Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Austrian
In Vienna’s Neubau district, a beautiful Biedermeier townhouse has been home to the Werkstätte Carl Auböck for more than 100 years. Inside the workshop, where production continues to this day, countless objects line the shelves, walls, tabletops and desktops.
The Viennese artist and designer Carl Auböck II was one of the quirkiest and most delightful and collectible of modern designers. A rather odd duck in the world of decorative arts, he was a peculiar talent whose specialties included smaller desk accessories and tabletop pieces such as corkscrews, paperweights, letter openers, bookends and bottle stoppers. He rendered these pieces in a combination of metal — most often brass — and such elemental materials as leather, knobby wood and animal horn, creating forms that could be almost Surrealist, from hands and feet to keys, birds and amoebae.
As a boy, Auböck was precocious and artistic. He studied drawing and at the same time trained in the workshop of his father, Karl Heinrich Auböck, a popular maker of traditional bronze figurines and collectibles. In 1919, Carl II went to Germany to study at the Bauhaus, where he was a pupil of the progressive artist and theorist Johannes Itten. While the Bauhaus is most associated with the rigidly ordered, functionalist architecture of its directors Walter Gropius and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, the school was in reality a liberal, spirited place — a crucible for imaginative, playful and avant-garde art and design. It was this spirit that imbued Carl II’s work from the time he left in 1921.
In 1922 or ’23, Carl Auböck II returned to Vienna to help care for his ailing father, and he took over the business. He created the Werkstätte Carl Auböck and a legacy that earned his objects cult status among collectors. The business was passed on to his descendants, who run the atelier that is still in operation today. Today, objects designed by Carl II make up 90 percent of Werkstätte Carl Auböck’s production, joined by the creations of architect and designer Carl IV, his grandson.
Vintage Auböck designs have a special character, a patina that only emphasizes how much the pieces have been loved and used. Carl Aubock II’s small furniture items — leather- or caned-sling magazine racks; free-edge wooden side tables with tubular bronze legs; wicker serving trolleys with turned beechwood wheels — are elegant and purposeful. His bijoux desktop objects, library tools, ashtrays and barware pieces evince a kind of mirthful practicality. They seem to ask: “If you need a corkscrew, or a paperweight, or a candlestick, why not make it fun as well as functional?” And indeed, why not?
Find a collection of vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck mirrors, seating, tables, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.
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Creator: Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Carl Auböck #4118 Watering Can in Polished Brass, Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Watering can #4118 by Carl Auböck in polished brass.
Category
2010s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck III, 1960s, Alphabetical 'L' Shaped Walnut Clothes Brush
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in London, GB
L-shaped coat brush designed and made by Carl Auböck III, Vienna, circa 1960.
The model 5000 alphabetical clothes brushes were designed in 1961 and a ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Walnut
Cast Nickel Table Clock by Werkstätte Carl Auböck III
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in London, GB
A vintage Cast Nickel table clock designed by Auböck III, 1969. Incredibly striking in its design, the simplistic focus on geometry makes a strong presence in any room. The 4cm gauge...
Category
1960s Balkan Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Nickel
Two Bookends by Carl Auböck Brass Design Vienna, Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A pair of large solid brass bookends created and manufactured by the Austrian architect and designer Carl Auböck. These outstanding objects made of solid polished and decorated brass...
Category
1980s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Carl Aubock Glass Boot, Brass Spur Art Deco Glass Caraffe, Vase, 1950s, Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Carl Aubock glass boot, brass spur Art Deco glass caraffe, vase, 1950s, Austria. Glass vase or pitcher. Listing is for single boot. Glass marked Austri...
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Bookends
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare pair of bookends designed by Carl Auböck.
Category
1950s European Scandinavian Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
$6,024 / set
Cigarette Box by Carl Auböck
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Brass and wooden cigarette box, designed by Carl Auböck, shows a beautiful guilloche top surface. The brass shows fine patina, enriched by the contrast of the wooden sides of the box...
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Set of Three Carl Auböck Brass Bowls
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Set of three Carl Auböck brass bowls. Includes one each of Models #3904, #3844 & #4082. Designed in the 1950s, these incredibly refined and sculptural Viennese bowls are executed in ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
$1,465 / set
Grouping of Six Carl Auböck Brass Bookends
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Grouping of six Carl Auböck brass bookends. Includes one pair each of models #4635, #4636 and #4637. Designed in the 1950s, these incredibly...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
$2,389 / set
Carl Auböck Model #4276 'Single Flower' Brass Vase
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck model #4276 'Single Flower' brass vase. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural Viennese vase is executed in darkly pat...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
$1,057 / item
Watering Can Made of Solid Brass by Austrian Designer Carl Auböck, Vienna, 1970s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
An extravagant watering can manufactured by the Austrian architect and designer Carl Auböck. This object, made entirely of brass and of high quality craftsmanship, can exist both in ...
Category
1970s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Carl Aubock Framed Hand #5275 for Neiman Marcus
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in San Francisco, CA
Carl Aubock design solid brass ballerina hand model #5275, Austria.
Lovely decorative desk or table top object by the master Carl Aubock. Mounted on...
Category
1970s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck #3791 "Body" Vase, Austria, 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #3791 "Body" vase, Austria, 2022.
Category
2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
$951 / item
Carl Auböck #4061 Sculpture "Architect", Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #4061 Sculpture "Architect", Austria.
Category
2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck #3975 "Collar" Vase, Austria, 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #3975 "Collar" vase, Austria, 2022.
Category
2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck #3786 "Alert" Vase or Bookend, Austria 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #3786 "Alert" Vase or Bookend, Austria 2022.
Category
2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck #4057 Sculpture "Athlete", Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #4057 sculpture "Athlete", Austria
Category
2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck #4271 Wall Sculpture "Napoleon", Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #4271 wall sculpture "Napoleon", Austria.
Category
2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck #4273-2 Paperweight "Foot", Austria 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #4273-2 Paperweight "Foot", Austria 2022.
Category
2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck #7240 Vase "Single Noose", Austria 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #7240 Vase "Single Noose", Austria 2022.
Category
2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass, Wire
Carl Auböck #7228 Vase with Ring, Austria, 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #7228 Vase with Ring, Austria, 2022.
Category
2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck #3650 Large Fountainpen Rest "Feather", Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Auböck solid patinated brass tray in a feather shape.
.
Category
2010s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck #3980-2 Candleholder, Austria 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #3980-2 Candleholder, Austria 2022.
Category
2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Brass Key Corkscrew by Carl Aubock
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
For five generations the design house of Carl Auböck has been turning ordinary objects like paperweights and bookends into extraordinary objects of beauty in an old town house in Vienna. Mixing old world craftsmanship with Bauhaus design, materials such as brass, leather, wood and horn are transformed in eccentric, imaginative modern objects.
This solid brass key...
Category
2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Sculptural Hand Tabletop Accessory by Carl Aubock
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An elegant heavy solid brass 'hand' paperweight.
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
very rare penholder from horn and horn pen by carl auböck
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Munich, DE
rare pieces from the carl auböck workshop.
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Comb by Carl Aubock
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An elegant comb hand carved from cow horn with naturally occurring variations in color and pattern.
Category
1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Horn
Comb by Carl Aubock
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An elegant comb hand carved from cow Horn with naturally occurring variations in color and pattern.
Category
1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Horn
Comb by Carl Aubock
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An elegant comb hand carved from cow horn with naturally occurring variations in color and pattern.
Category
1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Horn
$562 Sale Price
25% Off
Brush by Carl Aubock
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An elegant brush hand carved from cow horn with naturally occurring variations in color and pattern.
Category
1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Horn
Brush by Carl Aubock
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An elegant brush hand carved from cow Horn with naturally occurring variations in color and pattern.
Category
1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Horn
Comb by Carl Aubock
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An elegant comb hand carved from cow horn with naturally occurring variations in color and pattern.
Category
1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Horn
Brush by Carl Aubock
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An elegant brush hand carved from cow horn with naturally occurring variations in color and pattern.
Category
1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Horn
Flowerrack or Cactus Holder by Carl Auböck, Vienna, Austria, Brass, 1980s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
Enchanting and charming small flowerrack or cactus holder by Carl Auböck, Vienna, Austria. Its basis consists of a solid and black patinated piece of brass, while the brackets are of...
Category
1980s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Table Clock in red leather, Austria 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
A beautiful leather and stainless steel modernist clock from the 1950s, designed and executed by Carl Auböck in very rare and hard to find red leather, Vienna/Austria. An amazing str...
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Decorative Objects
Materials
Stainless Steel
Price Upon Request
Werkstätte Carl Auböck decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.
Werkstätte Carl Auböck decorative objects are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Werkstätte Carl Auböck decorative objects, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 185 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 220 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original decorative objects by Werkstätte Carl Auböck were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 21st century and contemporary. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider decorative objects by Walter Bosse, Franz Hagenauer, and Karl Hagenauer. Prices for Werkstätte Carl Auböck decorative objects can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $145 and can go as high as $5,391, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $751.
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