The Auböck Workshop

A feature on talented Austrian craftsman and maker Carl Aubock

About Carl Auböck

Founded as a metal workshop for girdling and chasing back in the 19th century, the traditional Carl Auböck workshop is still placed in the 7th district of Vienna in Bernardgasse 23.

In the years of foundation the workshop mainly produced the so called ‘Wiener Bronzen’, but in 1926 the workshop was passed from father to son, who gave it new ideas – the beginning of the typical Auböck design. Now the workshop is guided by the 4th generation of the family, where they craft both new and original designs.

Photography: Paul Bauer

Introduction

Carl Auböck II was born in 1900 and is one of the most extraordinary personalities of Austrian modernism. After working as an apprentice bronze worker and engraver for the family business in the early 1900’s, he went on to be a student of Johannes Itten, a Swiss expressionist painter and designer, at the Bauhaus in Weimar. Once graduated he took over his father’s workshop and in the early 40’s developed a very particular style which many consider modernist, in fact he became the face of Austrian modernism.

The ideas he dreamt up derived from abstraction, and the knowledge and skills within his small family workshop became the birth place for ideas from the Bauhaus but now translated in to three-dimensional brass objects. Carl Auböck III took over in 1957 and started making objects in new materials, including horn and wood, expanding the collection and making a platform for experimentation. His son Carl Auböck IV has been instrumental in preserving the quality and craftsmanship in the workshop which today remains among the last of its kind.

With the help of photographer Paul Bauer we’ve been able to document and capture inside the the famous workshop owned by the Auböck family, hopefully showcasing some of the skills in which it takes to produce these iconic sculptural and functional forms, such as the Paperweight Foot the Vase Aorta. You can check out our full range of Carl Auböck work in the shop.

Carl Aubock IV at his studio in Vienna, Austria.
Carl Auböck crafting at his studio in Vienna, Austria.
Carl drilling down in to the brass metal.
Carl Auböck IV at his studio in Vienna, Austria.
Carl polishing the Brass Paperweight Hand at his studio in Vienna, Austria.
Carl Aubock showing the polishing technique of the Brass Hand Paperweight.
Carl Auböck showing the polishing technique of the Brass Paperweight Hand.
Carl shows the difference between the polished and un-polished paperweight hand.
Showing the difference between the polished and un-polished paperweight.
Inside the storeroom/presentation space at the Aubock Workshop, home of Aorta sculptures and various sculptures.
Inside the storeroom and presentation space at the Auböck workshop, home of the beautiful Aorta Vase and other Sculptures.
A look at the Aubock showroom, which also features some iconic pictures form the previous Aubock generations.A look at the Aubock showroom, which also features some iconic pictures form the previous Aubock generations.
A look inside the Auböck showroom, which also features some iconic pictures form the previous Auböck generations.
A selection of objects up-close in the Aubock workshop.
A selection of objects up-close, most prominently the Paperweight Foot, Hand and Stone with Leather Wrap.
More beautiful objects from the Carl Aubock workshop, both functional and decorative.
More beautiful objects from the Carl Auböck workshop, both functional and decorative.
Shelving inside the Aubock showroom, beautiful metal, leather and stone objects.Another glimpse inside the Aubock showroom, beautiful metal, leather and stone objects.
Another glimpse inside the Auböck showroom, beautiful metal, leather and stone objects.
A look at the Carl Aubock stockroom.
A look at the Carl Aubock stockroom.
The Cutaway Triangle Bookends, now available to purchase at OEN shop.
A man at work at his workshop in Vienna, Austria.
Carl Aubock exiting his studio space in Vienna, Austria.
A look at the Carl Aubock stockroom.
Carl Aubock at work at his workshop in Vienna, Austria.
Carl Aubock exiting his studio space in Vienna, Austria.
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