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VINTAGE MID-CENTURY MODERN SOLID BRASS RULER & LETTER OPENER
Designed by Carl Auböck III – Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Vienna
Model No. 4963 | Circa 1958 | Made in Austria
ITEM OVERVIEW
Up for sale is an authentic and highly collectible Mid-Century Modern solid brass 2-in-1 desk instrument: a combination ruler and letter opener designed by the legendary Carl Auböck III around 1950S
Handcrafted in Vienna, Austria by Werkstätte Carl Auböck, this piece is an iconic example of Austrian modernist design.
Stamped on the lower handle with the unmistakable signature "Auböck" and "MADE IN AUSTRIA", featuring original imperial ruler markings (in inches) along the spine.
■ PROVENANCE & HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
* Maker: Werkstätte Carl Auböck (Vienna, Austria)
* Designer: Carl Auböck III (1924–1993)
* Era: Circa 1958 (Mid-Century Modern)
* History: Werkstätte Carl Auböck is celebrated globally for bringing Bauhaus-inspired functionality and organic sculptural elegance into brass homeware. This specific dual-purpose model (Model 4963) is so celebrated that variations were re-sold and partnered with luxury houses like Hermès Paris during the late 1950s and 1960s.
■ SPECIFICATIONS & CONDITION
* Length: Approx. 8.7 inches
* Material: Heavy, solid cast brass
* Weight & Feel: Substantial and delightfully weighty in hand, offering a truly tactile executive feel.
* Condition: Authentic vintage condition with rich, untouched historical patina. The brass surface shows lovely, honest signs of age and oxidation accumulated over nearly seven decades. We have left the original patina intact, as collectible Auböck brass items are most highly valued in their unpolished, natural state.
(Please carefully review all high-resolution photos for exact cosmetic condition.)
■ WHY COLLECT AUBÖCK?
Carl Auböck pieces are featured in major modern art museums worldwide and remain highly sought after by collectors of Mid-Century Modern (MCM) decor, fine stationery, and Viennese design heritage. This piece is both a functional everyday luxury tool and a museum-quality desktop sculpture.
Packed with extreme care and shipped promptly with tracking and insurance.
