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.
$636Sale Price|20% Off
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
1920's Art Deco Karl Hagenauer Lady Golfer Bronze & Marble Vide Poche or Ashtray
By Werkstätte Hagenauer Wien, Karl Hagenauer
Located in Red Lion, PA
This exceptional 1920s Karl Hagenauer bronze lady golfer vide-poche / ashtray captures the refined, stylized aesthetic that defines Hagenauer’s celebrated early work. The bronze figu...
Marble, Bronze
Karl Hagenauer Hand-Hammered Footed Copper and Brass Bowl
By Karl Hagenauer
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Karl Hagenauer footed copper and brass bowl. Signed bottom Werkstatten Hagenauer Wien, made in Austria, Karl. Dates to the 1950s.
Brass, Copper
$1,213Sale Price / set|20% Off
Vintage Karl Hagenauer Bowls, Brass and Black Metal Set of Four, 1950's
By Karl Hagenauer
Located in North Miami, FL
This lovely vintage Austrian set by Karl Hagenauer of four low bowls, dishes or sculptures definitely have a fish motif. They have black metal over brass surrounded by polished brass...
Brass, Metal
Vide Poche Ashtray in Marble Green Color, Italy 1960
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This vide Poche, ashtray is in marble. The color is green. It has been made i, Italy circa 1960, and is in good condition.
Marble
$495
H 2.25 in W 6.25 in D 4.75 in
Italian Golden Hand-Hammered Bronze Clam Footed Bowl Key Dish Catchall Italy
Located in Miami, FL
Stunning Mid-Century Modern golden hammered handcrafted bronze clamshell footed bowl, key dish, catchall, made in Italy. Marked at the base. Great cra...
Bronze
$2,885Sale Price|20% 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
Hammered brass bowl around 1950s
Located in Wien, Au
Hammered brass bowl around 1950s Polished and stove enameled
Brass
Early Arts & Crafts Hammered Copper Footed Bowl by Roycroft
By Roycroft
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Condition: Original Vintage Condition This early Arts & Crafts hammered copper footed bowl by Roycroft is a beautiful example of American handcrafted design from the 1910s. The rou...
Copper
$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
French Art Nouveau Bronze Card Tray or Pin Tray, Vide - Poche, 1920
Located in Barntrup, DE
French Art Nouveau Bronze card tray or Pin Tray, Vide - Poche, 1920s This absolutely adorable card tray or pin tray, Vide - Poche, is made of bronze ...
Bronze
$1,700
H 5 in W 4 in D 0.75 in
20th Century Art Déco Brass Seated Greyhound Dog by Karl Hagenauer, Austria
By Karl Hagenauer, Werkstätte Hagenauer Wien
Located in North Miami, FL
Early 20th Century Art Déco polished brass seated greyhound dog figurine by Karl Hagenauer for Werkstätte Hagenauer Wien (WHW), Austria By: Karl Hagenauer, Werkstätte Hagenauer Wien...
Metal, Brass, Copper, Zinc
$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
Murano Sommerso Aqua Green Art Glass Bowl, Ashtray or Vide-Poche
Located in Barcelona, ES
Beautiful and colorful Aquan green Murano glass bowl with flower shape. Italy, 1960s. It has a gradient of shades of green to clear glass and organic shapes. A highly decorative pi...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso
Werkstätte Hagenauer Wien Modernist Hand Wrought Brass Lidded Box Vessel
By Werkstätte Hagenauer Wien
Located in Jensen Beach, FL
Minimal in its ornamentation, this handmade brass box exemplifies the exacting standards of Hagenauer artisans while encapsulating the timeless elegance in the workshop’s designs — a miniature...
Brass
Josef Hoffmann, Wiener Werkstätte Brass Repoussé Bowl
By Josef Hoffmann
Located in New York, NY
A jewel-like work of metalcraft by Josef Hoffmann, this footed brass bowl (model M sh 18), designed for the Wiener Werkstätte around 1925, brings tog...
Brass
Sold
H 0.38 in W 9.5 in D 6.5 in
Hagenauer Austrian Brass & Black Enamel Horse Equestrian Vide Poche or Tray
By Karl Hagenauer, Werkstätte Hagenauer Wien
Located in Minneapolis, MN
Here is a very sweet and unusual tray be Hagenauer of Austria from the mid-20th century. The tray is crafted of brass and then enameled in black. A charming foal is etching into the ...
Brass, Enamel
1920s by Karl Hagenauer Wiener Werkstatte Silver Metal Bowl
By Karl Hagenauer, Wiener Werkstätte
Located in Brescia, IT
Silver plated and brass base Perfect condition.
Silver, Brass