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Werkstätte Carl Auböck Collectible Jewelry

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 Handcrafted Midcentury Foot Brass Figurine Key Ring Chain Holder
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming modernist foot keyring / keyholder / keychain, designed by Carl Auböck in the 1950s. Handmade of solid polished brass by Werkstätte Auböck in Austria. Fully stamped and ma...
Category

20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Model #5617 'Peanut' Brass Figurine Keyring
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck model #5617 'Peanut' brass figurine keyring. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural object is hand fabricated in polished brass. Price is per ite...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Model #5732 'Hand' Brass Keyring
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck model #5732 'Hand' brass figurine keyring. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural object is hand fabricated in polished brass. Price is per item....
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Model #4500 'Lucky Pig' Brass Figurine Keyring
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck Model #4500 'Lucky Pig' brass figurine keyring. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural object is hand fabricated in polis...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Model #5734 'Hand' Brass Figurine Keyring
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck model #5734 'Hand' brass figurine keyring. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural object is hand fabricated in polished brass. Price is per item....
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Model #5600 'Heart' Solid Brass Keyring w/ Signature
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Aubo¨ck Model #5600 'Heart' Solid Brass Keyring w/ Signature. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural object is hand fabricate...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Model #5608 'Donkey' Brass Figurine Keyring
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck model #5608 'Donkey' brass figurine keyring. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural object is hand fabricated in polished brass. Price is per ite...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Collectible Jewelry

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 Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Handcrafted Midcentury Brass Heart Figurine Key Ring Chain Holder
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming modernist heart keyring / keyholder / keychain, designed by Carl Auböck in the 1950s. Handmade of solid polished brass by Werkstätte Auböck ...
Category

20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Model #5655 'Seahorse' Brass Figurine Keyring
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck model #5655 'Seahorse' brass figurine keyring. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural object is hand fabricated in polished brass. Price is per i...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Midcentury Lucky Charm Pig Brass Figurine Key Ring Chain Holder
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming modernist pig keyring / keyholder / keychain, designed by Carl Auböck in the 1950s. Handmade of solid polished brass by Werkstätte Auböck in Aus...
Category

20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Handcrafted Midcentury Hand Brass Figurine Key Ring Chain Holder
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming modernist hand keyring / key holder / keychain, designed by Carl Auböck in the 1950s. Handmade of solid polished brass by Werkstätte Auböck in Austria. Fully stamped and m...
Category

20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Handcrafted Midcentury Peanut Brass Figurine Key Ring Chain Holder
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming modernist peanut keyring / keyholder / keychain, designed by Carl Auböck in the 1950s. Handmade of solid polished brass by Werkstätte Auböck in Austria. Fully stamped and ...
Category

20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Brass

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 Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Horn

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 Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Brass, Nickel

Carl Auböck Handcrafted Midcentury 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", designed by Carl Auböck in the 1950s. Handmade of solid polished brass by Werkstätte Auböck in Austria. Fully...
Category

20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Brass

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 Collectible Jewelry

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 Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Handcrafted Midcentury Brass Shell Figurine Key Ring Chain Holder
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming modernist shell keyring / key holder / keychain, designed by Carl Auböck in the 1950s. Handmade of solid polished brass by Werkstätte Auböck in Austria. Fully stamped and ...
Category

20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Midcentury Brass Star Sea Star Starfish Key Ring Chain Holder
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming modernist star keyring / key holder / keychain, designed by Carl Auböck in the 1950s. Handmade of solid polished brass by Werkstätte Auböck in Austria. Fully stamped and m...
Category

20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Model #5663 'Shell' Brass Figurine Keyring
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Aubo¨ck model #5663 'Shell' brass figurine keyring. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural object is hand fabricated in polished brass. Price is per item...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Model #7151 'Anchor' Brass Figurine Keyring
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck Model #7151 brass figurine keyring. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural object is hand fabricated in polished brass. Price is per item. Other Aubock keyrings...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Handcrafted Midcentury Hand Figurine Key Ring Chain Holder
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming modernist Hand keyring / keyholder / keychain, designed by Carl Auböck in the 1950s. Handmade of solid polished brass by Werkstätte Auböck in Austria. Fully stamped and ma...
Category

20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Model #5607 'Elephant' Brass Figurine Keyring
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck model #5607 'Elephant' brass figurine keyring. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural object is hand fabricated in polished brass. Price is per i...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Model #5615 'Star' Solid Brass Keyring with Signature
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck Model #5615 'Star' solid brass keyring with signature. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural object is hand fabricate...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Collectible Jewelry

Materials

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 Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Handcrafted Midcentury Brass Anchor Figurine Key Ring Chain Holder
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming modernist Anchor keyring / keyholder / keychain, designed by Carl Auböck in the 1950s. Handmade of solid polished brass by Werkstätte Auböck in Austria. Fully stamped and ...
Category

20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Midcentury Very Large Hand Figurine Key Ring Chain Holder
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming modernist XL Hand keyring / keyholder / keychain, designed by Carl Auböck in the 1950s. Handmade of solid polished brass by Werkstätte Auböck in Austria. Fully stamped and...
Category

20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Model #5735 Brass Foot Figurine Keyring
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck model #5735 brass foot figurine keyring. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural object is hand fabricated in polished brass. Price is per item. O...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Brass

Set of Five Carl Auböck Brass Figurine Keyrings
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Set of four Carl Auböck brass figurine keyrings. Includes model #4500 'Pig', model #5607 'Donkey', model #5663 'Shell', model #5734 'Hand and model #7151 'Anchor'. Designed in the 1...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Brass

Werkstätte Carl Auböck collectible jewelry for sale on 1stDibs.

Werkstätte Carl Auböck collectible jewelry 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 collectible jewelry, although beige editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 16 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 12 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original collectible jewelry by Werkstätte Carl Auböck were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. Prices for Werkstätte Carl Auböck collectible jewelry can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $145 and can go as high as $1,079, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $187.

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