Carl Auböck bookends

This rare pair of bookends was designed by Carl Auböck and produced in Austria during the 1950s. Each bookend is crafted from solid brass, featuring a curved form that balances sculptural artistry with practical function. The brass displays a warm golden tone, enhanced by a naturally aged patina and subtle surface oxidation consistent with mid-century materials and use. The upper section of each bookend includes a handle-like element wrapped in hand-stitched black leather, offering both a visual contrast and tactile variation. This combination of brass and leather exemplifies Auböck’s signature style, blending artisanal craftsmanship with modernist design principles.

Carl Auböck (1900–1957) was a prominent Austrian designer renowned for merging Bauhaus principles with Viennese craft traditions. Educated at the Bauhaus under Johannes Itten, he later took charge of the family workshop, Werkstätte Carl Auböck, in Vienna. His work is distinguished by originality, high-quality materials, and a playful yet functional aesthetic. Auböck’s small-scale objects, including desk accessories and household items, are now highly collectible and considered iconic examples of mid-century modern design.

These bookends embody the mid-century ethos of integrating art and utility. Their biomorphic, ergonomic shapes ensure both stability when supporting books and a compelling visual presence as decorative objects.

Each bookend measures 9 centimeters wide, 5.5 centimeters deep, and 10 centimeters high (approximately 3.5 by 2.2 by 3.9 inches).