark, 1930s
By Sune Bäckström, Just Andersen, GAB Guldsmedsaktiebolaget
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful art deco candle holder for large candles. Designed by Just Andersen in 1930s and produced by his own company in Denmark. Made from Disko metal (an alloy of different meta...
Metal
$1,200
H 4.75 in W 2.5 in D 3.5 in
Mahogany Bird Sculpture by Karl Hagenauer for Werkstätte Hagenauer Wien
By Werkstätte Hagenauer Wien
Located in San Diego, CA
Rare inlaid mahogany, with bronze legs bird sculpture by Karl Hagenauer for Werkstätte Hagenauer Wien. 1950s Stamped with Werkstätte Hagenauer 'wHw' roundel, 'HAGENAUER, WIEN, MADE ...
Bronze
$375
H 3 in W 4.5 in D 4.5 in
1930s Antique Salviati Venetian Murano Art Glass Flower Candle Holders Italy
By Salviati
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful pair of Salviati Venetian Murano art glass flower shaped candle sticks, circa 1930s. Made in Italy. Wonderful pink color with a gold leaf design. Great form and design. In ...
Art Glass
$3,509 / set
H 17.52 in W 13.78 in D 4.34 in
Wonderful Pair of Art Deco Candle Holders in Wrought Iron and Stone 1930s
Located in Meer, VAN
Wonderful Pair of Art Deco Candle Holders in Wrought Iron and Stone, Europe, 1930s. Hands down the best pair of candle holders we've ever encountered. They feature a very elegant ar...
Stone, Wrought Iron
$654
H 3.55 in W 7.49 in D 1.97 in
Combined Pewter Vase and Candle Holder by Just Andersen, 1930s, Denmark
By Just Andersen
Located in Værløse, DK
Combined Pewter Vase and Candle Holder made by Just Andersen in 1935. An exquisite piece. * Two-armed Pewter Candlestick Holder with inside Vase. * Designer: Just Andersen * Manufac...
Pewter
Vintage Black Metal and Brass Candle Holder, Bauhaus Style, 1940s
By Stilnovo, Bauhaus
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Simplistic black metal and brass wall candle holder for two standard size candles. Slender black mount with brass cone shaped holders. Likely manufactured in the 1940s in the style o...
Metal, Brass
Art Deco Pewter Candle Holders by Just Andersen, 1930s. Set of 2.
By Just Andersen
Located in Asaa, DK
Art Deco Pewter Candle Holders by Just Andersen, 1930s. Set of 2. Wonderful pair of pewter candlesticks designed by Danish sculptor Just Andersen in Denmark in the 1930s. Stamped wit...
Pewter
$1,400 / set
H 2.25 in W 1 in D 1 in
Set of Karl Hagenauer Bronze Miniature Animal Sculptures Werkstatte Wien Austria
By Karl Hagenauer, Werkstätte Hagenauer Wien
Located in Troy, MI
A grouping of 4 bronze miniatures originally designed by Karl Hagenauer circa 1940s for Werkstatte Hagenauer Wien Austria Stylized animal figures in solid bronze and stamped to unde...
Bronze
Karl Hagenauer, Candelabras, Brass, Austria, 1940s
By Werkstätte Hagenauer Wien, Karl Hagenauer
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of brass candelabras designed by Karl Hagenauer and produced by Werkstätte Hagenauer, Vienna, Austria, c. 1940s. dimensions: 6.375” H x 11.5” diameter Holds 1” diameter can...
Brass
20th century English Bronze and Chromed Metal Candleholder, 1930s
By Karl Hagenauer
Located in LEGNY, FR
Very beautiful art deco candlestick in good condition in chrome metal which is part of a collection of models intended for the General Electric Company (GEC) of England representing ...
Metal, Bronze
An elegant pair of silvered bronze Hagenauer candelabra.
By Karl Hagenauer
Located in Antwerp, BE
An elegant pair of silvered bronze 2 light candelabra by Karl Hagenauer. Signature / Marks: Made in Vienna, Austria. Hagenauer Wien WHW Style: Art Deco. Date: 1930. ...
Bronze