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: Black
Creator: Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Pair of Carl Auböck Model #3653 Brass Bookends
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Carl Auböck model #3653 brass bookends. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural pair of bookends are executed in patinated and polished brass.
Produced...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck #4995 Patinated Brass Hook
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck #4995 patinated brass hook. Designed in the 1950s, this versatile and Minimalist Viennese hook is executed in polished and patinated brass by We...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Pair of Carl Auböck Model #3654 Brass Bookends
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Carl Auböck model #3654 brass bookends. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural pair of bookends are executed in patinated and polished brass.
Price i...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Pair of Carl Auböck Model #4636 Brass Bookends
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Carl Auböck model #4636 brass bookends. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural pair of bookends are executed in patinated and polished brass.
Price i...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Pair of Carl Auböck Model #4635 Brass Bookends
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Carl Auböck model #4635 brass bookends. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural pair of bookends are executed in patinated and polished brass.
Price i...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Pair of Carl Auböck Model #3848 Brass Bookends
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Carl Auböck model #3848 brass bookends. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural pair of bookends are executed in polished brass.
Price is per pair. Av...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Model #4056 Patinated Brass Hook
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck brass #4056 patinated brass hook. Designed in the 1950s, this versatile and Minimalist Viennese hook is executed in patinated and polished brass by Werkstätte Carl Auböck...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Model #7259 'Spiral' Brass Pen Holder
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck Model #7259 'Spiral' brass pen holder. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural pen or pencil holder is executed in ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Pair of Carl Auböck Model #3530 'Flatiron' Patinated Brass and Cane Bookends
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Carl Auböck model #3530 'Flatiron' patinated brass and cane bookends. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural pair of bookends are executed in patinated...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Pair of Carl Auböck Model #3651 Brass Bookends
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Carl Auböck model #3651 brass bookends. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural pair of bookends are executed in patinated and polished brass.
Price i...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Model #3844 Brass Bowl
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck model #3844 brass bowl. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural Viennese bowl is executed in polished and darkly patinated brass. Originally conceiv...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Model #4327 Patinated Brass Hook
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck Model #4327 patinated brass hook. Designed in the 1950s, this versatile and minimalist Viennese hook is executed in patinated and polished brass by Werkstätte Carl Auböck...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass, Nickel
Pair of Carl Auböck Model #4100 Patinated Brass Bookends
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Carl Auböck Model #4100 patinated brass bookends. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural pair of bookends are executed in patinated brass.
Price is f...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Grouping of Eight Carl Auböck Brass Bookends
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Grouping of eight Carl Auböck brass bookends. Includes one pair each of Models #3651, #3652, #3653 & #3654. Designed in the 1950s, these incredibly refined and sculptural bookends ar...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Aubock Vase or Decanter with Black Leather Top, Midcentury, Austria, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful minimal modernist vase or decanter „Tuberkulinkolben", designed and executed by Carl Aubock II in the 1950s. Made of handblown clear glass with a nice hand-sewn black lea...
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Leather
Mid-Century Carl Auböck Black Leather & Brass Wastepaper Basket, Austria, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful and elegant, vintage Mid-Century Modern paper basket / paper bin from the 1950s. Designed an executed by Werkstätte Carl Aubock, Vienna / Austria. Handmade and hand-sewn ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Aubock Patinated Brass Bookends #4636
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Chalk Hill, PA
Carl Aubock patinated brass bookends #4636. Produced by Carl Auböck IV in the original Auböck workshop in Vienna, Austria using the same standards, high-quality materials, original m...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Model #4317 Brass Bowl
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck Model #4317 brass bowl. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural Viennese bowl is executed in polished and darkly patinated brass. Originally conceived as a fountain pen...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Model #8040-1 Patinated Brass Knob
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck Model #8040-1 patinated brass knob.
Designed in the 1950s, this versatile and Minimalist Viennese knob is executed in patinated brass by Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Austria....
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Model #9038 Patinated Brass Knob
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck Model #9038 patinated brass knob.
Designed in the 1950s, this versatile and Minimalist Viennese knob is executed in darkly patinated brass by Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Aus...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Aubock "My Son" Patinated Brass Sculpture #4752
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Chalk Hill, PA
Carl Aubock "My Son" Patinated Brass Sculpture #4752 designed in the 1950s. Currently produced by Carl Auböck IV in the original Auböck workshop in Vienna, Austria using the same sta...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Aubock Patinated Brass "Leaning on Tree Stump Figural Sculpture #4068
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Chalk Hill, PA
Carl Aubock Patinated Brass "Leaning on Tree Stump Figural Sculpture #4068 designed in the 1950's. Produced by Carl Auböck IV in the original Auböck workshop in Vienna, Austria using...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Model #5262 Patinated Brass Hook
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck #5262 patinated brass hook. Designed in the 1950s, this versatile and Minimalist Viennese hook is executed in darkly patinated and polished brass by Werkstätte Carl Auböc...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Handcrafted Wall Sculpture Napoleon #4271, Brass, Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful wall sculpture „Napoleon", model #4059, designed by Carl Aubock II back in 1953. A charming object, handcrafted by Werkstätte Auböck in V...
Category
2010s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Pair of Carl Auböck Model #4099 Patinated Brass Bookends
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Carl Auböck Model #4099 patinated brass bookends. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural pair of bookends are executed in patinated and polished brass....
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Pair of Carl Auböck Model #4843 Patinated Brass Bookends
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Carl Auböck Model #4842 patinated brass bookends. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural pair of bookends are executed in patinated brass.
Price is f...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Pair of Carl Auböck Model #4102 Brass Bookends
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Carl Auböck model #4102 brass bookends. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural pair of bookends are executed in patinated and polished brass.
Produced...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Pair of Carl Auböck Model #3652 Brass Bookends
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Carl Auböck model #3652 brass bookends. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural pair of bookends are executed in patinated and polished brass.
Produce...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Model #4330/1 Patinated Brass Hook
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck model #4330/1 patinated brass hook. Designed in the 1950s, this versatile and Minimalist Viennese hook is executed in patinated and polished brass by Werkstätte Carl Aubö...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Model #3794 'Aorta' Brass Vase
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Chalk Hill, PA
Carl Aubo¨ck Model #3794 'Aorta' Brass Vase. This exceptionally crafted vase by Carl Aubock is a wonderful example of the marriage of form and functionality that has made the Aubock ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Model #8040-2 Patinated Brass Knob
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck Model #8040-2 patinated brass knob.
Designed in the 1950s, this versatile and Minimalist Viennese knob is executed in patinated brass by Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Austria....
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Aubock Sculpture "Man With Stick" 4060
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Chalk Hill, PA
Carl Aubock Sculpture "Man With Stick" 4060. This beautifully crafted sculpture first conceived in the 1950's by Carl Aubock is a wonderful examp...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Model #4982 Patinated Brass Hook
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck model #4982 patinated brass hook. Designed in the 1950s, this versatile and minimalist Viennese hook is executed in patinated brass by Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Austria.
P...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Model #5439 Patinated Brass Hook
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck #5439 patinated brass hook. Designed in the 1950s, this versatile and Minimalist Viennese hook is executed in darkly patinated and polished brass by Werkstätte Carl Auböc...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Pair of Large Carl Auböck Model #4101 'Melies' Patinated Brass Bookends
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of large Carl Aubock Model #4101 'Melies' patinated brass bookends. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural pair of bookends are executed in patinated and ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Pair of Carl Auböck Model #4637 Brass Bookends
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Carl Auböck model #4637 brass bookends. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural pair of bookends are executed in patinated and polished brass.
Price i...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Pair of Carl Auböck Model #4575 Patinated Brass Bookends
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Carl Aubo¨ck Model #4575 Patinated Brass Bookends. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural pair of bookends are executed in patinated brass.
Produced ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck #4317 Fountainpen Rest, Austria, 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #4317 Fountainpen Rest, Austria, 2022.
Category
2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Model #4086 Patinated Brass Hook
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck brass #5439 patinated brass hook. Designed in the 1950s, this versatile and Minimalist Viennese hook is executed in polished and patinated brass by Werkstätte Carl Auböck...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Grouping of Six Carl Auböck Brass Bookends
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Grouping of six Carl Auböck brass bookends. Includes one pair each of models #4635, #4636 and #4637. Designed in the 1950s, these incredibly refined and sculptural bookends are execu...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Bookends #4636
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Classis pair of Carl Auböck bookend in a patina and polish brass mix.
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Midcentury Horn Comb, Austria, 1960s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful comb from the 1960s, made of cow Horn. Designed and executed by Carl Auböck. In excellent condition.
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Desk Accessories
Materials
Horn
1960s Austrian Cow Horn Comb by Carl Auböck
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An elegant comb 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
1960s Austrian Cow Horn Comb by Carl Auböck
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An elegant comb 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
1960s Austrian Cow Horn Comb by Carl Auböck
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An elegant comb 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
1960s Austrian Cow Horn Comb by Carl Auböck
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An elegant comb 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
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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