Frey Wille
Encyclopedia
Frey Wille is an enamel
jewellery
manufacturer based in Vienna
, Austria
founded in 1951. The trademark is usually written "FREYWILLE". The label is known for its artistically hand decorated designs that are based on the works of 19th and 20th century artists. Next to its headquarters in Vienna, the company operates 86 shops worldwide.
Academy of Applied Arts, specifically to Simone Gruenberger-Wille, who became the chief designer of the company in 1981. She and Friedrich Wille eventually married.
Under Wille the company started to expand in Europe and later on worldwide. For three decades up until 2009, Frey Wille also worked with and designed jewelry for Hermès
, the French high fashion house. In 2010, the company had worldwide revenue of about EUR 60 million.
on Madison Avenue. Other major cities in which the company has several boutiques are Moscow
, Paris
, Beijing
, Hong Kong
, Dubai
, Istanbul
and its city of origin, Vienna.
Frey Wille was started as a workshop solely dedicated to enamel jewellery. Recently, the company added watches to its product line, especially a gold watch line. Beside jewellery and watches, the company has now also expanded into accessories such as scarfs, handbags, belts, ties, cuff links and fine pens.
The company has its factory and manufacturing unit in Vienna. The products are handcrafted by goldsmiths and people with expertise in enameling.
The collections at Frey Wille distinguish themselves through the use of colorful motifs and gold. They are either designed with original ideas of the company's artists, such as the "Ode to Joy
of Life" collection, or by using motifs from influential artists or mythology. The company has concentrated on motifs from artists of the 19th and 20th century, especially Austrian painters in several product collections. Among them are Gustav Klimt
, one of the most important Austrian painters of the turn of the century. For instance, Klimt's painting Adele Bloch-Bauer which sold for USD 135 million in 2006 was used for a whole collection of jewelry.
Among other artists whose styles are used by Frey Wille in the creation of their product collection are, most notably, Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser
, one of the founders of impressionism Claude Monet
, but also Czech artists Alphonse Mucha.
Part of the reason for deciding to create collections inspired by well-known artist was that in the 1990s the Claude Monet Foundation approached the company and asked them to pay homage to the artist by creating a collection inspired by him. Thereafter, a collection was created for the Victoria and Albert Museum
in London based on works by William Morris
.
Frey Wille has both products for women and men in their collections.
Vitreous enamel
Vitreous enamel, also porcelain enamel in U.S. English, is a material made by fusing powdered glass to a substrate by firing, usually between 750 and 850 °C...
jewellery
Jewellery
Jewellery or jewelry is a form of personal adornment, such as brooches, rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.With some exceptions, such as medical alert bracelets or military dog tags, jewellery normally differs from other items of personal adornment in that it has no other purpose than to...
manufacturer based in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
founded in 1951. The trademark is usually written "FREYWILLE". The label is known for its artistically hand decorated designs that are based on the works of 19th and 20th century artists. Next to its headquarters in Vienna, the company operates 86 shops worldwide.
History
Founded in 1951 by Michaela Frey, the company started out as a local artisan workshop in Vienna. In 1970, Friedrich Wille, a chartered accountant and lawyer, paired up with Frey to form the brand in its present state. Wille had previously worked for the company as its financial auditor from 1960 onwards. When Michaela Frey died in 1980, Wille purchased the whole company and took over as the sole CEO. Because he himself is not an artist or designer, he turned to the AustrianAustrian
Austrian can refer to:* Someone from Austria or of Austrian descent. See Austrians.* Someone who is considered an Austrian citizen. See Austrian nationality law.* Something associated with the country Austria...
Academy of Applied Arts, specifically to Simone Gruenberger-Wille, who became the chief designer of the company in 1981. She and Friedrich Wille eventually married.
Under Wille the company started to expand in Europe and later on worldwide. For three decades up until 2009, Frey Wille also worked with and designed jewelry for Hermès
Hermès
Hermès International S.A., or simply Hermès is a French high fashion house established in 1837, today specializing in leather, lifestyle accessories, perfumery, luxury goods, and ready-to-wear...
, the French high fashion house. In 2010, the company had worldwide revenue of about EUR 60 million.
Current Operations
As of today, Frey Wille operates more than 86 boutiques in 30 countries on 4 continents. The company employs more than 500 employees, a large part of them in Vienna. In 2011, the company opened various stores in new cities they were not previously present in, most notably in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
on Madison Avenue. Other major cities in which the company has several boutiques are Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
and its city of origin, Vienna.
Frey Wille was started as a workshop solely dedicated to enamel jewellery. Recently, the company added watches to its product line, especially a gold watch line. Beside jewellery and watches, the company has now also expanded into accessories such as scarfs, handbags, belts, ties, cuff links and fine pens.
The company has its factory and manufacturing unit in Vienna. The products are handcrafted by goldsmiths and people with expertise in enameling.
Product range and designs
Ode to Joy
"Ode to Joy" is an ode written in 1785 by the German poet, playwright and historian Friedrich Schiller, enthusiastically celebrating the brotherhood and unity of all mankind...
of Life" collection, or by using motifs from influential artists or mythology. The company has concentrated on motifs from artists of the 19th and 20th century, especially Austrian painters in several product collections. Among them are Gustav Klimt
Gustav Klimt
Gustav Klimt was an Austrian Symbolist painter and one of the most prominent members of the Vienna Secession movement. His major works include paintings, murals, sketches, and other art objects...
, one of the most important Austrian painters of the turn of the century. For instance, Klimt's painting Adele Bloch-Bauer which sold for USD 135 million in 2006 was used for a whole collection of jewelry.
Among other artists whose styles are used by Frey Wille in the creation of their product collection are, most notably, Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser
Friedensreich Hundertwasser
Friedensreich Regentag Dunkelbunt Hundertwasser was an Austrian painter and architect. Born Friedrich Stowasser in Vienna, he became one of the best-known contemporary Austrian artists, although controversial, by the end of the 20th century.-Life:Hundertwasser's father Ernst Stowasser died three...
, one of the founders of impressionism Claude Monet
Claude Monet
Claude Monet was a founder of French impressionist painting, and the most consistent and prolific practitioner of the movement's philosophy of expressing one's perceptions before nature, especially as applied to plein-air landscape painting. . Retrieved 6 January 2007...
, but also Czech artists Alphonse Mucha.
Part of the reason for deciding to create collections inspired by well-known artist was that in the 1990s the Claude Monet Foundation approached the company and asked them to pay homage to the artist by creating a collection inspired by him. Thereafter, a collection was created for the Victoria and Albert Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum , set in the Brompton district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects...
in London based on works by William Morris
William Morris
William Morris 24 March 18343 October 1896 was an English textile designer, artist, writer, and socialist associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the English Arts and Crafts Movement...
.
Frey Wille has both products for women and men in their collections.