Joseph Kranner & Söhne

Joseph Kranner & Söhne is a Viennese textile and linen house whose roots go back to 1818, when Joseph Kranner (1779–1867) moved from Graz to Vienna and opened a linen shop, "Zur rothen Rose," Am Hof. The business grew through the nineteenth century as a supplier of underwear, stockings, caps and shirts to the imperial court and the nobility, and in 1858, when Kranner's three sons Julius, Aurel and Rudolph became partners, the firm took the name Joseph Kranner & Söhne. It was a k.u.k. Hoflieferant — an imperial and royal court supplier — and remains headquartered in Vienna's first district, at Bognergasse 11 / Irisgasse 1. The company's history is closely tied to the Habsburg court. Joseph Kranner supplied the court but never applied for the formal Hoflieferant title; his cousin Anton Kranner, who ran a separate linen business at Stephansplatz, was named "Hofleinwandhändler" in 1834 and served Empress Karoline Auguste and Archduke Franz Karl. Anton's son Anton (II) received the Hoflieferant title in 1864, and the family produced underwear for Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth. After Joseph Kranner's death his sons ran the business; following the deaths of the brothers, Aurel's widow and then her son Joseph took over, registering the trade as a "Pfaidlergewerbe" — in Vienna a dealer in caps, stockings and shirts. In 1902 Joseph successfully applied for the Hoflieferant title, and the old house was demolished and replaced by a new building, with the firm moving to Bognergasse/Irisgasse. Kranner survived the First World War with orders from the k.u.k. army, but after the Second World War the family had to sell the business. The textile merchant Leopold Weissenbeck acquired it in 1977, and his son Michael later took it over. Today the house continues as a specialist retailer at its historic Vienna address, trading on its long heritage as a former court supplier.

Joseph Kranner (1779–1867) moved from Graz to Vienna in 1808 and initially worked as an accountant. In 1818 he became self-employed and opened a linen shop, "Zur rothen Rose," Am Hof. His cousin Anton Kranner also opened a linen business in Vienna, "Zum goldenen Wolfe" at Stephansplatz; in 1834 Anton was granted the title of "Hofleinwandhändler" (court linen merchant) and was also chamber supplier to Empress Karoline Auguste and Archduke Franz Karl. Anton's son Anton (II) received the Hoflieferant title in 1864, in competition with Regenhart & Raymann. The Kranner family made underwear for Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth as well as for other members of the court and the nobility, and Anton (III) was likewise appointed a court supplier as successor. Meanwhile Joseph Kranner conducted successful business Am Hof. In 1858 his three sons Julius, Aurel and Rudolph became partners and the company was renamed Joseph Kranner & Söhne. Although Joseph Kranner supplied the imperial court, he never applied for the Hoflieferant title. After his death his sons led the business. Rudolf died in 1866; Julius and Aurel both died in 1892. Aurel Kranner's widow and, a year later (1893), her son Joseph took over the business. He registered the trade with the authorities as a "Pfaidlergewerbe" — in Vienna a Pfaidler is a dealer offering caps, stockings and shirts. Kranner continued to supply the Hofwirtschaftsamt (court economic office) and the nobility. In 1902 he successfully applied for the Hoflieferant title, and his brother Julius also received the Hoflieferant title. In the same year the old house in which the shop was located was demolished and replaced by a new building; Kranner moved to Bognergasse/Irisgasse. During the First World War the firm received orders from the k.u.k. army and survived the period. After the Second World War the company had to be sold by the family. The textile merchant Leopold Weissenbeck acquired it in 1977, and later his son Michael took it over. The firm remains based in Vienna's first district, Innere Stadt, at Bognergasse 11 / Irisgasse 1.

• 1977

  Textile merchant Leopold Weissenbeck acquires the company.

• 1902

  Joseph Kranner successfully applies for the Hoflieferant title; the old house is demolished and replaced, and the firm moves to Bognergasse/Irisgasse.

• 1893

  Aurel Kranner's son Joseph takes over the business and registers it as a "Pfaidlergewerbe."

• 1892

  Julius and Aurel Kranner both die.

• 1866

  Rudolf Kranner dies.

• 1864

  Anton Kranner (II) receives the Hoflieferant title.

• 1858

  Joseph Kranner's three sons become partners; the company is renamed Joseph Kranner & Söhne.

• 1834

  Anton Kranner is granted the title "Hofleinwandhändler" (court linen merchant).

• 1818

  Joseph Kranner becomes self-employed and opens the linen shop "Zur rothen Rose" Am Hof.

• 1808

  Joseph Kranner moves from Graz to Vienna and works as an accountant.

Historic Viennese textile house and former imperial and royal court supplier, trading on heritage and tradition.

• Linen goods

• Underwear

• Stockings

• Caps

• Shirts

1. 1Joseph Kranner & Söhne – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
2. 2Joseph Kranner & Söhne – Wikidatawikidata.org