Designer: Carl Auböck II (1900 – 1957)

Item: Ashtray Model 4308

Manufactured by: Werkstätte Carl Auböck

Country of origin: Austria

Year made: Ca. 1940s

Materials: Patinated and polished brass

Dimensions: 1 ½” x 5 ¼” x 6 ¼” 

Condition: Very good to excellent.

References: 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) page VI/65.

Description:  This is a very large, heavy and early Auböck ashtray that is well documented in the Auböck Archives. The drawings and photos of this piece are in both books.  It really has all the hallmarks of a classic Bauhaus modernist design as Auböck II studied there under the master Walter Gropius.  As we have seen with other heavy brass Auböck objects, this ashtray has some marks on the bottom indicating someone tried to use it as a hammer. Although this is example is unsigned we fully guarantee this is an authentic and original Auböck piece created in the Werkstätte Carl Auböck.  When examples of this model do come to market, we see them selling for over $2,000 and often they don’t have this beautiful early dark patination.