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.
Large Carl Auböck Model #5072 'Chain' Nickel Paperweight
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Large Carl Auböck Model #5072 'Chain' Nickel Paperweight Executed in nickel-plated cast iron and designed in the 1950s, this incredibly clean and refined Viennese paperweight is han...
Iron, Nickel
Carl Auböck Model #4223 'Hand' Brass Paperweight
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck Model #4223 'Hand' Brass Paperweight Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly clean and refined Viennese paperweight is hand fabricated in polished brass by Werkstätte Car...
Brass
Carl Auböck Model #5371 'Heart' Polished Nickel Paperweight
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck Model #5371 'Heart' Polished Nickel Paperweight Designed in the 1950s, this beautifully refined Viennese paperweight is hand-fabricated in polished nickel-plated brass b...
Nickel, Brass
Carl Auböck Model #5371 'Heart' Polished Brass Paperweight
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck Model #5371 'Heart' Polished Brass Paperweight Designed in the 1950s, this beautifully refined Viennese paperweight is hand-fabricated in polished brass by Werkstätte Ca...
Brass
Carl Auböck Model #4867 2-inch 'Egg' Brass Paperweight
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck Model #4867 2-inch 'Egg' Brass Paperweight Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly clean and refined Viennese paperweight is hand fabricated in polished brass by Werkstät...
Brass
Carl Auböck Paperweight #5371 or 5788 "Heart", Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck paperweight #5371 or 5788 "Heart", Austria. Price is per piece. Available in different sizes.
Brass
Carl Aubock, rare magnifying glass and desk weight. Vienna, 1960s.
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in London, GB
Rare magnifying glass and desk weight in the shape of a nut. Vienna, 1960s Dia: 10cm wide. Excellent condition in a vintage gift box.
Metal
Solid Bronze Carl Auböck Heart Neiman Marcus Paperweight Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in San Diego, CA
Solid bronze egg paperweight by Carl Aubock and sold through Neiman Marcus. Austria. 1970s.
Bronze
Carl Auböck Model #4273-1 'Foot' Brass Paperweight
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck model #4273-1 'Foot' brass paperweight. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly clean and refined Viennese paperweight is hand fabricated in polished brass by Werkstätte C...
Brass
Carl Auböck Paperweight #4223 'Hand', Cast Brass, Polished, Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck paperweight #4223 "Hand", Austria.
Brass
Carl Aubock Table Magnifier 1950 Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
Carl Aubock table magnifier, mid-20th century. Crafted from solid brass with high-quality optical glass, this elegant piece exemplifies Aubock’s meticulous craftsmanship and function...
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 Werkst...
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...
Brass, Iron
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...
Brass
$675Sale Price|55% Off
Brass Pipe Paperweight by Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Austria, 1955
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.
Brass
Carl Aubock Patinated Brass "Walking" Figural Sculpture #4058
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Chalk Hill, PA
Carl Aubock Patinated Brass "Walking" Figural Sculpture #4058 designed in the 1950's. Currently produced by Carl Auböck IV in the original Auböck workshop in Vienna, Austria using th...
Brass
Carl Auböck Paperweight #5378-1 "Razor Blade", Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Brass paperweight #5378-1 in the shape of a razor blade by Carl Auböck, New.
Brass
Carl Auböck Paperweight #4751-1 Paperclip, Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck Huge #4751-1 paperweight in the shape of a paperclip, Austria. New.
Brass
Carl Auböck #5072-1 Paperweight "Chain", Austria 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
#5072-1 Paperweight in the shape of a chain by Carl Auböck. Made of gold plated steel. Austria. New.
Gold Plate, Steel
Carl Auböck Handcrafted Razor Blade Brass Paperweight #5378, Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A handmade paperweight in the shape of a razorblade, model 5378, originally designed by Carl Aubock in the 1950s. A very charming piece, reissued by Werkstätte Auböck in Vienna / Aus...
Brass
Brass Desk Paperweight in original wooden Box, byWerkstätte Carl Auböck
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Brass desk paperweight by Werkstätten Carl Auböck, preserved in its original wooden presentation box printed “la plume de ma tante.” The object is formed as a long, faceted shaft w...
Brass
Signed Carl Auböck Midcentury Brass Foot Paperweight Handmade Sculpture
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming modernist paperweight in the shape of a foot, designed by Carl Auböck in the 1950s. Handmade of solid polished brass by Werkstätte Auböck in Austria. Fully stamped and m...
Brass
Carl Aubock Vintage Zebra Dinner Bell #3604, Paperweight, Vienna, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A captivating, partly patinated mid-century table or dinner bell from the 1950s. Model #3604 „Zebra", designed and handcrafted by Werkstätte Carl Aubock in Vienna, Austria, this piec...
Metal, Brass
Signed Carl Auböck Midcentury Brass Foot Paperweight Handmade Sculpture
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming modernist paperweight in the shape of a foot, designed by Carl Auböck in the 1950s. Handmade of solid polished brass by Werkstätte Auböck in Austria. Fully stamped and m...
Brass
Carl Auböck Handcrafted Paperweight Jingle Bell #5039, Brass, Leather, Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A handmade paperweight in the shape of a sleigh bell, model #5039, originally designed by Carl Aubock III back in the 1960s. A very charming piece, reissued by Werkstätte Auböck...
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
Brass Paperweight by Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Cast & Polished, Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck Paperweight #4867 "Egg", Austria. Price is per piece.
Brass
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).
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.
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...
Stone, Brass
Authentic Vintage Carl Auböck III "Zumbusch" Hand Paperweight
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A rare and iconic mid-century modern sculptural object designed by the renowned Austrian modernist Carl Auböck III (1924-1993) for the Werkstätte Carl Auböck in Vienna. Designed circ...
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.
Stone
Carl Auböck #4339 Paperweight "Stone", Austria 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #4339 Paperweight "Stone", Austria 2022. There might be slight variations regarding the measurements.
Stone
1950s Carl Auböck Chain Paperweight Austria Vintage Midcentury Desk Sculpture
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Sought after early chain paperweight, gold plated steel by Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Austria, circa 1950s. Heavily worn, showing a wonderful patina and...
Steel
Brass Paperweight 'Pipe' by Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Austria, 1960s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck paperweight "pipe" in brass, Austria 1960s.
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.
Brass
Carl Auböck Paperweight #5188, Brass Pipe Design, Polished Finish
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #5188 paperweight in the shape of a pipe, Austria. New.
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.
Brass
Carl Auböck #5072-2 Paperweight "Chain", Austria 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
#5072-2 Paperweight in the shape of a chain by Carl Auböck. Made of nickel plated steel. Austria. New.
Steel, Nickel
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.
Brass
Sculptural Hand Tabletop Accessory by Carl Aubock
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An elegant heavy solid brass 'hand' paperweight.
Brass