Designer: Carl Auböck II (1900 – 1957)

Item: Nutcracker model 4051

Manufactured by: Werkstätte Carl Auböck

Country of origin: Austria

Year made: Designed in 1942, this example manufactured in the 1950s

Materials: Brass and leather

Dimensions: 6 ¾” x 1 ¾” x 1”

Condition: Very good, with a minor tear to the inside of the upper edge of the leather as can be seen in the photographs.  The leather has shrunk a little from natural aging, but has not become brittle.  The brass has a few age appropriate areas of green discoloration.  We have not cleaned this. 

References: Kois, Clemens, Carl Auböck: The Workshop, Powerhouse Books (2012); Hillman, Rolfe L., Auböck, Craft Horizons magazine Jan/Feb 1956; 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:  Here is an important Auböck design that was featured in Rolfe Hillman’s article in 1956 in Craft Horizon’s magazine and also graces the back cover of the Kois book.  The curvaceous design is very ergonomic in the hands, but also seems to evoke the form of a female figure.  It is very heavy and solid.  The brass has developed a mellow patina that one expects from an item of this age.

We cannot find a signature on this because it may be under the leather as we have seen on one other, but usually they are signed above it.  We believe this example is unsigned, but does have the number 3 impressed inside the brass and we have seen others with this type of marking.  Not all Auböck’s works were signed, and this is a genuine and completely authentic item.  We would not have purchased it if there was even a question about its authenticity.  Although this model is still in production, we guarantee this to be a genuine vintage piece dating to the 1950s.  Prices for this model have been escalating rapidly and even recent auction records show strong results.