Kunstgewerbe-Magazin Georg Leykauf

Note: in February 2024 a member of the Leykauf family informed me that the information below is in part incomplete and/or incorrect. Updates will be made when more information comes available.

Rothschmidsmühle, Bindergasse 18, König(s)straße 16, Karolinenstraße 1/ König(s)straße 22,, Nuremberg, Bavaria
Kunstgewerbe-Magazin / Art trade shop.
Kaiserlich und Königlich Österreichisch-Ungarischer Hoflieferant / Supplier to the  Imperial and Royal Austro-Hungarian Court. 
Königlich Bayerischer Hoflieferant / Supplier to the Royal Bavarian court
Königlich Rumänischer Hoflieferant / Supplier to the Royal Romanian court
Grossherzoglich Hessischer Hoflieferant / Supplier to the court of the Grand Duchy of Hesse
Grossherzoglich Badischer Hoflieferant / Supplier to the Grand Duchy of Baden
Herzoglich Anhaltischer Hoflieferant / Supplier to the court of the Duchy of Anhalt  
Herzoglich Sächsischer Hoflieferant / Supplier to the Duchy of Saxony

Georg Leykauf was born on the 24th February 1847 in Nuremberg. His father died when he was 6 years old, and his mother subsequently remarried when he was eight. He soon started work in his stepfather's business, a Messerschleif- und Polieranstalt (a cutlery grinding and polishing company). When Georg was 16 or 17 years old in 1864, his stepfather died and he took over the family business. He initially resided at Vordere Fischergasse 12, whilst renting a shop at the Rothschmidsmühle until 1872. Georg married Christine Kisskalt on the 29th August 1869. The 22nd May 1870 saw the birth of their son Hans, who later became an employee and was to become a co-proprietor of Gg. Leykauf. Georg then acquired a house and shop at Bindergasse 18 in 1872. Moving the business in 1885 he bought a house and shop at König(s)straße 16. Certainly up until the turn of the century, Gg. Leykauf was primarily a cutlery and hardware company, even selling the first stationary diesel engines, perfected by Gasmotoren-Fabrik Deutz and Mannesmann-Werke of Augsburg.

During 1897 and 1898 two old houses, called the "Klein'sche Häuser", were demolished and replaced with a purpose built shop, the architect of which was Professor Franz Brochier, Direktor der Nürnberger Kunstgewerbeschule. This was situated at  Karolinenstraße 1, the full address being known as "Ecke König- und Karolinenstraße gegenüber der Lorenzkirche" (The corner of Karolinenstraße and Königstraße, opposite the Lorenzkirche) which became known locally as "Leykauf Corner". Also in 1898, Hans Leykauf took a more active role, now as co-proprietor. Georg's success was rewarded when he acquired the title of Königlich Bayerischer Kommerzienrat (Councillor of Commerce to the Royal Bavarian Court) in 1906. Up until 1918 he had acquired no less than eight appointments as Hoflieferant to various Imperial and Royal, together with Grand-Ducal and Ducal, courts. He was also a main distributor for J.P Kayser und Sohn A.G. Georg Leykauf died on 29th May 1933 in Nuremberg. "Leykauf Corner" was totally destroyed during WWII. Plans were drawn up in 1951 and 1952 to rebuild, and is assumed that rebuilding took place. It is not currently known when the business of Gg. Leykauf closed.

Just to confuse the issue, Leonhard Leykauf, (brother?), started his own company on the 13th July 1882. In 1932, his address was in the Kaiserstraße. In 1958 the business was relocated to Hauptmarkt 16, trading as Leonhard Leykauf e.K.. The business was managed from 1986 by Camilla Leykauf-Banach, for some years. Over the shop front was the sign "L. Leykauf Geschenkhaus", (Giftshop). Circa 2008, the company was sold by the then current owner to a former employee. Unfortunately this new business was declared insolvent in Autumn 2009. Prager Kunstsalon, then an established company of 14 years standing, moved into Hauptmarkt 16 in 2010, and is trading from there today.

Purchased from: Marzi & Remy, Simon Peter Gerz I, Tiffany & Co, Gebrüder Bing , Felsenstein & Mainzer , Theodor Wieseler,

Reference:  Uni Heidelberg