Hermann Mandl

Hermann Mandl was an Austrian businessman of Jewish descent who went to China in the 1870s. He quickly became acquainted with Chinese customs and fluent in the language. Based on this, he made a successful career in European and American companies in China. In 1888, he founded his own company, H. Mandl & Co., with offices in Hamburg, Shanghai, and Tianjin, successfully representing major German companies like Krupp and Siemens.

In 1896 Mandl went to Paris for some years before returning to China and ultimately to his home town Vienna. He was also Consul of the Netherlands at Tianjin and owned a famous collection of Chinese art. In 1906 Mandl sold his business to Carlowitz & Co. and finally retired to Vienna in 1907 with a considerable fortune. He died childless there at the age of 64 and donated works of art and handicrafts from his collection to museums.

In 1890 Austria-Hungary awarded Mandl the dignity of Knight 3rd Class of the Order of the Iron Crown. In 1891 he was awarded the Prussian Royal Order of the Crown 3rd Class for his services to Chinese trade. With a nobility letter dated September 29, 1909, he was elevated to the Austro-Hungarian nobility as Edler von Manden.

Mandl took part in several equestrian events in jumping, dressage, and driving at the 1900 Paris Olympic Games with unknown results. He practiced automobile sport, rode, fenced, and took part in equestrian tournaments as a rider and driver of a four-in-hand team.