Frey Wille GmbH & Co KG, originally branded as "Michaela Frey Emailmanufaktur", now known as FREYWILLE, is an enamel jewellery manufacturer based in

Vienna en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

founded in 1951 by designer Michaela Frey. The label is known for its hand-decorated designs that are based on the works of 19th- and 20th-century artists, and for producing the world's finest fire enamel jewellery.

History

The original Michaela Frey style of enamel ornamentation and fire enamel techniques was created in the 1960s by Viennese designer and company founder Michaela Frey, who refined the technique of fine

enameling Vitreous enamel, also called porcelain enamel, is a material made by fusing powdered glass to a substrate by firing, usually between . The powder melts, flows, and then hardens to a smooth, durable vitreous coating. The word comes from the Lati ...

over several decades and ran a workshop dedicated to enamel jewellery and objets d'art. Frey died in the 1970s, at which point the company was taken over by her accountant, Dr. Friedrich Wille (Doctor of Law), who embarked on a period of expansion.

Current operations

By 2010, FREYWILLE operated 200+ boutiques worldwide. By 2022, the company had 42 boutiques, mostly in Eastern Europe, and had engaged re-sellers. The company has its factory and offices in one building in central Vienna.

Product range

All FREYWILLE pieces are hand-made in Vienna. Until around 2010, under contract, FREYWILLE produced the enamel jewellery for

Hermès Hermès International S.A., or simply Hermès ( , ), is a French luxury design house established in 1837. It specializes in leather goods, lifestyle accessories, home furnishings, perfumery, jewelry, watches and ready-to-wear. Its logo, since ...

. Its scarves are designed in Vienna and made in Italy; its watches are made in Switzerland and set with enamel pieces in Vienna. And until around 2014, FREYWILLE offered handbags, also made in Italy, which cost as much as US$5,000. The company also sells watches and Swiss-made writing instruments. By 2022, FREYWILLE had discontinued its men's line; consisted of watches, rings, belts, ties and writing instruments.

Designs

FREYWILLE designs use colorful motifs and the infusion of 24k gold. They are either designed with ideas from the company's artists, such as the " Ode to Joy of Life" collection,Ode to Joy of Life at FreeWille
/ref> or by using motifs from mythology, such as the Egyptian collection, or based on the works of influential artists. In the 1990s the

Fondation Monet in Giverny The Fondation Claude Monet is a nonprofit organisation that runs and preserves the house and gardens of Claude Monet in Giverny, France, where Monet lived and painted for 43 years. Monet was inspired by his gardens, and spent years transforming ...

approached the company and asked them to create a collection inspired by Monet. Soon after, a collection was created for the

Victoria and Albert Museum The Victoria and Albert Museum (often abbreviated as the V&A) in London is the world's largest museum of applied arts, decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 2.27 million objects. It was founded in 1852 and nam ...

based on works by

William Morris William Morris (24 March 1834 – 3 October 1896) was a British textile designer, poet, artist, novelist, architectural conservationist, printer, translator and socialist activist associated with the British Arts and Crafts Movement. He ...

. Collections have also been created based on the works of

Gustav Klimt Gustav Klimt (July 14, 1862 – February 6, 1918) was an Austrian symbolist painter and one of the most prominent members of the Vienna Secession movement. Klimt is noted for his paintings, murals, sketches, and other objets d'art. Klimt's prim ...

, Friedensreich Hundertwasser, Alphonse Mucha,

Vincent van Gogh Vincent Willem van Gogh (; 30 March 185329 July 1890) was a Dutch Post-Impressionism, Post-Impressionist painter who posthumously became one of the most famous and influential figures in Western art history. In a decade, he created about 2 ...

and

Paul Gauguin Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin (, ; ; 7 June 1848 – 8 May 1903) was a French Post-Impressionist artist. Unappreciated until after his death, Gauguin is now recognized for his experimental use of colour and Synthetist style that were distinct fr ...

References

{{reflist Fashion accessory brands Manufacturing companies based in Vienna Austrian brands High fashion brands Luxury brands Watch brands Design companies established in 1951 Manufacturing companies established in 1951 Austrian companies established in 1951 Shops in New York City Privately held companies of Austria