J C Klinkosch - Vienna 1880

J C Klinkosch was one of the best silversmiths who worked for the Emperor Franz Josef.
Josef Carl Klinkosch, sometimes referred to as Josef Charles, was the son of Carl and Catherine nee Klinkosch Kempenich.
He was first apprenticed to his father from 1835 until 1839. He made magnificent silver work in many different ways.
He became a certified silversmith on the 25th January 1844. In 1848 he married Elise. He was Captain of the Civil Guard during the riots of 1848. In 1851 he took over the business from his father.
In 1831 he had formed a partnership with Stephan Mayerhofer and
the partnership traded as Mayerhofer & Klinkosch.
The company expanded quickly and within a few years employed several hundred workers.
Klinkosch kept refining the style of their products and started production of plated goods as well.
He employed many designers from Austria and other countries and adopted the traditional craftsmanship approach to manufacturing.
The company participated in the World Exhibition in Vienna in 1873 and the World Exhibtion in Paris in 1878 and won numerous silver and gold medals .
Klinkosch was a member of the Vienna Municipal Council from 1861 to 1862.
In 1869/1870 he ended his partnership with Stephan Mayerhofer and the company was renamed "Klinkosch J C "
His customers were largely drawn from the upper middle class and the nobility.
From 1855 he held the Imperial Warrant to the Court of Franz Josef.
Josef Carl Klinkosch was knighted in 1879 and could then call himself Joseph Carl Ritter von Klinkosch.
In 1884 he retired from business, the company passed to his two sons, Arthur (1884-1899) and Isidor (1884-1914). Privately, he was able to combine its assets with an extensive private art collection which was auctioned after his death.
Josef Carl Klinkosch died 1889 at his home in Afrikanergasse 3 in Vienna.
In 1918, the company was acquired by Arthur Krupp and was incorporated under the name "JC Klinkosch AG".
The company was deleted from the Commercial Register in 1972.
The high quality products of Klinkosch are much sought after and achieve high prices at auctions today.