MULTIMEDIA

Watch a short video broadcast by ORF Herbstzeit showing the production of goldleaves in the workshop of Wamprechtsamer nowadays. You get a brief but full impression on how the thin foils are produced and how much effort is required to handle the precious and extremely thin foils. Please press the PLAY button (German language).

Live Radio interview on Ö1 “von Tag zu Tag” with CEO Philipp Hofmann, discussing with Andreas Obrecht the production of goldleaves today and yesterday, the meaning of guilding and other questions around the topic. Please press the PLAY button (German language).

history

Behind the company in the Viennese Kendlerstraße there is a long and alternating history: The enterprise was founded in 1906 by the native Styrian Alois Wamprechtsamer.

A. Wamprechtsamer beim
"Walzen"

The son of a joiner originally learned the trade in Graz and completed his ability as a journeyman at different companies at home and abroad. World War I meant the first economic breakdown for the workshop. While Wamprechtsamer was drafted to fight at the front, his wife did her best to keep the production going.
Upon return he and his three in the meantime grownup children took great efforts to reestablish their undertaking. And they succeeded, until the Second World War eliminated almost everything Wamprechtsamer ever built up.

The company had to be shut down, as the central bank didn´t release any finegold for manufactoring. The only son who should take over the business was killed. But the 70 year old man didn´t want his lifework to be ruined. Together with his daughter Anna and two old journeyman he started right from the beginning, because the workmanship of goldbeating in Austria was in danger of dying out.

After 2 years of russian captivity the son-in-law Josef Hofmann came home and learned the craft. He and his wife Anna took much effort of enlarging the company, as after the war more and more leaf-gold was needed for the re-build-up (Staatsoper, Burgtheater, chirches, monuments).

Alois Wamprechtsamer am
"Federhammer"

Next to come is his son Peter, the third generation. In the beginning 60ies he passed his master craftsman examination with distinction at the early age of 21. From 1964  he leads the enterprise in a futureoriented manner and can enlarge and modernise it due to his hughe engagement as well as his ability of building up business relations. In the year of 1989 the company has been entitled to use the Austrian National Coat of Arms by Ing. Dittrich, former President of the Chamber of Commerce. In this period the company runs through its biggest development. Until 1997 his 85 years old mother supported him.

The position of the executive manager now fills his son Philipp, who learned the business thoroughly. Now father and son together lead the company giving their special attention to highest quality, satisfied customers and of course tradition in craftsmanship. Now 100 years after foundation the fourth generation stands for the indestructible existence of ALOIS WAMPRECHTSAMER.