Franz Hagenauer Modernist Sculpture Wood and Metal Tennis Player

Unique and rare tennis player in modernist design by Franz Hagenauer 17.25 inches tall, beautiful modernist shape, extremely original and lyrical design. Ebony wood and brushed silver metal finish, a cantilever design show great skill and execution.  Supported and signed correctly on the metal plate behind the feet. Much of the work comes from “Werkstatte Hagenauer of Wien”. This is not your typical Hagenauer design, the size is very large and the treatment unique even for Hagenauer designs.

The Hagenauer firm was founded by Carl Hagenauer in Austria, 1898. His son Karl headed the company for some time, studied under Joseph Hoffman, and won bronze and silver medals at the Paris Exposition of 1925.

Franz Hagenauer

His younger brother, Franz, focused more specifically on sculpture, often drawing from African art as his inspiration. His long life (1906-1986 ) provided him with a long career and many of the most elegant Hagenauer pieces can be attributed to Franz.  Though both Karl and Franz produced many animal pieces, beautiful female forms were a specialty of Franz’s. Spanish dancers, models, mythical goddesses, and African natives were sources for his design.

Actress Tala Birell in 1933, posing with a Hagenauer Sculpture meant to depict her (while she is posed like a Hagenauer herself ) notes the sharp “elbow” and the angle in the bend of her wrist and the way in which her legs are crossed.