Carl Auböck, Bird, Bottle Opener in Stainless Steel and Leather, Amboss, 1960
About the Item
- Creator:Werkstätte Carl Auböck (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 5.12 in (13 cm)Width: 1.58 in (4 cm)Depth: 5.71 in (14.5 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Vienna, AT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU4554119581172
Werkstätte Carl Auböck
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Vienna, Austria
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Carl Auböck Triangular Walnut Cutting Board with Amboss KnifeBy Werkstätte Carl AuböckLocated in Vienna, AustriaA beautiful vintage triangular cutting board and knife set, designed and made by Carl Auböck in the 1950s. The board is walnut with leather loop that holds the knife. The knife is m...Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern More Dining and Entertaining
MaterialsMetal
- Two Midcentury Coat Rack in Brass and Block Patina, from Carl AuböckBy Werkstätte Carl AuböckLocated in Vienna, AustriaTwo midcentury coat hooks in brass and black. Designed in the 1950s by Carl Auböck and manufactured in Austria, they have acquired a lovely patin...Category
Vintage 1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Coat Racks and Stands
MaterialsMetal
- Midcentury Glass Vase from Carl Auböck, 1950sBy Werkstätte Carl AuböckLocated in Vienna, AustriaA hand blown glass vase from Carl Auböck, made in the 1950s, From Vienna, Austria.Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsGlass
- Mid-Century Dachshund, large, Bottle Opener from Walter Bosse, Austria 1950'sLocated in Vienna, AustriaCharming mid-century bottle opener in the form of a Dachshund. Made out of solid brass, designed by Walter Bosse, produced by Herta Baller.Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Barware
MaterialsBrass
- Hungarian Woven Wire Bottle, 1960Located in Vienna, AustriaVintage woven wire decorated wine bottle. The pattern and technique are based on traditional basket weaving. The results after many hours of work, is a un...Category
Vintage 1960s Hungarian Other More Folk Art
MaterialsWire
- Amboss Austria Kitchen Utensil Set, Designed by Janos MeglkBy Amboss AustriaLocated in Vienna, AustriaA nice set of kitchen utensils designed by Janos Meglk for Amboss Austria. These instruments have been used but are in very good condition. There are f...Category
Vintage 1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Tableware
MaterialsMetal
- Carl Auböck Neptune Fish Bottle Opener, Leather & Steel by Amboss Austria, 1950sBy Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Amboss AustriaLocated in Vienna, ATA beautiful fish-shaped bottle opener, made of stainless steel, covered with dark-brown tan leather. Model #4687, designed in 1995 by Carl Auböck, Vienna. Executed by Amboss Austria....Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Barware
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Stainless Steel & Leather Bottle Opener "Neptune" by Carl Auböck, Austria, 1950sBy Werkstätte Carl AuböckLocated in Barcelona, ESBottle opener made out of leather wrapped stainless steel. Designed by Carl Auböck for the Viennese Werkstätte Auböck in the 1950s. Promotional/gift product for Kelly Däck, once ...Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern More Dining and Entertaining
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Carl Auböck II Barboy Bottle Opener & Corkscrew, Leather & Steel, Amboss AustriaBy Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Amboss AustriaLocated in Vienna, ATA beautiful bird-shaped bottle opener & corkscrew, made of stainless steel, covered with dark-brown leather. Designed by Carl Aubock II, Vienna. Executed in the 1960 by Amboss Austri...Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Barware
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Original Midcentury Carl Auböck Brass Bottle Opener in the Shape of a KeyBy Werkstätte Carl AuböckLocated in Vienna, ATFor sale is a beautiful bottle opener in key shape. It was crafted from brass and designed by the renowned workshops of Carl Auböck in Austria. The item represents the typical reduce...Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Barware
MaterialsBrass
- Carl Auböck Neptune Fish Bottle Opener, Leather & Steel by Amboss Austria, 1950sBy Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Amboss AustriaLocated in Vienna, ATA 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...Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Barware
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Carl Auböck Neptune Fish Bottle Opener, Leather & Steel by Amboss Austria, 1950sBy Werkstätte Carl AuböckLocated in Vienna, ATA 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...Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Barware
MaterialsStainless Steel