Designer: Carl Auböck III (1924 – 1993)

Item: Hermes Letter Opener Ruler from Auböck Model 4963

Manufactured by: Werkstätte Carl Auböck for Hermes Paris

Country of origin: Austria/France

Year made: Circa 1958

Materials: Brass

Dimensions: 8 ¾” x 1” x ¼”

Condition: Very good with roughness and dimples at the sharp edge toward the tip, because apparently someone used it to pry something open. This was a well used object.

References: Kois, Clemens, Carl Auböck: The Workshop, Powerhouse Book, (2012); 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).

Description: Carl Auböck designed and manufactured objects that were also sold at high-end retailers such as Hermes in Paris, France. This is one of two documented letter opener models that we know of that were designed and produced by Auböck for Hermes, the other being a leather handled version model with a magnifying glass in the handle. These are scarcely found objects. This model was also sold under the Auböck name is pictured in the Kois, Clemens book on page 37. This is marked Hermes Paris on the back of the handle and bearing incised letters that the few others we have seen also contained.