Geza von Habsburg
Encyclopedia
Archduke Géza of Austria, Prince Imperial of Austria, Prince Royal of Hungary, Croatia, and Bohemia (given name
s: Géza Ladislaus Euseb Gerhard Rafael Albert Maria; born 14 November 1940, in Budapest
), in Austria and Hungary only known by law as Géza von Habsburg, is the son of Archduke Joseph Francis of Austria
(1895–1957) and his wife Princess Anna of Saxony
(1903–1976) thus he is a grandson of King Frederick Augustus III of Saxony
and great-great grandson (on his father's mother's side) of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria
and his wife Elisabeth of Bavaria
(Sissi). Géza is a Fabergé expert and has published many books and articles on the jewellers Peter Carl Fabergé
and Victor Mayer
. He is the curator of several major international Fabergé
exhibitions.
and Bern, Switzerland; Munich
, Germany; and Florence
, Italy, before earning his PhD degree from the University of Fribourg
in 1965.
In 1966 he joined the staff of Christie, Manson & Woods Auctioneers as Chairman, Switzerland, overseeing a network of offices throughout Europe. In 1980 he became Chairman of European Operations for the company. Later in his career, he served for four years as Chairman, New York and Geneva
, for Habsburg Fine Art International Auctioneers. At both organizations, his work specialized in silver and gold, objects of vertu and Russian art.
Géza is an internationally renowned author and leading authority on Fabergé
. Much of his career has been devoted to organizing and curatorial work for exhibitions all over the world. He served as the curator and organizer for Fabergé
, Jeweller to the Tsars (1986–87) at Kunsthalle in Munich. Also, while as a Board Member with the Fabergé Arts Foundation, he was Chief Curator of Fabergé, Imperial Court Jeweler (1993–94), which was shown in St. Petersburg, Paris and London. He also served as Guest Curator of Fabergé in America, which toured five cities in the United States (1996–97).
As an educator, Géza served as an adjunct professor for The New York School of Interior Design, The Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts, and New York University. He is currently a lecturer for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Some of his topics include "Princely Collections," "The Habsburgs as Collectors and Patrons of the Arts," and "Celebrated Habsburg
Women."
Fluent in seven languages, Géza joined Fabergé Co. in 1994 as a consultant, spokesperson and lecturer worldwide. He has authored seven and co-written two books on Fabergé
and related topics, as well as 75 articles, which have been published in various art journals all over the world. In addition, he has been featured prominently in a Russian film (1994), a Japanese film and two biographies for the Arts & Entertainment Network (A&E), all in association with Fabergé
.
Géza has also been featured in the A&E documentary, Treasures of the Habsburgs (1998), and Habsburgs Today on the Romance Channel (1999).
They were divorced in 1991.
His second marriage, in 1991, was to Elizabeth Jane Kunstadter (Born 1957)
produced a daughter:
Given name
A given name, in Western contexts often referred to as a first name, is a personal name that specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially in a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name...
s: Géza Ladislaus Euseb Gerhard Rafael Albert Maria; born 14 November 1940, in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
), in Austria and Hungary only known by law as Géza von Habsburg, is the son of Archduke Joseph Francis of Austria
Archduke Joseph Francis of Austria
Joseph Franz Leopold Anton Ignatius Maria, Archduke of Austria, Prince of Hungary He was the eldest son of Archduke Joseph August of Austria and Princess Auguste Maria of Bavaria...
(1895–1957) and his wife Princess Anna of Saxony
Princess Anna of Saxony (1903–1976)
Princess Anna Monika Pia of Saxony, Duchess of Saxony was the seventh and youngest child of Frederick Augustus III of Saxony and his wife Archduchess Luise of Austria, Princess of Tuscany and a younger sister of Georg,...
(1903–1976) thus he is a grandson of King Frederick Augustus III of Saxony
Frederick Augustus III of Saxony
This article is about King Frederick Augustus III of Saxony. For the elector Frederick Augustus III, see Frederick Augustus I of Saxony.Frederick Augustus III was the last King of Saxony and a member of the House of Wettin.Born in Dresden, Frederick Augustus was the son of King George of Saxony...
and great-great grandson (on his father's mother's side) of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria
Franz Joseph I of Austria
Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I was Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia, King of Croatia, Apostolic King of Hungary, King of Galicia and Lodomeria and Grand Duke of Cracow from 1848 until his death in 1916.In the December of 1848, Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria abdicated the throne as part of...
and his wife Elisabeth of Bavaria
Elisabeth of Bavaria
Elisabeth of Austria was the spouse of Franz Joseph I, and therefore both Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary. She also held the titles of Queen of Bohemia and Croatia, among others...
(Sissi). Géza is a Fabergé expert and has published many books and articles on the jewellers Peter Carl Fabergé
Peter Carl Fabergé
Peter Karl Fabergé also known as Karl Gustavovich Fabergé in Russia was a Russian jeweller of Baltic German-Danish and French origin, best known for the famous Fabergé eggs, made in the style of genuine Easter eggs, but using precious metals and gemstones rather than more mundane materials.-Early...
and Victor Mayer
Victor Mayer
Victor Mayer founded the jewellery manufacture in Pforzheim in 1890. In the time of Jugendstil / Art Nouveau, the company created pieces based on the designs of well-known artists such as the jewellery designer Professor Georg Kleemann or Anton Krautheimer of the Munich Secession...
. He is the curator of several major international Fabergé
Fabergé
Fabergé may refer to:*House of Fabergé, a Russian jewelry firm founded by Gustav Faberge in 1842*Fabergé workmaster, goldsmiths who produced jewelry for the House of Fabergé*Fabergé eggs, the most famous works of the House of Faberge...
exhibitions.
Life
Géza attended universities in FribourgFribourg
Fribourg is the capital of the Swiss canton of Fribourg and the district of Sarine. It is located on both sides of the river Saane/Sarine, on the Swiss plateau, and is an important economic, administrative and educational center on the cultural border between German and French Switzerland...
and Bern, Switzerland; Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Germany; and Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, Italy, before earning his PhD degree from the University of Fribourg
University of Fribourg
The University of Fribourg is a university in the city of Fribourg, Switzerland.The roots of the University can be traced back to 1582, when the notable Jesuit Peter Canisius founded the Collège Saint-Michel in the City of Fribourg. In 1763, an Academy of law was founded by the state of Frobourg...
in 1965.
In 1966 he joined the staff of Christie, Manson & Woods Auctioneers as Chairman, Switzerland, overseeing a network of offices throughout Europe. In 1980 he became Chairman of European Operations for the company. Later in his career, he served for four years as Chairman, New York and Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, for Habsburg Fine Art International Auctioneers. At both organizations, his work specialized in silver and gold, objects of vertu and Russian art.
Géza is an internationally renowned author and leading authority on Fabergé
Fabergé
Fabergé may refer to:*House of Fabergé, a Russian jewelry firm founded by Gustav Faberge in 1842*Fabergé workmaster, goldsmiths who produced jewelry for the House of Fabergé*Fabergé eggs, the most famous works of the House of Faberge...
. Much of his career has been devoted to organizing and curatorial work for exhibitions all over the world. He served as the curator and organizer for Fabergé
Fabergé
Fabergé may refer to:*House of Fabergé, a Russian jewelry firm founded by Gustav Faberge in 1842*Fabergé workmaster, goldsmiths who produced jewelry for the House of Fabergé*Fabergé eggs, the most famous works of the House of Faberge...
, Jeweller to the Tsars (1986–87) at Kunsthalle in Munich. Also, while as a Board Member with the Fabergé Arts Foundation, he was Chief Curator of Fabergé, Imperial Court Jeweler (1993–94), which was shown in St. Petersburg, Paris and London. He also served as Guest Curator of Fabergé in America, which toured five cities in the United States (1996–97).
As an educator, Géza served as an adjunct professor for The New York School of Interior Design, The Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts, and New York University. He is currently a lecturer for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Some of his topics include "Princely Collections," "The Habsburgs as Collectors and Patrons of the Arts," and "Celebrated Habsburg
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
Women."
Fluent in seven languages, Géza joined Fabergé Co. in 1994 as a consultant, spokesperson and lecturer worldwide. He has authored seven and co-written two books on Fabergé
Fabergé
Fabergé may refer to:*House of Fabergé, a Russian jewelry firm founded by Gustav Faberge in 1842*Fabergé workmaster, goldsmiths who produced jewelry for the House of Fabergé*Fabergé eggs, the most famous works of the House of Faberge...
and related topics, as well as 75 articles, which have been published in various art journals all over the world. In addition, he has been featured prominently in a Russian film (1994), a Japanese film and two biographies for the Arts & Entertainment Network (A&E), all in association with Fabergé
Fabergé
Fabergé may refer to:*House of Fabergé, a Russian jewelry firm founded by Gustav Faberge in 1842*Fabergé workmaster, goldsmiths who produced jewelry for the House of Fabergé*Fabergé eggs, the most famous works of the House of Faberge...
.
Géza has also been featured in the A&E documentary, Treasures of the Habsburgs (1998), and Habsburgs Today on the Romance Channel (1999).
Marriage and children
His first marriage, in 1965, was to Monika Decker (Born 1939) produced three sons:- Franz Ferdinand (Born 1967)
- Ferdinand Leopold (Born 1969) He is currently working for UNDP in Southern Sudan
- Maximilian Philip (Born 1974)
They were divorced in 1991.
His second marriage, in 1991, was to Elizabeth Jane Kunstadter (Born 1957)
produced a daughter:
- Isabella Maria Luisa (Born 1996)