Designer: Carl Auböck III (1924 – 1993)

Item: Cheese knife Model #4828

Manufactured by: Werkstätte Carl Auböck

Country of origin: Austria

Year made: Ca. 1956

Materials: Stainless steel, horn and brass

Dimensions: ½” thick x 8 ½” long x 1 ¼” wide 

Condition: Excellent. A few very minor scratches to the horn handle and some minor natural age shrinkage to the horn as seen near the brass rivets. Appears to have been used very little, if at all.

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); Kuzmany, Marion, Auböck 1924 - 1993 Architect: Design for Modern Living, Verlang Anton Pustet (2009); Hillman, Rolfe L., Auböck, Craft Horizons magazine Jan/Feb 1956.

Description: Here is a circa 1950s horn handled cheese knife that was probably sold with a wood cutting board that became separated from it at some time. But according to the Archive books it appears these knives were also sold separately from the cutting boards. The Auböck designed cutlery with horn handles are highly prized and hard to find. Usually the cheese knives found in the marketplace are cane (rattan) wrapped. The horn is heavy and well-crafted to the steel using brass rivets to secure it. Marked Amboss and Auböck on one side of the blade and Made in Austria Stainless on the other. This little beauty is a heavy and well-made modern design object for its time that feels great in your hands.