Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
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.
Color: Brown
Creator: Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Carl Auböck Model #4327 Polished Brass Hook
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck Model #4327 polished brass hook. Designed in the 1950s, this versatile and minimalist Viennese hook is executed in polished brass by Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Austria.
Pro...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass, Nickel
Carl Aubock „C“ Walnut Clothes Coat Brush, Signed, Midcentury, Austria, 1960s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful modernist clothes or coat brush in the shape of the letter C from the 1960s. Designed and executed by Carl Aubock III, Vienna/Austria. Handmade of walnut and natural hors...
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Walnut
Carl Aubock Mid Century Horn Desk Pen & Pencil Tray & Holder, Austria, 1960s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A decorative and rare desk penholder from the 1960s, designed and executed by Carl Aubock, Vienna. Made of horn, in very good condition.
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Horn
Original Midcentury Carl Auböck Horn and Leather Letter Opener
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
For sale is a unique piece of Mid-Century Modern design. The letter opener was carefully hand carved out of horn. It was produced in the renowned Austrian workshops of Bauhaus-influe...
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Horn, Leather
Pair of Carl Auböck Model #1928 'Hands' Brass Bookends
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Carl Auböck model #1928 'Hands' brass bookends. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural pair of bookends are executed in patinated and polished brass.
P...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Aubock Polished Brass "Hand" Keychain #5732
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Chalk Hill, PA
Carl Aubock polished brass "Hand" Keychain #5732. Produced by Carl Auböck IV in the original Auböck workshop in Vienna, Austria using the same standards, high-quality materials, orig...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Aubock Brass "Hand" Letter Opener #7208
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Chalk Hill, PA
Carl Aubock Brass "Hand" Letter Opener #7208. Currently produced by Carl Auböck IV in the original Auböck workshop in Vienna, Austria using the same standards, high-quality materials...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Beautiful Auböck Mid-Century Pencil Cup Made From Horn
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
For sale is a unique piece of Mid-Century Modern design. The pencil cup was carefully hand-carved out of the horn of a wild water buffalo and its bottom covered with green felt for p...
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Horn, Felt
Original Midcentury Carl Auböck Comb Made from Horn
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
For sale is a beautiful half-moon shaped comb. The item was hand-crafted from horn and designed by the renowned workshops of Carl Auböck in Austria. It's a remarkable example of the ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Horn
Carl Auböck #3544 Pen or Brush Rest in Brass and Brown Leather, Austria, 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #3544 pen or brush rest in brass and brown leather, Austria 2022.
Category
2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Aubock Polished Brass Letter Opener #4233
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Chalk Hill, PA
Carl Aubock polished brass letter opener #4233. Produced by Carl Auböck IV in the original Auböck workshop in Vienna, Austria using the same standards, high-quality materials, origin...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Aubock Big Brass Key Cork Screw, Bottle Opener, Paperweight, Austria, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A sculptural Midcentury corkscrew and bottle opener combination from the 1950s. In the shape of a large key, designed by Carl Aubock, executed by...
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Nutcracker Style 1 by Carl Aubock
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
For five generations the design house of Carl Aubock has been turning ordinary objects like paperweights and bookends into extraordinary objects of beauty in an old town house in Vie...
Category
2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Complete Aubock Egg Holder Set, Designed in the Early 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A set of 2 egg cups, on a bechwood holder, a very characteristic design by the Auböck workshop, Vienna, Austria. Original production from the 1950‘s. Excellent condition.
The 2 massive brass rings with beautiful patina but can be polished.
Measure: Height of one egg...
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Bauhaus Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Model #9038 Polished Brass Knob
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck Model #9038 polished brass knob.
Designed in the 1950s, this versatile and Minimalist Viennese knob is executed in polished brass by Werkstätt...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Nickel Plated U-Shaped Brass Key Ring Chain Holder Knopferl
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming modernist U-shaped keyring / keyholder / keychain "Knopferl", model #4617-2, designed by Carl Auböck in the 1950s. Handmade of solid polished brass by Werkstätte Auböck in Austria. Identical to the brass key ring...
Category
20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass, Nickel
Pair of Carl Auböck #3530-2 Bookends in Polished Brass and Coiled with Cane
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of Carl Auböck #3530-2 Bookends in Polished Brass and Coiled with Cane, Austria 2022.
Category
2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Paperweight #5370-1 "Walnut", Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck paperweight #5370-1 "Walnut", Austria.
Category
2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Paperweight #4223 "Hand", Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck paperweight #4223 "Hand", Austria.
Category
2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Large Carl Auböck Model #4751 'Paperclip' Brass Paperweight
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Aubo¨ck Model #4751 'Paperclip' brass paperweight. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly clean and refined Viennese paperweight is hand fabricated in polished brass by Werkstät...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Large Carl Auböck Model #5072 'Chain' Polished Brass Paperweight
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Aubo¨ck Model #5072 'Chain' polished brass paperweight. Executed in brass-plated cast iron and designed in the 1950s, this incredibly clean and refined Viennese paperweight is h...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Iron, Brass
Carl Auböck Letter Opener, Austria 1960s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck Leather and Brass Letter Opener, Austria 1960s.
Category
1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Aubock Oversized MidCentury Paper Clip Brass Paperweight, Austria, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A vintage original old giant XXL brass paper clip from the 1950s, to be used as a paperweight. Designed and executed by Carl Aubock, Austria. In good...
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Model #4982 Polished Brass Hook
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck model #4982 polished brass hook. Designed in the 1950s, this versatile and minimalist Viennese hook is executed in polished brass by Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Austria.
Pr...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Paperweight "Foot", Austria 1960s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck paperweight "Foot" in Brass, Austria 1960s.
Category
1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Cactus Holder, Vienna, Around 1950s by Auböck
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Wien, AT
Cactus holder Vienna around 1950s by Auböck.
Original condition.
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Paperweight #4992-3 Safety Pin, Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck paperweight #4992-3 in the shape of a safety pin, Austria.
Category
2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Paperweight in Leather and Stone, Austria, 1960s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck paperweight in leather and stone, Austria, 1960s.
Category
1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Stone
Carl Auböck #5275 Paperweight "Zumbusch Hand", Austria 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #5275-2 Paperweight "Zumbusch Hand", Austria 2022. Also available in 8cm height for 315,00 € (#5275-1).
Category
2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Aubock Set of Smoking Accessories
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Chicago, IL
Brass and Wicker Wrapped pipe stand (Or Paperweight) with two brass spoon rests.
Category
1940s Austrian Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck #4273-1 Paperweight "Foot", Austria 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #4273-1 Paperweight "Foot", Austria 2022.
Category
2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Horn Pen Holder, Austria, 1960s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck horn pen holder, Austria, 1960s.
Category
1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Horn
Carl Auböck Midcentury Brass Seahorse Handmade Key Ring Chain Holder
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming modernist seahorse keyring / key holder / keychain, designed by Carl Auböck in the 1950s. Handmade of solid polished brass by Werkstätte Auböck in Austria. Fully stamped a...
Category
20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Midcentury Elephant Handmade Brass Figurine Key Ring Chain Holder
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming modernist elephant keyring / keyholder / keychain, designed by Carl Auböck in the 1950s. Handmade of solid polished brass by Werkstätte A...
Category
20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
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 Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Paperweight "Pipe", Austria, 1960s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck paperweight "pipe" in brass, Austria 1960s.
Category
1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Horn Penrest, Austria 1960s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck Horn Penrest, Austria 1960s.
Category
1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Horn
Carl Auböck Paperknife #7209
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Brass paperknife #7209 by Carl Auböck.
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Pipe Paperweight, Brass, Signed
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in New York, NY
Carl Auböck Pipe Paperweight, Brass, Signed. Small scale meticulously detailed brass pipe paperweight by Viennese designer Carl Auböck.
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Paperweight Set as Used by Walter Gropius
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
A Classic set of four beautiful pressed papiers designed by Carl Auböck and produced by the Carl Auböck Werkstätte. The set consists of a stone in leather, an egg, foot and hand. Sam...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Stone, Brass
Carl Auböck Midcentury Tuning Fork Handmade Key Ring Chain Holder
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming modernist tuning fork keyring / key holder / keychain, designed by Carl Auböck in the 1950s. Handmade of solid polished brass by Werkstätte Auböck in Austria.
Length inc...
Category
20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Paperknife with Bookmark #6086
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Brass paperknife with bookmark by Carl Auböck.
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck II Brass Tray, Bowl, Vide-Poche, Maria Theresia Coin, Austria, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful solid brass coin tray or dish, designed and executed by Werkstätte Carl Auböck II in the 1950s. Suitable as a jewelry bowl or „vide-poche“. In good condition with nice pa...
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
1950s Carl Auböck Chain Paperweight Austria Vintage Midcentury Desk Sculpture
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Sought after early chain paperweight, golden brass plated, and lacquered steel by Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Austria, circa 1950s. Heavily worn, showing...
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Steel
Carl Auböck Midcentury Brass Shovel Ashtray with Handle, Austria, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A very beautiful and solid polished brass modernist ashtray with handle in the shape of a shovel, designed and executed by Carl Auböck in the 1...
Category
20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Aubock, Letter Opener, Leather and Brass, Austria, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Stockholm, SE
Letter opener by Carl Auböck. Made in brass with leather handle, Austria, 1950s.
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
1960s Austrian Cow Horn Brush by Carl Auböck
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 Desk Accessories
Materials
Horn
Vintage Carl Auböck Brass Pipe Modernist Paperweight #5188, Austria, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
An Austrian brass paperweight, displaying a pipe, designed an executed in the 1950s by Carl Aubock, Vienna. Model #5188. A very decorative item, in very good condition. Marked.
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
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 Desk Accessories
Materials
Walnut
Werkstätte Carl Auböck desk accessories for sale on 1stDibs.
Werkstätte Carl Auböck desk accessories 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 desk accessories, although beige editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 93 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 126 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original desk accessories 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 desk accessories by Walter Bosse, Richard Rohac, and Herta Baller. Prices for Werkstätte Carl Auböck desk accessories 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 $563.
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