Legacy
Our heritage brings rich history in visual and musical arts. Our descendants are from families which worked on facade elements in the French neo-baroque and neo-renaissance style on the House of Jevrem Grujić in Belgrade (1896) originally created by the Italian master of decorative painting Domenico D’Andrea by using very rare sgrafitto technique, almost unique example of architecture in Belgrade (Serbia).
One of our founders, Vladimir von Bergdorff, Managing Director of Foster + Svensson, is a member of Suvodolac family from Belgrade, Serbia, with modern origin back in 1860’s. His grandfather Dragiša Suvodolac, a Royal Court artist, worked with sculptor Ivan Meštrović on creating “The Victor“ monument in Belgrade (1928) and “Memorial monument to the Unknown Hero“ atop Mount Avala in Belgrade (1938) to name a few. The family of Suvodolac was awarded in 1938 by King Peter II Karađorđević of Yugoslavia with Royal Household Silver Medal with Crown Rare for visual art services including painting, sculpture, and architecture.
Suvodolac is one of the oldest and rarest families in Serbia, dated back in 11th century between 1004-1008 during Byzantine Empire, when Suvodol monastery was built and later rebuilt by Prince Lazar of Serbia as Nemanjić dynasty foundation in 14th century. Complete reconstruction was done during 1866 by Mihailo Obrenović, Prince of Serbia. Suvodol monastery is marked as a cultural monument of great importance under Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments of Serbia.
Dragiša Suvodolac, one of the few scholarship holders of His Majesty King Petar II Karađorđević of Yugoslavia, was personally recognized by the king for his talent and potential. King Petar II Karađorđević had long been searching for artists to work at the court in the fields of architecture, sculpture, painting, and art in general. With the patronage and scholarship of His Majesty and the Court, Dragiša secured further education and work. After completing his studies, he collaborated with sculptor and artist Ivan Meštrović on monumental works in Serbia, including “The Victor” monument on Kalemegdan in Belgrade (1928) and the “Monument to the Unknown Hero” atop Mount Avala (1938). Despite being colorblind, Dragiša Suvodolac created numerous other works of art, such as sculptures, busts, architectural drawings, and paintings, which are now owned by the Suvodolac and von Bergdorff families.
Photo: Declaration and Silver Medal of Honor with Crown Rare, given by His Majesty King Peter II Karađorđević of Yugoslavia on August 16, 1938 in Belgrade.
For his exceptional work and contributions to the court, at the suggestion of the Marshal of the Court, His Majesty King Peter II Karađorđević of Yugoslavia honored Dragiša Suvodolac with the rank of Corporal of the Avala Detachment and the Silver Medal with Crown Rare on August 16, 1938, in Belgrade. This recognition is documented in the Military Geographical Institute Belgrade, as evidenced by the number № 821. The Silver Medal, featuring the image of HM King of Yugoslavia Aleksandar Karađorđević, was crafted in Vienna by Mayer’s Söhne k.u.k.Hof u. Kammer-Juweliere Ordenfabrikanten Wien, a renowned jewelry shop.
Privilege from the Emperor and the King
Vincenz Mayer’s Söhne, established in 1810, was a renowned jewelry company in Vienna. Initially, it served as a purveyor to the Imperial and Royal Court. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, it emerged as one of the most significant jewelers of religious orders in Vienna. The company’s address was Stock-im-Eisen-Platz 7 in the 1st district, Innere Stadt (Inner City).
After Vincenz Mayer’s passing in 1865, his three sons—Joseph, Vincenz, and Franz Mayer—successfully inherited and continued the business. Their efforts led them to become one of the first and most esteemed jewelers in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Beyond jewelry and silverware, they also crafted orders and decorations, including the Order of the Iron Crown for the state. Their exceptional skills in precious metal craftsmanship were widely recognized.
Vincenz Mayer’s Söhne stood out as one of the few Austrian companies operating in this sector, alongside C. F. Rothe & Neffe. The company’s commitment to quality and exceptional service earned them the prestigious titles of Imperial and Royal Court Jewelers and later, Chamber Jewelers to the Emperor and Empress.
Around 1900, Vincenz Mayer’s Söhne, a company of appraisers of precious objects for the Imperial Court Marshal’s Office and suppliers to the Chancellery of the Imperial Austrian Order of Franz Joseph, manufactured all classes of this order, primarily in gold. Their customers included foreign sovereigns and the most distinguished Viennese social circles. The company also supplied the courts of Serbia, Montenegro, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, the Vatican, Persia, the Ottoman Empire, and many others. The shop on Stock-im-Eisen-Platz featured a permanent exhibition of art objects and household goods. However, the outbreak of the First World War and the collapse of the monarchy brought difficult times for the company. Due to the economic crisis in the postwar years, the company had to close in 1922.
Photo: Wiener Zeitung 1903, Vienna, Austria, Mayer’s Söhne k.u.k.Hof u. Kammer-Juweliere Ordenfabrikanten Wien, jewelry shop.
In the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy, an Imperial and Royal Court Supplier (k.u.k. Hoflieferant) was a merchant or service provider (from 1911, also a company) granted imperial privilege to supply goods and services to the court in Vienna. These companies could be either state-owned (owned by the court) or privately owned. Before the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, which established the Dual Monarchy, companies were known as k.k. Hoflieferant (Imperial and Royal Purveyor to the Court) or simply Imperial Purveyor to the Court. This title was awarded only to companies that were leaders in quality within their sector. Therefore, the title k.u.k. Hoflieferant signified the highest class, the pinnacle of business achievement at the time. During Austria-Hungary’s golden age, over 500 purveyors to the court operated in Vienna alone, with others in Bad Ischl, Budapest, Karlovy Vary, Prague, and beyond. The total number of all companies is estimated at 2,500. Even today, several companies and businesses proudly retain this title and openly use it. In Vienna, Austria, there are still about two dozen. Purveyors to the Imperial and Royal Court continue to enjoy a stellar reputation and an aura of exclusivity and superior quality, reflecting the products that once graced the Imperial Court. These products remain among the most expensive and exclusive in the country, highly valued by customers and enthusiasts alike.
To be awarded and decorated by His Majesty with a medal made in jewelry shops like these indicates excellence in work that stands out even above their own.
Heirs and the modern era
The Von Bergdorff family line stands out due to its unique intermarriage with various royal orders spanning across the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes), Austria, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland. Consequently, it represents a distinctive family lineage with a relatively rare number of descendants.
Vladimir von Bergdorff, a direct descendant of Dragiša Suvodolac, his grandfather, has been passionate about art, drawing, and design since the age of five. He attended private drawing and sculpture schools and the National Museum School, where he competed in the field of art history for 8 years. During his next 4 year secondary education, he pursued two different fields: fine arts, art history, design geometry, perspective, designing, photography, sociology, psychology, and marketing, merchandising, retail, trade, economics, political economy, mathematics, and physics. This enabled and formally educated Vladimir to disseminate his knowledge in a balanced manner, encompassing social, natural, art, and formal sciences. Vladimir enrolled in the Faculty of Physics and simultaneously attended private art school lessons for 3 years to prepare for, and enroll at the Faculty of Applied Arts and Design at the University of Arts in Belgrade, from which he earned a Magister and Dipl. Arh. titule, and a Master’s degree in art and design (MA) in his 5 years of formal academic studies.
Photo: Mag. Vladimir von Bergdorff, MA, Group Managing Director.
Fervent support for the art serves as a testament to our beliefs in the transformative power of creativity. We have been an avid art collectors and creators for over centuries in the family, showcasing a profound appreciation for artistic and cultural expression as our stronghold. We strive to create and leave legacies for future generations by being solid creators of meaningful solutions that become works of art. These creations are backed by our experience, knowledge, and understanding. Centuries to be proud of.
