Designer: Carl Auböck II (1900 – 1957)

Item: Silent Bulter Ashtray Model 3709

Manufactured by: Werkstätte Carl Auböck

Country of origin: Austria

Year made: Ca. 1950

Materials: Polished brass and bamboo

Dimensions: 10 ½” x 6”

References:  Wright Auction Catalog; The Workshop: Carl Auböck Designs 1930-1980 (2016); Auböck, Carl IV, die kataloge der werkstätte carl auböck 1925 - 1975, Carl Auböck Archive (2005); Auböck, Carl IV, die arbeiten der werkstätte carl auböck fotografiert von 1948 - 2005, Carl Auböck Archive (2009).

Condition: Very good, but very used condition.  The exterior is excellent with the brass showing a lovely mellow natural aged patina with some minor spotting.  We chose not to polish this.  This item was used for its intended purpose, to collect ashes and thus the interior shows significant discolorations, but no pitting, loss of metal or unevenness.  We could have had the interior polished out as we have seen on some others, but chose to leave it as is so you can see it was really used.  Fortunately there is no lingering odor. The bamboo is free of any cracking or crazing and shows the appropriate age.  

Description: Here is another classic Carl Auböck design.  We have seen these in two different sizes, this being the larger.  Heavy and well constructed as should be expected by this maker.  Marked as shown with the correct Auböck signature on the interior of the ashtray.  Others we have seen were marked under the hinge to the lid or on the brass portion of the handle or outside of the tray, but the mark is correct despite its different placement, and we have seen at least one other done this way.  These are often seen on other internet sites for over $1,000 and the example that sold at Wright auctions in 2016 brought about $470.