Franz Hagenauer Table Service with Center Bowl and Pair of Candlesticks, Werkstätte Hagenauer Wien

Restored to original condition, the pieces show the refined craftsmanship and sculptural clarity that made Hagenauer objects sought after in both European and American markets. The candlesticks rise from distinctive flat footed forms and the bowl stands slightly taller on four clean vertical supports, creating a unified ensemble with strong presence and elegant simplicity. Sets of this type are scarce and offer an exceptional example of the workshop’s approach to modern metal design.

Werkstätte Hagenauer Wien was a celebrated family workshop in Vienna known for handcrafted metal objects created over nearly ninety years. Founded by Carl Hagenauer in 1898, the firm produced its own designs as well as pieces by artists such as Josef Hoffmann and Otto Prutscher. His sons Karl and Franz continued the tradition and became leading figures in Austrian modern design. Karl Hagenauer was a major influence in the early Art Deco period and was shaped by studies with Hoffmann and Oskar Strnad at the Vienna School of Applied Arts. His work reflected the new sensibilities of the Vienna Secession and helped establish a modern vocabulary in decorative arts.

Franz Hagenauer, who later took over the workshop after Karl’s passing, developed a distinctive talent for sculptural forms made from sheet metal rather than cast figures. He studied sculpture under Franz Cizek and later taught metalwork and design at the Academy of Applied Arts in Vienna. His creations, often streamlined and stylized, became icons of Austrian modernism and were appreciated internationally for their originality and sculptural purity. This table service embodies that artistic lineage and represents the rare functional objects produced by Werkstätte Hagenauer Wien. Its modern geometry, exceptional craftsmanship and strong designer attribution make it an important addition for collectors of early twentieth century Viennese design.