Würbel & Czokally

The firm Würbel & Czocally was founded in Vienna by Vincenz Czokally in 1864. He specialised in making centrepieces, tankards, candelabras, and decorative silver pieces in the late Historicism style. Influenced by Neo-Baroque designs, his work was well regarded at the court of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria.

One of the firm’s most notable commissions was an Imperial silver and hardstone jewel cabinet made in 1883. This piece was a gift from Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth of Austria to Crown Prince Frederick and Crown Princess Victoria of Germany for their silver wedding anniversary.

In 1890, Vincenz Czokally’s son, Anton, took over the business. Two years later, in 1892, he partnered with Carl Würbel, and the company became Würbel & Czocally. From then on, their silverware was hallmarked with "W&C" alongside a symbol of crossed hammers above an anvil. Their pieces were often sold through well-known Viennese retailers such as Vincenz Mayer’s Söhne and Schwarz & Steiner.

Würbel & Czocally became known for their high-quality silverwork in the Imperial style, supplying the Austrian nobility and the Habsburg court. They also played a role in the development of modern silver design through their collaboration with Josef Hoffmann, a key figure in the Jugendstil and early Art Nouveau movements. Hoffmann’s designs, including centrepieces, goblets, lamps, and sports trophies, featured clean lines and hand-hammered surfaces, moving away from the elaborate styles of previous generations.

Anton Czocally retired in 1900, and after Carl Würbel’s death in 1913, the firm was taken over by Josef Würbel. Würbel & Czocally remained in business until 1927. Though the company is long gone, its silverwork remains highly valued by collectors and those interested in Viennese craftsmanship.