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.
Austrian Midcentury Walnut Candleholder by Carl Auböck
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
This charming Austrian Midcentury Modern candleholder was designed and crafted by Carl Auböck for Werkstätte Carl Auböck in Vienna Austria, Mod. No 4661. It features a ball-shaped de...
Walnut
Pair of Carl Auböck #3470 Polished Brass Candleholders
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Carl Auböck #3470 Patinated Brass Candleholders. Designed in the 1940s, this incredibly clean and refined Viennese candleholder is executed in polished brass by Werkstätte ...
Brass
Pair of Carl Auböck #3469 Patinated Brass Candleholders
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Carl Auböck #3469 patinated brass candleholders. Designed in the 1950s, this versatile and Minimalist Viennese candleholder is executed in polished and patinated brass by W...
Brass
Pair of Carl Auböck #3470 Patinated Brass Candleholders
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Carl Auböck #3470 Patinated Brass Candleholders. Designed in the 1940s, this incredibly clean and refined Viennese candleholder is executed in darkly patinated brass by Werk...
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Brass Candlestick by Werkstätte Carl Auböck, 1960s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck candlestick, Austria 1960s.
Brass
Pair of Carl Auböck Model #3469 Polished Brass Candleholders
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Carl Auböck Model #3469 Polished Brass Candleholders. Designed in the 1950s, this versatile and Minimalist Viennese candleholder is executed in polished and patinated brass...
Brass
Carl Auböck #4103 Candleholder, Polished Brass, Modern Design
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #4103 candleholder, Austria 2022.
Brass
Rare 1940s Chamberstick by Carl Auböck II
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in London, GB
An extremely rare walnut, white metal & rope chamberstick designed and made by Carl Auböck II in the 1940’s. This chamberstick serves as an indication of the second Carl Auböck’s or...
Metal
Carl Auböck #7234 Candlestick, Brass, Patinated Finish, Austria, 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #7234 candlestick, Austria, 2022.
Brass
Carl Aubock Modernist Walnut Leather Candlestick Candle Holder, Austria, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A rare midcentury candleholder from the 1950s by Carl Auböck. It is completely handmade and has a cylindrical top, made of walnut with a brass interior on leather covered stem and a ...
Metal, Brass, Iron
Rare Mid-Century Modern Candlestick No 3433 by Carl Auböck Austria 1937
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Munich, DE
A real collectors item. Extremely rare and lovely Mid-Century Modern candlestick. Model No 3433. Designed by Carl Auböck for Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Vienna, Austria, 1937. Executed...
Brass
Carl Auböck #4162-2 Candlestick "Cobra", Austria 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #4162-2 candlestick "Cobra", Austria 2022.
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Brass & Horn Candlestick Holders by Carl Auböck
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Really special candlestick with horn screen and patinated brass structure as the base. A unique piece!
Brass
Pair of Carl Auböck #7234 Brass Candleholders
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Carl Auböck brass #7234 candleholders. Designed in the 1950s, this versatile and Minimalist Viennese candleholder is executed in polished and patinated brass by Werkstätte ...
Brass
$1,081 / item
Carl Auböck Pair of #3469 Candlesticks, Austria 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck Pair of #3469 Candlesticks, Austria 2022. The price is for one pair.
Brass
Carl Auböck #7239-1 Candlestick with Hornscreen, Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Unusual large horn shade on this classic Carl Auböck candle holder in polished solid brass.
Brass
Pair of Carl Auböck Patinated Brass Candle Holders
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Utrecht, NL
Pair of patinated candle holders designed by Carl Aubock in 1948. This signature piece from the Auböck collection is hand made manufactured in Vienna Austria workshop ever since 1948...
Brass
Carl Auböck Pair of #3470 Candlesticks, Austria 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck pair of #3470 candlesticks, Austria 2022.
Brass
Carl Auböck #3980-2 Candleholder, Patinated Brass, Modern Design
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #3980-2 Candleholder, Austria 2022.
Brass
Carl Auböck #3980-1 Candleholder, Patinated Brass, Modern Design
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #3980-1 candleholder, Austria 2022
Brass
Pair of Carl Auböck Patinated Brass Candle Holders
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Utrecht, NL
Pair of patinated candle holders designed by Carl Aubock in 1948. This signature piece from the Auböck collection is hand made manufactured in Vienna Austria workshop ever since 1948...
Brass
Midcentury Candleholder in Brass from Austria
Located in Vienna, Austria
Decorative midcentury candleholder from Austria. It comes as a set and includes scissors for controlling the wick and another element for snuffing the fra...
Brass
Gnosjö, Candlesticks, Brass, Sweden, 1960s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of brass candlesticks designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1960s. Holds .5” diameter candles.
Brass
$1,250 / set
H 10.24 in W 6.3 in D 7.88 in
Mid-Century Modern Brass & Horn Candlestick Holders by Carl Auböck
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Really special candlestick with horn screen and patinated brass structure as the base. A unique piece!
Brass
Carl Aubock Polished Brass Hand Bottle Opener #4224
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Chalk Hill, PA
Carl Aubock polished brass hand bottle opener #4224. This whimsical 1950's hand bottle opener by Carl Aubock is a wonderful example of the marriage ...
Brass
Pair of Carl Auböck #7234 Brass Candleholders
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Carl Auböck brass #7234 candleholders. Designed in the 1950s, this versatile and Minimalist Viennese candleholder is executed in polished and patinated brass by Werkstätte ...
Brass
Carl Aubock Patinated Brass Bookends #4636
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Chalk Hill, PA
Carl Aubock patinated brass bookends #4636. Produced by Carl Auböck IV in the original Auböck workshop in Vienna, Austria using the same standards, high-quality materials, original m...
Brass
Carl Auböck Paperweight #5370-1, Brass & Walnut, Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck paperweight #5370-1 "Walnut", Austria.
Brass
Pair of Candlesticks or Candleholders, Patinated Bronze
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of candlestick in patinated bronze. The base washer shows a decoration based on moldings, while the barrel rises from a pedestal topped by a large pearl and is shaped like a va...
Bronze
Pair of Candlesticks or Candleholders, Patinated Bronze
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of candlestick in patinated bronze. It has a square base with flattened corners and decorated with moldings that create a staggering until almost reaching the barrel, worked as...
Bronze
Carl Auböck Pair of #3469 Candlesticks, Austria 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck Pair of #3469 Candlesticks, Austria 2022. The price is for one pair.
Brass
$2,500 / set
H 10 in W 5.5 in D 5 in
Pair of Vintage Polished Brass Tubular Candleholders in the Style of Gio Ponti
By Gio Ponti
Located in New York, NY
Pair of vintage polished brass tubular candleholders in the style of Gio Ponti. Elegant cascading design candleholders for 8 candles with 3/4" diameter base. Aging and tarnishing on ...
Brass
Rare Carl Auböck II Wind Lantern No. 3602
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Minneapolis, MN
Undoubtably one of the Auböck Workshop's most beautiful designs, the Wind Lantern No.3602 is highly desired and hard to find. The brass and wrapped cane candleholder was designed in ...
Brass
Horn and Brass Tea Light Holder, Carl Aubock III
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in London, GB
A striking brass tea light holder with natural horn screen made by Carl Auböck III, c.1949. The front of the horn screen is a rich amber colour with deep and tactile vertical stria...
Brass
Carl Auböck Brass and Glass Modernist Hurricane Lantern Candle Lamp
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Chicago, IL
This Carl Auböck candle lantern has a hurricane type, cylindrical glass shade. The top of the brass frame forms a handle, and the brass cap has a line of...
Brass
Selection of Modernist Candelabra
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Fondica
Located in Atlanta, GA
Selection of modernist candelabra or candlesticks. From left to right, they are: 1) Sculptural gilt bronze candelabra by Nicolas de Wael for Fond...
Brass, Bronze
Sculptural Hand-Hammered Brass Candleholder Lantern by Carl Auböck
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Chicago, IL
This sculptural, hand-hammered brass candle lantern by Carl Auböck has a beautifully formed and subtly textured ovoid brass reflector and wind shield. The piece that forms the elegan...
Brass
Rare Carl Auböck #3600 Brass Candleholder
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Rare Carl Auböck #3600 brass candleholder. Designed in the 1940s, this incredibly clean and refined Viennese candleholder is executed in polished and darkly patinated brass by Werkst...
Brass
Carl Aubock Candleholder
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Asbury Park, NJ
Simple candleholder by Carl Aubock, made of walnut and brass.
Walnut
Carl Auböck Midcentury Candlestick, Walnut, Brass, Austria, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful modernist candleholder, made of walnut and brass, designed an manufactured by Carl Auböck, Austria, Vienna, in the 1950s. In very good condition.
Brass
Carl Auböck Brass and Horn Candelabrum
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mouflon horn, brass and enameled steel candelabrum by Viennese master designer Carl Auböck. Holds four candles; original from 1961.
Brass, Steel
Carl Auböck Brass Candleholder
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Beautiful modernist brass six-candle holder by Viennese designer Carl Auböck. This work is original from the 1950s and is stamped "Auböck" "Made in Austria".
Brass
Carl Auböck Rare Brass Candlestick
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Sharon, CT
A rare 'pricket' candlestick by the great Austrian Workshop.
Bronze
Carl Auböck Midcentury Candlestick, Walnut, Brass, Austria, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful modernist candleholder, made of walnut and brass, designed an manufactured by Carl Auböck, Austria, Vienna, in the 1950s. In very good condition.
Brass