Important Silversmiths - Weishaupt & Söhne
The first silversmith of the honourable Weishaupt dynasty was Anton Weishaupt. He became a partner in the Leismiller company in 1801. The Leismiller family had owned the Licence to practice as a silversmith from the Munich Magistrate's Court since 1692. In 1802 Anton took over the business after the last of Leismillers was retired and continued to work with their original licences.
Anton Weishaupt made his reputation as a magnificent silversmith by modifying and crafting additional pieces to a vast silver dinner service for Maximilian I Joseph, the King of Bavaria. Other remarkable works include a number of polished silverware, such as silver-gilt tankards, vases, beakers inlaid with ivory and enamel decorations and mounted with precious stones.
In 1817 Anton was awarded the first Royal Bavarian Court title and became court goldsmith and head of the guild in Munich. After such recognition, the workshop started to mark its works under the name of Weishaupt. In 1826 Anton's son Carl Martin Weishaupt joined the business and later, in 1832, inherited the company. Like his father, Carl was also awarded the Royal Bavarian Court title for a jeweller and a silversmith.
Carl Martin Weishaupt’s workshop was especially famous for its fabulous solid gold snuff boxes, peculiarly decorated with gems and enamels and engraved with floral motifs, scenery and scrolls. After Carl Martin's death, the company was inherited by his son Max Carl Weishaupt in 1864. As a talented entrepreneur, he significantly increased the business and enlarged the premises.
The company's original designs of silverware, jewellery and cutlery in the Art Nouveau style were highly regarded, Carl Weishaupt was known as one of the most important workshops in Munich of that time.
In 1902 the business passed down to Max Carl's widow Anna at first and to the following family generations after that, receiving further royal appointments and commissions. The firm is still active nowadays. Since 1999 Anton Weishaupt's descendant and the 10th generation silversmith Florian Bieler has been the owner of Carl Weishaupt company.
