Carl Auböck ashtray

This very rare freestanding ashtray was designed by Carl Auböck in the 1950s and exemplifies the Viennese workshop’s distinctive approach to modern design, where function and sculptural form merge seamlessly. Produced in copper and brass, the piece reflects Auböck’s mastery of metalwork and his commitment to craftsmanship, which has been a defining characteristic of the Auböck Werkstätte since its founding in the early 20th century. Under Carl Auböck II’s direction during the mid-century period, the workshop became one of Europe’s leading studios for modernist accessories and small furnishings, supplying pieces that were as practical as they were refined.

The design of the ashtray is strikingly minimal yet highly architectural. A single, elegantly bent brass rod forms the linear frame, creating a sharply angled tripod-like base that supports the copper bowl above. The bowl itself, with its warm reddish patina, is suspended in a way that appears to defy gravity, held by two small sculptural brass supports. This sense of balance and tension between heavy material and light form is characteristic of Auböck’s work, where the traditional vocabulary of functional objects was reimagined through modernist principles.

The copper bowl’s interior shows subtle signs of age and use, with a natural patina that enhances its historical character. The combination of materials — polished copper with brass elements — also reflects the designer’s interest in contrasting surfaces and tones, while maintaining an understated elegance. The piece is both utilitarian and sculptural, serving as a functional ashtray but also as a decorative object that embodies the mid-century fascination with purity of form and material honesty.

Carl Auböck’s designs have long been celebrated for their timeless quality, and this ashtray is a rare example of his larger freestanding works. While many Auböck pieces were small desktop accessories, this more substantial object demonstrates the same attention to proportion and detail on a larger scale, making it an important piece for collectors of mid-century design.

Dimensions are 16 cm wide, 17 cm deep, and 59 cm high (6.3 x 6.7 x 23.2 in)