Max Welz (1876 - Vienna - 1960)
was an important Austrian craftsman and entrepreneur who was closely associated with the Wiener Werkstätte. After the early death of his father, he took over the frame shop in Vienna that his father had founded in 1900. Under his leadership, the company developed into a respected manufacturer of high-quality picture frames, mirrors and small furniture. Welz worked closely with artists of the Vienna Modernism movement, including Josef Hoffmann and Dagobert Peche, and implemented their designs with great precision. Particularly noteworthy are his artistically carved mirror frames, which captivate with their clear lines and elegant ornamentation. His works received numerous awards at international exhibitions such as the 1925 Paris World's Fair and the 1935 Brussels World's Fair.