Female Profile Sculpture by Hagenauer, Vienna, circa 1935

Stylized Female Profile Sculpture by Hagenauer, Vienna, circa 1935
A striking and elegant Art Deco metal sculpture by Werkstätte Hagenauer Wien, Vienna, Austria, circa 1935–1950. Executed in nickel-plated brass with polished brass appliqué, the stylized female profile embodies the refined geometry and modernist elegance for which the Hagenauer workshop became internationally celebrated.

The sculpture presents a gracefully abstracted silhouette with flowing ornamental brass forms suggesting stylized hair, mounted on a circular coiled metal base. This motif, both sculptural and graphic, exemplifies the Viennese approach to modern design — merging fine art, functionality, and whimsy.

Stamped on the reverse “HAGENAUER WIEN / MADE IN AUSTRIA / WHW”, the piece bears the authentic hallmark of the renowned Hagenauer family workshop. Under the direction of Karl and Franz Hagenauer, the firm produced some of the most distinctive and collectible modernist metalwork of the 20th century, spanning lighting, decorative figures, and stylized heads such as this exceptional example.

A fine and rare object, this sculpture reflects the optimism and craftsmanship of pre-war Viennese design, and remains one of the most recognizable expressions of the Art Deco era in Austria.

Comparable examples of Hagenauer profile sculptures are held in the collections of the MAK – Museum of Applied Arts, Vienna, and The Wolfsonian–FIU Museum, Miami Beach. Hagenauer’s iconic stylized heads are regarded as defining works of Viennese modernism, bridging sculpture and functional design with unmistakable Art Deco sophistication.