The Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik (WMF) was founded as Daniel Straub in 1853 and became known as the Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik in 1880, following the merger of Straub & Schweizer of Geislingen and A. Ritter & Co. of Esslingen. The factory's main production was of metal and electroplated household wares, but they also made electrotype reproductions of historical metalware. From the late nineteenth century to the First World War the WMF art studio was run by the sculptor Albert Mayer with a staff of anonymous designers, modellers and craftsmen, who were required to turn out designs in the prevailing style, whether historical or modern.