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.
1950s Carl Auböck Charcuterie Picnic Board & Knife Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Carl Auböck Picnic Charcuterie Board and Knife Set from Austria stamped by maker Single walnut wood board and knife- three sets are available- Wood .75 thick x 7.75 w x 6.38 d, knife...
Stainless Steel
Nutcracker with Cane-Wrapped Handles by Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
This hand nutcracker by Werkstätten Carl Auböck combines solid cast metal with tightly wrapped cane handles, transforming a simple kitchen tool into a sculptural object. The oval c...
Brass
Coffee pot by Carl Auböck 1950s for Werkstätte Carl Auböck. ( signed )
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Wien, Au
Coffee pot by Carl Auböck 1950s for Werkstätte Carl Auböck. ( signed ) Original condition
Brass, Copper
Carl Auböck Bottle Opener, Austria, 1950s — Woven Bast Handle, Stainless Steel
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A classic mid-century bottle opener from the Carl Auböck workshop, crafted in the 1950s. The handle is tightly wrapped in natural bast, giving the piece its unmistakable tactile warm...
Stainless Steel
Werkstätte Carl Auböck II Fondue Pot and Burner Set in Copper and Brass 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Troy, MI
Fondue set by Carl Aubock II Austria circa 1950s Complete set with lidded copper pot inset to brass tripod stand and brass warmer Signed in 3 places 10 inch overall width 5.5 inch ...
Brass, Copper
Carl Auböck Knife Cutting Chopping Board, Wood Wicker Stainless Steel, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
A chopping board designed by Carl Auböck, manufactured by Carl Auböck workshop in midcentury, Vienna, circa 1950. The board is made of walnut. The knife is made of wicker and stainle...
Stainless Steel
Auböck Big Brass Key Paperweight & Cork Screw, Midcentury, 1950s, Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Biebergemund, Hessen
Beautiful Carl Auböck "Big Key" bottle opener, corkscrew & paperweight in solid brass, made by Werkstätten Carl Auböck in 1950s. The key is in a very good con...
Brass
Auböck Brass Key Paperweight & Cork Screw, Corkscrew, Midcentury, 1950s, Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Biebergemund, Hessen
Beautiful Carl Auböck "Key" bottle opener, corkscrew & paperweight in solid brass, made by Werkstätten Carl Auböck in 1950s. The key is in a very good condition. We ship via DHL...
Brass
Carl Aubock Big Cutting Board with Amboss Knife, Wicker Handle, Walnut, Leather
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful oval chopping board or serving tray with a knife, designed and handcrafted in the 1950s by Werkstätte Carl Auböck. The cutting board is made of beautifully grained walnut...
Metal, Stainless Steel
Vintage Carl Auböck Nutcracker Teak and Brass, Vienna Austria Modern Design 1950
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Poul Knudsen
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
Vintage nutcracker by Carl Auböck, Wiener Werkstätte, Austria. Made ca. 1950s. It´s made from teak and brass. It remains in very good condition with a beautiful patina.
Brass
Auböck White Wine Bottle Holder, Midcentury, Brass and Leather, 1950s, Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Biebergemund, Hessen
Minimalistic Auböck white or rosé wine bottle holder in solid brass with leather handle, made by Werkstätten Carl Auböck in 1950s. This pourer was designe...
Brass
$414Sale Price|40% Off
Carl Auböck Midcentury Brass Nutcracker, Austria, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful modernist nutcracker from the 1950s, made of solid brass, designed and manufactured by Carl Auböck in Vienna/Austria.
Brass
Set of 4 Carl Aubock 1950s Brass Egg Cups Holders for Illums Bolighus, Denmark
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Illums Bolighus
Located in Malmö, SE
Set of 4 beautiful midcentury Brass Egg Cups with amazing original patina. Designed by Carl Auböck, Austria in the 1950s. Sold at 'Illums Bolighus' in Copenhagen, Denmark. Great o...
Brass
Auböck Brass Coin Bottle Opener, Midcentury, 1950s, Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Biebergemund, Hessen
Beautiful Auböck coin bottle opener in solid brass, made by Werkstätten Carl Auböck in 1950s. The casting is very fine because this is an earlier opener. T...
Brass
Austrian Midcentury Horn Salad Servers by Carl Auböck Vienna
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
Pair of Austrian modernist horn salad servers designed and manufactured by Carl Aubo¨ck Vienna.
Horn
Fondue Set by Werkstätte Carl Auböck II
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in London, GB
Vintage fondue pot and burner by Carl Auböck II, Vienna, circa 1950. The pot and its lid are made out of spun tinned copper, while the burner is spun brass. The pot, its lid and the burner, all have brass handles with ebony grips. The sculptural tripod stand composed of three vertical bars joined in a triangular shape is made of solid brass and stamped 'MADE IN AUSTRIA Auböck...
Brass, Copper, Tin
Stainless Hardwood Fondue Forks by Carl Auböck for Amboss Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Amboss Austria
Located in Vienna, AT
Two sets each four pieces. Stainless hardwood fondue forks by Amboss Austria designed by Carl Auböck in 1959. Very good original condition.
Stainless Steel
Carl Aubock Tableware Service Tray and Skillet for Two with Amboss 2060
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Amboss Austria
Located in Chicago, IL
Carl Aubock Tableware Service Tray and Skillet for Two with Amboss 2060 Flatware. Each set has a stainless steel skillet, wooden handle, wood block tray, A...
Stainless Steel
$651Sale Price|32% Off
Carl Auböck Midcentury Brass Nut Cracker, Austria, 1950s Signatured
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Wien, Au
Carl Auböck midcentury brass nut cracker, Austria, 1950s signatured. Original condition.
Brass
Pair of Auböck Brass Coin Bottle Stopper, Midcentury, 1950s, Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Biebergemund, Hessen
Pair of beautiful large Auböck coin bottle stoppers in solid brass, made by Werkstätten Carl Auböck in 1950s. The casting is very fine because these are th...
Brass
Carl Auböck Horn Cake Server
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Highland, IN
In classic Auböck style, this cake or pie server uses rich materials in an innovative manner. In this case, horn, aluminum, and cane are married to make a most elegant small server. ...
Aluminum
Pincer in Brass and Braided Leather by Carl Auböck, 1950's
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Pincer in Brass and Braided Leather by Carl Auböck, 1950's Additional Information: Material: Brass and braided leather Style: Mid century, Europe Produced by Carl Auböck workshop in...
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Wooden Salad Tong by Werkstätte Carl Auböck, 1960s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck Wooden Wooden Tong for Salads or other dishes, Austria 1960s.
Wood, Leather
Wood Nutcracker Designed by Carl Auböck III
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Chicago, IL
This nutcracker by Carl Auböck III by is a simply elegant design. The wooden sides feel very nice in hand, and the ebony and maple contrast and complem...
Ebony, Maple
Carl Auböck Walnut Board and Cheese Knife
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carl Auböck Walnut Board and Cheese Knife Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural set includes one model #4363 serving or cutting b...
Steel
$473
H 8.67 in W 7.88 in D 3.94 in
Auböck White Wine Bottle Holder, Midcentury, Brass and Leather, 1950s, Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Biebergemund, Hessen
Minimalistic Auböck white or rosé wine bottle holder in solid brass with leather handle, made by Werkstätten Carl Auböck in 1950s. This pourer was designe...
Brass
Handmade White Carrara Marble Cutting Board
By Fiammetta V.
Located in Carrara, IT
White Carrara marble cutting board and hole on the handle to hang it. Each piece is in a way unique (every marble block is different in veins and ...
Marble
Carl Auböck Model #4828 Cane and Steel Knife
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carl Auböck Model #4828 cane and steel knife. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural knife is executed in polished steel and handwoven cane. Price is per it...
Steel
Carl Auböck #4675 Bottle Opener "Horseshoe", Austria 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #4675 Bottle Opener "Horseshoe", Austria 2022.
Brass
Carl Auböck drinking jug with 6 glasses around 1950s
Located in Wien, Au
Carl Auböck drinking jug with 6 glasses around 1950s 6x mix color drinking glasses H: 8,5cm Diameter: 5,5cm
Glass, Leather
$474Sale Price|40% Off
H 4.5 in W 3 in D 0.5 in
Carl Aubock Big Brass Key Cork Screw, Bottle Opener Paperweight, Austria, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful cork screw bottle opener & paperweight in the shape of a large golden key, designed and executed by Carl Aubock Vienna, Austria, 1950s. The big model. A Carl Aubock ...
Brass
$294Sale Price|40% Off
H 2.5 in W 9.5 in D 0.5 in
Carl Auböck Neptune Fish Bottle Opener, Leather & Steel by Amboss Austria, 1950s
By Amboss Austria, Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful fish-shaped mid-century bottle opener, made of stainless steel, covered with dark-brown tan leather. Model #4687, designed in 1995 by Carl Auböck, Vienna. Executed by Amb...
Stainless Steel
$420Sale Price|20% Off
W 1.45 in D 9.5 in
Carl Auböck Neptune Fish Bottle Opener, Mid-Century Austria, 1950
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful Carl Aubock Neptune Fish Bottle Opener. Heavy Steel. Leather has gorgeous patina and shows well. Dimensions: 9.5L x 1.45 W
Steel
$165Sale Price|40% Off
H 0.1 in W 3.25 in D 1.5 in
Carl Aubock Brass Maria Theresia Coin Bottle Opener, Austria, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful brass coin bottle opener, designed and executed by Carl Aubock in the 1950s. In good condition with nice patina.
Brass
$207Sale Price|52% Off
H 21.66 in W 11.82 in D 1.58 in
French 19th Century, Wooden Chopping or Cutting Board
Located in Buisson, FR
Unique wooden chopping-cutting board with a beautiful form. Great statement on your countertop, France, circa 1850-1900 Weathered. If needed items were treated against woodworm. H:55...
Wood
Carl Auböck Wine Bottle Server Wicker Handle Nickel Silver 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Basel, BS
Carl Auböck bottle holder in a rarely seen nickel silver version, made in Vienna in the 1950s. Nickel silver with a hand-woven wicker handle. Cleaned and polished. Width: 22 cm De...
Metal
Sold
H 3.5 in W 6 in D 0.2 in
Carl Aubock 6 Forks with Leather Holder, Corn Cob Skewers #3679, Vienna, 1930s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A set of six small forks with a leather holster, model no. 3679, designed by Carl Auböck and executed by Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Vienna. Originally conceived in the 1930s, this model...
Brass, Nickel
2x Carl Auböck Pan & Serving Tray & Amboss 2060 Flatware, Original Box, 1950s
By Amboss Austria, Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
Two beautiful minimalistic Mid-Century four-pieces dining sets with an original box. Each set consists of a small stainless steel pan with a nice wooden handle, a wooden serving plate / tray and a set of the famous Amboss 2060...
Stainless Steel
Carl Aubock Cutting Board & Knife and Fork Set. 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
Carl Aubock Cutting Board & Knife and Fork Set. Original detailing and finishes, walnut cutting board, stainless steel flatware, rattan wrapped handles, leather strap. Stamped sig...
Stainless Steel
Original Auböck Nutcracker Wood and Brass with Hammer
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
For sale is a unique piece of Art Deco design. The nutcracker consists of beautiful warm nutwood and nickel-plated brass. A small nickel-plated hammer with wicker covered handle is u...
Brass, Nickel
Carl Auböck Neptune Bottle Opener circa 1960
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Carl Auböck " Neptune " Bottle Opener circa 1960. Fish shaped stainless steel and leather.
Steel
Horn Salad Servers by Werkstätte Carl Auböck III
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in London, GB
A pair of salad servers designed and made by Carl Auböck III in the 1960s. The servers are made entirely of horn from Hungry. The colours and grain in the horn is spectacular, especi...
Horn
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...
Brass
Sold
H 4.73 in W 2.76 in D 0.4 in
Auböck Big Brass Key Paperweight & Cork screw, Midcentury, 1950s, Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Biebergemund, Hessen
Beautiful Carl Auböck "Big Key" bottle opener, corkscrew & paperweight in solid brass, made by Werkstätten Carl Auböck in 1950s. The key is in a very good con...
Brass
Complete Aubock Egg Holder Set, Designed in the Early 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A set of 6 egg cups, a very characteristic item by the Auböck workshop, Vienna. The six massive brass rings bear a beautiful patina but can be polished. Measure: height of one egg...
Brass
Original Aubock Cheeseplate with Glassdome from 1950
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
Original Aubock cheeseplate with glass dome from 1950 The hand-blown glass dome with a handle made out of bast and wood plate. It is in the original Aubock catalogue with prod...
Straw, Blown Glass, Wood
2 sets of Carl Aubock Cutting Boards & Knife and Fork, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
Carl Auböck cutting board & knife and fork set. 2 sets available Original detailing and finishes, walnut cutting board, stainless steel flatware, rat...
Stainless Steel