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.
Carl Auböck Brass Hand Catchall Vide-Poche Accessory Bowl, Vienna, Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful Catch-All storage utility bowl, model number 4209, designed by Carl Auböck IV and traditionally handcrafted by the Werkstätte Carl Auböck workshop. It consists of a round...
Brass
Carl Auböck Model #3431 'Knopferl' Brass Tray
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carl Auböck Model #3431 'Knopferl' Brass Tray Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural Viennese tray is executed in patinated and p...
Brass
Original Carl Auböck Decorative Brass Dish in the Shape of a Leaf
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
For sale is a beautiful decorative dish in the shape of a leaf. It was hand-crafted from brass and designed by the renowned workshops of Carl Auböck in Austria. It is a perfect examp...
Brass
Carl Auböck Model #4482 Patinated Brass Square Dish
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carl Auböck Model #4482 Patinated Brass Square Dish Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural Viennese bowl is executed in polished and darkly patinated brass. O...
Brass
$630 / item
Carl Auböck Model #3548 Polished Brass Bowl
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carl Auböck Model #3548 polished brass bowl. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural Viennese bowl is executed in polished ...
Brass
Carl Auböck Model #4483 Patinated Brass Triangle Dish
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carl Auböck Model #4483 Patinated Brass Triangle Dish Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural Viennese bowl is executed in polishe...
Brass
$430 / item
Carl Auböck Model #3979 Patinated Brass Bowl
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carl Auböck Model #3979 patinated brass bowl. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural Viennese bowl is executed in polished and darkly patinated brass. Origin...
Brass
$460 / item
Carl Auböck Model #4609 Patinated Brass Bowl
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carl Auböck Model #4609 Patinated Brass Bowl Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural Viennese bowl is executed in polished and darkly patinated brass. Original...
Brass
$580 / item
Carl Auböck Model #3548 Patinated Brass Bowl
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carl Aubo¨ck Model #3548 patinated brass bowl. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural Viennese bowl is executed in polished and darkly patinated brass. Origi...
Brass
$2,583Sale Price|20% Off
Large Teak Bowl with Brass and Leather Handle by Carl Auböck, Austria, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Teak bowl, shell element Design: Carl Auböck, 1950s Producer: Auböck Workshop Vienna, Austria Origin: Austria Age: 1950s Description: Original 1950s bowl...
Brass
$2,301Sale Price|20% Off
Large brutalist Teak Bowl with Brass Handles by Carl Auböck, Austria, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Teak bowl, shell element Design: Carl Auböck, 1950s Producer: Auböck Workshop Vienna, Austria Origin: Austria Age: 1950s Description: Original 1950s bowl...
Brass
Carl Auböck Model #4280 Bowl in Patinated Brass
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carl Auböck model #4280 bowl in patinated brass. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural Viennese bowl is executed in patinated brass. Originally conceived as a petite bowl...
Brass
$430 / item
Carl Auböck Model #3904 Brass Bowl
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carl Auböck Model #3904 Brass Bowl Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural Viennese bowl is executed in polished and darkly patinated brass. Originally conceiv...
Brass
$470 / item
Carl Auböck Model #3599 Patinated Brass Bowl
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carl Auböck model #3599 brass bowl. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural Viennese bowl is executed in polished and darkly patinated brass. Originally conce...
Brass
$640 / item
Carl Auböck Model #3514 Brass Bowl
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carl Auböck model #3514 brass bowl. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural Viennese bowl is executed in polished brass. Originally conceived as an ashtray an...
Brass
Signed Heavy Brass Ashtray by Carl Auböck Vienna Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
The piece on offer is a unique example of mid-century craftsmanship. It was designed and produced by the renowned Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck. Aubock was visibly influenced by the German school of Bauhaus as he did part of his studies there. This influence is also noticeable in the presented item. This archaic heavy ashtray...
Brass
$420 / item
Carl Auböck Model #4610 Patinated Brass Bowl
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carl Auböck Model #4610 Patinated Brass Bowl Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural Viennese bowl is executed in polished and darkly patinated brass. Original...
Brass
Carl Auböck Model #3600 'Crown' Bowl in Patinated Brass
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carl Auböck Model #3600 'Crown' Bowl in Patinated Brass Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural Viennese bowl is executed in patinated brass. Originally concei...
Brass
$630 / item
Carl Auböck Model #4308 Patinated Brass Bowl
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carl Aubo¨ck Model #4308 patinated brass bowl. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural Viennese bowl is executed in polished and darkly patinated brass. Origi...
Brass
$600 / item
Carl Auböck Model #4208 Patinated Brass Bowl
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carl Auböck Model #4208 patinated brass bowl. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural Viennese bowl is executed in polished and darkly patinated brass. Origin...
Brass
$420 / item
Carl Auböck Model #4082 Brass Bowl
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carl Auböck Model #4082 Brass Bowl Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural Viennese bowl is executed in polished and darkly patinated brass. Originally conceiv...
Brass
$380 / item
Carl Auböck Model #4279 Brass Cup
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carl Auböck Model #4279 Brass Cup Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural Viennese cup is executed in patinated brass. Originally conc...
Brass
$2,301Sale Price|20% Off
Large Teak Bowl with Brass and Leather Handle by Carl Auböck, Austria, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Teak bowl, shell element Design: Carl Auböck, 1950s Producer: Auböck Workshop Vienna, Austria Origin: Austria Age: 1950s Description: Original 1950s bowl...
Brass
$470 / item
Carl Auböck Model #3600 'Crown' Brass Bowl
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carl Auböck model #3600 'Crown' brass bowl. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural Viennese bowl is executed in polished brass. Originally conceived as an as...
Brass
Patinated Brass Aorta Vase by Carl Auböck
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Utrecht, NL
Large 'Aorta' vase by Carl Auböck in patinated brass. This aorta-shaped vase has a rough appearance that is accentuated by shiny brass openings. Designed by Carl Auböck II in 1949. ...
Brass
Carl Auböck Model #3548 Patinated Brass Bowl
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carl Aubo¨ck Model #3548 patinated brass bowl. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural Viennese bowl is executed in polished and darkly patinated brass. Origi...
Brass
Rare No.A-436 bowl by Carl Auböck
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Munich, DE
flawless carl auböck wood bowl.
Brass
Horn Bowl by Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Mid-Century Modern, 1960s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck Horn Bowl, Austria 1960s.
Horn
Carl Auböck Model #3844 Patinated Brass Bowl
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carl Auböck Model #3844 Patinated Brass Bowl Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural Viennese bowl is executed in polished and darkly patinated brass. Original...
Brass
Carl Auböck Model #3600 'Crown' Bowl in Patinated Brass
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carl Auböck Model #3600 'Crown' Bowl in Patinated Brass Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural Viennese bowl is executed in patinated brass. Originally concei...
Brass
Carl Auböck Model #3844 Polished Brass Bowl
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carl Auböck model #3844 polished brass bowl. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural Viennese bowl or catch-all is executed in polished brass. Originally conc...
Brass
$145 / item
H 1.5 in W 1.5 in D 0.5 in
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...
Brass
$2,882
H 3.82 in W 15.36 in D 5.91 in
Large Light Teak Bowl with Brass and Leather Handle by Carl Auböck Austria, 1950
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: light Teak bowl, shell element Design: Carl Auböck, 1950s Producer: Auböck Workshop Vienna, Austria Origin: Austria Age: 1950s ...
Brass
Carl Auböck Model #3979 Patinated Brass Bowl
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carl Auböck Model #3979 patinated brass bowl. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural Viennese bowl is executed in polished and darkly patinated brass. Origin...
Brass
Carl Auböck Model #3600 'Crown' Brass Bowl
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carl Auböck model #3600 'Crown' brass bowl. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural Viennese bowl is executed in polished brass. Originally conceived as an as...
Brass
Carl Auböck Model #4317 Long Brass Dish
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carl Auböck Model #4317 Long Brass Dish 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...
Brass
Sold
H 1.46 in Dm 3.55 in
Brass Bowl or Ashtray by Carl Auböck for Werkstätte - Crown Model, Signed 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in ROUEN, Normandie
Brass Bowl or Ashtray by Carl Auböck for Werkstätte - Crown Model, Signed 1950s Small bowl or ashtray, "Crown" model, crafted in 1959´s by Carl Auböck, for Werkstätte. Polished sol...
Brass
Sold
H 5.12 in W 14.18 in D 5.91 in
Carl Auböck Duck Valet Walnut Horn Bowl Austria 1960s Catch All Model 4960
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Basel, BS
Rare Carl Auböck valet duck, model No. 4960, designed by Carl Auböck III, hand-crafted in the workshop in Vienna in the 1960s. Made of solid walnut with a beak in horn. This iconic...
Horn, Walnut
Sold
H 0.6 in W 2.5 in D 4.6 in
Mid-Century Modernist Patinated Brass Teardrop Dish Signed Carl Aubock
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in New York, NY
This beautifully designed Mid-Century Modernist patinated brassl Teardrop Dish was made by the esteemed artist Carl Aubock and originates from Austria, C...
Brass, Enamel
Mid-Century Modernist Brass Bowl Signed Carl Aubock
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in New York, NY
This beautifully designed Mid-Century Modernist Brass Bowl was made by the esteemed artist Carl Aubock and originates from Austria, Circa 1950. Fe...
Brass
Carl Auböck II Brass Tray, Bowl, Vide-Poche, Maria Theresia Coin, Austria, 1950
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful solid brass coin tray or dish, designed and executed by Carl Auböck II in the 1950s. Suitable as a jewelry bowl or „vide-poche“. In good co...
Brass
Sold
H 3.94 in W 15.75 in D 7.09 in
Double Bowl Hand-Carved in Teak, Cast Brass and Leather Handle by Carl Auböck
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Double bowl hand-carved in teak with cast brass and leather handle by Carl Auböck.
Brass
Sold
H 6.89 in W 11.15 in D 6.7 in
Handmade Austrian Mahogany Nut or Fruit Bowl by Carl Auböck, Vienna, circa 1955
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Hand-carved mahogany nut bowl by Carl Auböck, Austria, circa 1955. This beautifully made bowl features a curved brass handle which follows the lines and shape of the bowl with delica...
Brass
Carl Aubock Dish
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Chicago, IL
Brass Dish, Signed Aubock and made in Austria.
Brass