22nd Apr, 2026 10:00

Design & Contemporary
 
Lot 183
 
Lot 183 - Karl Hagenauer (Austrian 1898-1956) for Wiener Werkstätte, Vienna
Click for high resolution

Karl Hagenauer (Austrian 1898-1956) for Wiener Werkstätte, Vienna
'The Duck' figure

Circa 1930s
Ebonised wood, brass
Stamped 'Hagenauer Handmade' with circular Wiener Werkstätte mark
30cm high

Preview: Barley Mow Centre

Provenance:
The collection of Mo Amelia Teitelbaum
Mo is a collector, researcher and author who specialises in the period that Jean-Michel Frank spent in the South Americas. She has dedicated much of her life to researching this once forgotten and underappreciated time in Frank's period of creativity. It was in Argentina that his friendship with the Chillian patron, collector and muse Eugenia Errazuriz deepened and he met Ignacio Pirovano, the man he would go on to found COMTE with.
Mo has penned two fascinating books on this period of Frank's life; The Stylemakers, Minimalism and Classic Modernism 1915-1945 and Jean-Michel Frank, Une Aventure Sud-Américaine. Both much lauded by Jean-Michel Frank collectors and enthusiasts of this period of Design and Modernism.
Chiswick Auctions would like to thank the Mo for allowing us to present the current work to auction.
Notes:

Established by Carl Hagenauer, Werkstätte Hagenauer became one of Vienna’s preeminent workshops for decorative metalwork and sculptural objects during the twentieth century. Early productions included silverware, tableware, vases, and candelabra, alongside designs by Josef Hoffmann and Otto Prutscher of the Vienna Secession. The workshop gained renown for its human and animal figures in brass and wood, blending elegance with playful artistry.

Under the leadership of Karl Hagenauer from 1928, Werkstätte Hagenauer embraced Art Deco sensibilities, incorporating geometric abstraction, early Cubist influences, and African-inspired forms. Karl’s designs—including the celebrated Josephine Baker sculpture—achieved international recognition, particularly in the United States through Rena Rosenthal.

From 1956, Franz Hagenauer directed the workshop, emphasizing sculptural sheet metal and wood forms. Werkstätte Hagenauer closed in 1987, leaving a legacy of highly collectible decorative arts held in major museums worldwide.

Sold for £2,394

Includes Buyer's Premium


 

Do you have an item similar to the item above? If so please click the link below to request a free online valuation through our website.

 

Images*

Drag and drop .jpg images here to upload, or click here to select images.