Bidspirit auction | Rare! Sculpture of an African

Rare! Sculpture of an African Woman's Head, Designed by Karl Hagenauer - Rare! Sculpture of an African woman's head, designed by Karl Hagenauer. The sculpture is made in a sophisticated combination of carved ebony wood connected to a chrome-plated metal base. This sculpture and others created by the artist were deeply influenced by African tribal art, a trend that was very popular in the European Art Deco movement of that period (inspired by figurines such as Josephine Baker). The sculpture is marked on the underside with the manufacturer's studio stamp from Hungary. Height: 16.5 cm. 480 g. In very good condition, slight corrosion and minimal patina to the metal base, minor scorch mark to the head.  * The Hagenauer workshop (Werkstätte Hagenauer Wien), founded by Karl Hagenauer the father in 1898, was a renowned Viennese arts workshop. Under license during certain periods, and the father's early activity in Hungary.  The dynasty's founder, Karl Hagenauer the father, completed his training as a goldsmith under an artisan in Bratislava (then part of the Kingdom of Hungary within the Austro-Hungarian Empire) and carried out restoration work at the Esterházy Palace in the region, before returning to Vienna to establish the formal workshop. In the art market there exist prestigious wooden sculptures (primarily of dark ebony or hardwood) designed by Karl Hagenauer, depicting a stylized African woman's head (often with a metal collar imitating Maasai tribal jewelry). These items bear stamps such as ”CSV Made in Hungary”. During the 1930s and after World War II, due to economic constraints and political changes in Europe, many Viennese workshops transferred part of their wood and carving production chain to skilled subcontractors in neighboring countries, including Hungary, or produced items there under an official license and distribution arrangement of the Viennese brand. Although the stamp on the sculpture indicates Hungary as the place of manufacture or physical finishing of the wood, the design is categorically and exclusively attributed to the Viennese Karl Hagenauer, and these works are sold at auction houses worldwide for hundreds and thousands of dollars.