22nd Apr, 2026 10:00

Design & Contemporary
 
Lot 184
 
Lot 184 - Franz Hagenauer (Austrian 1906-1986) for Wiener Werkstätte, Vienna
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Franz Hagenauer (Austrian 1906-1986) for Wiener Werkstätte, Vienna
'Head in Profile' Female Bust

Circa 1935
Nickel-plated brass, wood
Stamped 'HAGENAUER. WIEN FRANZ' along with Werkstätte Hagenauer cipher to underside
24cm 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 £4,788

Includes Buyer's Premium


 

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