Josef Carl Klinkosch (1822-1888) Austrian Sculpture in Silver, Lapis Lazuli and Marble

Our client's romantic masterpiece in silver by Josef Carl Klinkosch (Austrian, 1822-1888) is mounted on a black stone pedestal  (marble or slate) wrapped in lapis lazuli veneer, and depicts lovers embarking on a romantic boat cruise with Cupid poised to shoot an arrow.  With heavily worn dedication cartouche flanked by stylized dolphin figures.  With the hallmark of the artist, JCK in rectangular cartouche, and Dianakopf assay mark depicting the profile of Diana in five-sided flower petal, dating the piece to 1872-1884.

The artist was a highly skilled and widely admired silversmith who apprenticed with his father, Carl, from 1835 until 1839.  Joseph Carl became a certified silversmith in 1844 and took over his father’s business in 1851.  In 1864, Klinkosch formed a partnership with Stephan Mayerhofer and the pair began trading as Mayerhofer & Klinkosch.  The company expanded quickly and within a few years employed several hundred workers.  Mayerhofer & Klinkosch won medals at the World Exhibition of 1873 in Vienna, and the Exposition Universelle in 1878 in Paris.  In 1869 Klinkosch ended his partnership with Mayerhofer and continued to run the company alone, renaming it J. C. Klinkosch.  From 1855 Klinkosch held the Imperial Warrant to the Court of Emperor Franz Josef of Austria.  Klinkosch was knighted in 1879 and afterward became known as Joseph Carl Ritter von Klinkosch.  He fulfilled numerous commissions for the Austrian royal family and is widely recognized as one of the finest silversmiths of the nineteenth century.  The artist retired in 1884, passing the business to his two sons.

His works can be found in the collections of the Slovak National Gallery, the Museum of Applied Arts in Vienna, Sisi Museum in Vienna, among others.