More on Sigmund Jaray

Sigmund Jaray was born Sigmund Jeitteles in 1838 in Temesvar (Timisoara) Romania, which at the time was in the Austrian Hungarian empire. Sigmund had two brothers Alexander (Sándor), and Adolf, and three sisters Ida, Cilli and Nelly.
At age 28, married to Mathilde Eckstein, he began his career as a tapestry maker. He was artistic and skilled in architectural design. His brother Sándor was even more artistic, a master of design and color in tapestry, and of gold leaf. These skills were required in Vienna, so these two Jaray boys left from Temesvar to check things out. It appears Sigmund and Sándor commuted between Vienna and Temesvar in the early days since Sigmund’s sons Max (1868), Sandor Jr. (1870) and daughter Gisela (1872) were all born in Temesvar, while the last two sons Karl (1873) and Alfred (1875) were both born in Vienna.
Sigmund and Sándor found Vienna most anxious to receive their skills. Close brothers, they worked together, yet it appears they also set up independent firms. Sigmund moved his family to Vienna in late 1873.

Interior decoration

in Vienna in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s was the ultimate expression of art requiring architecture, design, painting, tapestry, sculpture and gold leaf work. The Jaray boys were in their element. When firms such as theirs accepted a job, they took on everything, from furniture, sculpture, paintings, wall coverings, etc., down to the smallest detail such as the cutlery and even the salt & pepper shakers.
Gold leaf, hand painted ceilings and exquisite furniture were commonplace among the rich, while more average hand carved wood furniture was in demand by the working man.
Realizing wealth has the ability to change hands quickly, Sigmund felt a second division of his firm could furnish the homes of a wider range of people. His main focus was exquisite Biedermeier style furnishings, so he decided to establish a separat division dealing exclusively with the furniture needs of the average worker. He became very succesful and was granted the title „K.u.k.“ (By appointment to the Kaiser). During WW I, because of it‘s highly skilled workers, the Sigmund Jaray furniture factories were converted to manufacture some of the first European airplanes.

The book "Möbel des Jugendstils"

by Vera J. Behal, available at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts bookstore, contains information on Sigmund Jaray with photos of some of the furniture he built for the average worker. The grouping offered in her book is one which won an award as the best grouping under 300 Kronen. Otto Wagner was one of the judges. In appreciation of his award there appears in the book a letter from the archives, written by Sigmund on his company letterhead, and donating this entire grouping as a gift to the museum.
Passages from the book as translated from German go as follows:
Sigmund Jaray, 1838 - 1908 came from Temesvar, and founded his tapestry firm in 1870. In the 70‘s he had a tapestry and decorating firm at Bräunerstrasse 1 (next to Graben), where he had a big furniture showroom exhibiting different styles. At the world exhibition of 1873, he won a medal of excellence. On February 27, 1877 he set up the independent firm „Sigmund Jaray Tapisserie“ and in 1885 his firm is recognized in the business directory of the decorators.
On April 7th 1891, Sigmund Jaray was appointed Tapestry maker to the Imperial Palace, and his firm was given the title „K.u.K. Hof-Tapezierer“
In 1892, the company was transformed into a firm of associates, the only associate being Max Jaray, Sigmund‘s eldest son (1868-1920). Max had studied at the Vienna Academy of Fine Art from 1887. He did his practical work in Paris with Sigmund‘s good friend Sam Bing. After Paris he worked as a designer for his father. His brother Karl also worked in the firm, though not as an artist. On July 16, 1895, Max officially became a director of the company.

At the end of 1891

all divisions of the company except the factory were moved to Heugasse 70, Vienna III (now Prinz-Eugen-Strasse). The building housed furniture displays, drawing and design workshops, tapestry manufacturing, and private offices. The factory remained at Quellenstrasse 15, Vienna X. At this time Sigmund got the title „k.u.k. Hof-Tapezierer und Decorateur“.
In 1907, Sigmund and Max were both awarded the title of Imperial Furniture maker and „K.u.K. Möbelfabrikanten“.
To mark the occasion they arranged for a special exhibition in their showrooms in the Heugasse called „Interiors, Exquisite Furnishings, Old Gobelins and Pieces of Art“ (Gobelins were exquisite tapestries). In the factory on Quellenstrasse at the same time, they organized another exhibition titled „Average Furniture Arrangements“.
Shortly thereafter, Sigmund died (1908).

Prinz-Eugen-Strasse 70 (former Heugasse 70)

Max Jaray

continued the firm until 1920 (when he also died), together with his brother Karl who became an Associate and Director.
After Karl died a few month later in 1920 the firm went into trusteeship, managed by Hugo Marle until 1922 when Felix Jaray, a cousin of Max, took it over. (Felix was the second son of Adolf, Sigmund‘s and Sandor‘s youngest brother). In 1933 it was dissolved.

Max Jaray (1868 Temesvar - 1920 Vienna)

Sigmund's children

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