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 Magazine Rack by Carl Aubock
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
For five generations the design house of Carl Aub?ock has been turning ordinary objects like paperweights and bookends into extraordinary objects of beauty in an old town house in Vi...
Brass
Carl Auböck II Midcentury Magazine Rack, Brass & Brown Leather, Vintage, Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful modernist original and old newspaper stand / magazine rack from the 1950s. Model No. 3808. Designed and manufactured by Carl Auböck, Austria. The news rack is in very go...
Brass
Carl Auböck Magazine Rack No. 4102, Patinated Brass Leather, 1950
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
A gorgeous and large magazine or newspaper tray made of patined brass and black leather designed by Carl Auböck, manufactured by Carl Auböck workshop, Vienna, Austria, in midcentury ...
Brass
Carl Auböck II Midcentury Magazine Rack, Brass & Brown Leather, Vintage, Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful modernist original and old newspaper stand / magazine rack from the 1950s. Model No. 3808. Designed and manufactured by Carl Auböck, Austria. The news rack is in very goo...
Brass
Carl Aubock Mid-century Magazine Rack in Brass and Brown Leather, Austria 1960s.
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful midcentury magazine rack / newspaper stand in brass and brown leather, with amazing original patina. Designed and manufactured by Carl Auböck, Austria in the 1950s or 1...
Brass
Carl Auböck Magazine Rack, Leather Nickel, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
A gorgeous and large magazine or newspaper tray made of nickeled brass and moos or dark green leather designed by Carl Auböck in midcentury in 1950s. V...
Brass, Nickel
Mid-Century Modern Newspaper Tray by Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #4488 newspaper tray in leather and brass, Austria. New. Available in brown or black leather.
Brass
Carl Auböck Brass & Black Leather Magazine Rack, Stand, No. 4488, 1950s, Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Biebergemund, Hessen
Huge timeless Austrian Mid-Century Modern newspaper/magazine stand no. 4488 designed by Carl Auböck II from early 1950s and manufactured by Auböck Werkstätte in Vienna. This magazi...
Brass
Large Minimalist Brass Fruit Bowl Shell by Carl Auböck, Austria, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: fruit bowl element Design: Carl Auböck, 1950s Producer: Auböck Workshop Vienna, Austria Origin: Austria Age: 1950s Descriptio...
Brass
Large glass decanter element with leather Handle by Carl Auböck, Austria, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: decanter element Design: Carl Auböck, 1950s Producer: Auböck Workshop Vienna, Austria Origin: Austria Age: 1950s Description: Original 1950s decanter ele...
Leather, Glass
Carl Auböck II Midcentury Magazine Rack, Brass & Black Leather, Vintage, Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful modernist original and old newspaper stand / magazine rack from the 1950s. Model No. 3808. Designed and manufactured by Carl Auböck, Austria. The news rack is in very goo...
Brass
Early Carl Aubock Brass & Leather Magazine Stand Model 4019-2
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Utrecht, NL
This exquisite magazine holder is a definitive example of mid-century Austrian functionalism, designed and hand-crafted at the renowned Carl Auböck Workshop in Vienna. Dating from th...
Brass
Brass and Leather Newspaper Rack by Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Austria 1960s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Magazine rack by Werkstätte Carl Auböck, made of bent brass rods with suspended hand-stitched leather sling. The warm brown leather pocket is held within a sculptural brass frame wi...
Brass
Carl Auböck Brass & Cognac Leather Magazine Rack, Signed, # 4019, 1950, Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Biebergemund, Hessen
Timeless Mid-Century Modern newspaper/magazine stand no. 4019 designed by Carl Auböck II from early 1950s, signed and manufactured by Auböck Werkstätte in Vienna. It's made of solid ...
Brass
Carl Auböck Model #3808 Brown Leather and Brass Magazine Rack
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck Model #3808 Brown Leather and Brass Magazine Rack Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural magazine rack is executed in beautifully grained brown co...
Brass
Carl Auböck Model #4019-2 Cognac Leather and Brass Magazine Rack
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck Model #4019-2 Cognac Leather and Brass Magazine Rack Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural magazine rack is executed in beautifully grained brown...
Brass
Magazine Stand in Patinated Leather and Brass by Illums Bolighus, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Lejre, DK
Magazine stand in brass and leather designed and made by Illums Bolighus in the 1950s. Great condition.
Brass
Teak Bottle Holder with Brass and Leather Handle by Carl Auböck, Austria, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Teak bottle holder element Design: Carl Auböck, 1950s Producer: Auböck Workshop Vienna, Austria Origin: Austria Age: 1950s Description: Original 1950s bo...
Brass
Magazine Stand in Patinated Leather and Brass by Carl Auböck, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Lejre, DK
Magazine stand in brass and leather designed and made by Carl Auböck in the 1950s. Great condition.
Brass
Carl Auböck Newspaper or Magazine Tray in Black or Brown Leather and Brass
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Classic Carl Auböck newspaper tray in polished brass and leather in either black or brown.
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Vintage Leather Brass Magazine Rack Carl Auböck, 1950s Vienna
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
Mid-Century Modern vintage authentic leather brass magazine rack, which was designed by Carl Auböck, 1950s. This iconic magazine rack shows a brass frame and a brown high quality lea...
Brass
Carl Auböck Brass and Leather Magazine Rack
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Illums Bolighus
Located in Chicago, IL
Carl Auböck brass and leather magazine rack, patined cognac leather and brass, model 3808 Note; strong patina and wear with several tears on edges and underside, consistent with age...
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Newspaper Rack by Carl Auböck ca. 1938
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Newspaper rack Carl Auböck ca. 1938 Design / Mid-Century magazine rack model 3608, Carl Auböck II, ca. 1938, brass, leather. Made from 1930 to 1950. Technique: brass, cast, leather ...
Brass
Carl Auböck Model #3808 Black Leather and Brass Magazine Rack
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck Model #3808 Black Leather and Brass Magazine Rack Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural magazine rack is executed in beautifully grained black co...
Brass
Carl Auböck #4019-1 or 4019-2 Newspaper Tray, Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #4019-1 or 4019-2 newspaper tray in leather and brass, Austria. Available in black or brown leather.
Brass
Small Magazine Rack by Carl Aubock
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
For five generations the design house of Carl Auböck has been turning ordinary objects like paperweights and bookends into extraordinary objects of beauty in an old town house in Vie...
Brass
Very Rare Magazine Rack by Carl Auböck
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Munich, DE
Manufactured by Werkstätten Auböck. brass and leather.
Brass
H 5.75 in W 3.25 in D 1.75 in
Carl Auböck Model #4994 Patinated Brass Hook
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck Model #4994 patinated brass hook. Designed in the 1950s, this versatile and Minimalist Viennese hook is executed in patinated brass by Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Austria. ...
Brass
H 19 in W 12.5 in D 8.5 in
Carl Auböck Model #4019-2 Cognac Leather and Brass Magazine Rack
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck Model #4019-2 Cognac Leather and Brass Magazine Rack Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural magazine rack is executed in beautifully grained brown...
Brass
H 7.5 in W 4 in D 1.4 in
Carl Auböck Eight Midcentury Patinated Brass Wall Coat Hooks, 1950s, Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Biebergemund, Hessen
Eight beautiful Austrian Mid-Century Modern solid brass hooks by Carl Auböck II from 1950s. They are made of polished and patinated solid brass. The same hooks were sold at an aucti...
Brass
H 7.5 in W 4 in D 1.4 in
Carl Auböck Midcentury Patinated Brass Wall Coat Hooks, 1950s, Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Biebergemund, Hessen
Beautiful Austrian Mid-Century Modern solid brass hook by Carl Auböck II. Made of polished and patinated solid brass and come with the original brass screws. The same hooks were sold...
Brass
H 19 in W 11 in D 6 in
Carl Auböck Model #3808 Black Leather and Brass Magazine Rack
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck Model #3808 Black Leather and Brass Magazine Rack Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural magazine rack is executed in beautifully grained black co...
Brass
H 6 in W 1 in D 3 in
2x Vintage Carl Auböck II Nickel-Plated Brass Wall Hooks, Austria, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
Up to 2 Midcentury brass wall hooks, model 4330, designed and executed in the 1950s by Carl Aubock II in Vienna, Austria. Sold and priced per piece. This is the more unusual nickel-p...
Brass, Nickel
H 17.72 in W 13.39 in D 8.86 in
Mid-Century Modern Vintage Leather Brass Magazine Rack Carl Auböck, 1950s Vienna
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
Mid-Century Modern vintage authentic leather brass magazine rack, which was designed by Carl Auböck, 1950s. This iconic magazine rack shows a brass frame and a brown high quality lea...
Brass
H 19.3 in W 10.63 in D 5.91 in
Carl Auböck Newspaper or Magazine Tray in Black or Brown Leather and Brass
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Classic Carl Auböck newspaper tray in polished brass and leather in either black or brown.
Brass
H 19 in W 11 in D 6 in
Carl Auböck Model #3808 Brown Leather and Brass Magazine Rack
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck Model #3808 Brown Leather and Brass Magazine Rack Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural magazine rack is executed in beautifully grained brown co...
Brass
H 7.5 in W 4 in D 1.4 in
Carl Auböck Ten Midcentury Patinated Brass Wall Coat Hooks, 1950s, Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Biebergemund, Hessen
Ten beautiful Austrian Mid-Century Modern solid brass hooks by Carl Auböck II from 1950s. They are made of polished and patinated solid brass. The same hooks were sold at an auction...
Brass
H 49 in W 27.5 in D 3.5 in
Carl Aubock Wall Coat Rack with 5 Brass Hooks, Walnut, Iron, Austria, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A Minimalist Mid Century modern wall-mounted coat rack, equipped with five „5“-shaped polished solid brass wall hooks. This is an early model from the early 1950s, designed and execu...
Iron
H 31 in W 43 in D 4.754 in
Large Carl Auböck Mid-Century Coat Rack Beech Wardrobe with 8 Brass Hooks, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
An elegant modernist wall-mounted coat rack from the 1950s. An original and old vintage object, designed and manufactured by the Austrian architect and designer Carl Auböck. The fram...
Brass
H 19.69 in W 9.45 in D 6.7 in
Carl Auböck Magazine Rack Stand Holder Brass & Leather 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Basel, BS
Carl Auböck magazine rack, model 3808, hand crafted in solid brass and black leather, made in the 1950s. Brass frame with a strong patina, stitched leather in black, appears to hav...
Brass
H 21.26 in W 7.88 in D 5.52 in
small carl auböck magazine rack
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Munich, DE
wonderful, small magazine rack by carl auböck.
Brass
H 17.33 in W 18.12 in D 9.85 in
Carl Auböck Magazine Rack in Leather and Nickel Aubock Vienna 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Basel, BS
Carl Auböck magazine rack with a nickel plated frame and black colored leather, hand crafted by the Auböck workshop in Vienna, Austria in the 1950s. Hand-cafted with stitched leathe...
Brass, Nickel
H 17.33 in W 18.71 in D 8.86 in
rare Brass and Brown Leather Magazine Holder Model by Carl Auböck, Austria 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Magazine rack Design: Carl Auböck, 1950s Producer: Auböck Workshop Vienna, Austria Origin: Austria Age: 1950s Original 1950s magazine rack made by of so...
Brass
H 17.33 in W 18.12 in D 9.85 in
Carl Auböck Magazine Rack in Leather and Nickel Aubock Vienna 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Basel, BS
Carl Auböck magazine rack with a nickel plated frame and cognac colored leather, hand crafted by the Auböck workshop in Vienna, Austria in the 1950s. Hand-caftes with stitched leath...
Brass, Nickel
H 14.97 in W 21.66 in D 8.08 in
Black Leather Magazine Rack, Carl Auböck II
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in London, GB
A leather magazine rack designed by Carl Auböck II during the 1950s. Comprised of a black leather sling and tubular brass armature, this magazine rack was designed and made by Carl...
Brass
H 18.9 in W 11.03 in D 6.3 in
Vintage Carl Auböck Magazin Rack no. 3808 Vienna Austria, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Krefeld, DE
Nice vintage original and old newspaper + magazine rack from the 1950s. Model No. 3808. Design and manufactured by Carl Auböck, Austria. Solid brass with very nice patina without dam...
Metal
H 17.72 in W 10.83 in D 6.11 in
Wall-Mounted Wicker Magazine Rack by Carl Auböck II
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in London, GB
A wall mounted magazine rack designed by Carl Auböck II during the 1950s. Quintessential of the designs of the 2nd Carl Auböck, the design of this exceptional wall-mounted magazin...
Brass
H 19.69 in W 10.44 in D 6.3 in
Magazine Rack, Model No. 3808, Carl Aubock II
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in London, GB
A wicker magazine rack designed by Carl Auböck II and made by the Carl Auböck workshop during the 1950s. The beautifully patinated frame of this brass magazine rack supports a tightl...
Brass
H 17.52 in W 18.51 in D 7.49 in
Leather Magazine Rack, Carl Auböck II, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in London, GB
A leather magazine rack designed by Carl Auböck II during the 1950s. Comprised of a tan leather sling and tubular brass armature, this magazine rack was designed and made by Carl Au...
Brass
H 2.17 in W 15.16 in D 10.32 in
Large TEAK Tray Plate Element with Brass Handle by Carl Auböck, Austria, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: tray element Design: Carl Auböck, 1950s Producer: Auböck Workshop Vienna, Austria Origin: Austria Age: 1950s Description: Original 1950s tray element mad...
Brass
H 12.8 in W 17.52 in D 3.35 in
rare Brass and Brown Leather Magazine Holder Model by Carl Auböck, Austria 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Magazine rack Design: Carl Auböck, 1950s Producer: Auböck Workshop Vienna, Austria Origin: Austria Age: 1950s Original 1950s magazine rack made by of so...
Brass