Austria isn't always the first country on a list of the most influential countries in modernism, but they certainly contributed greatly to the modern design movement. While there were a few great designers from Austria spanning many generations, we'd like to focus on one of the best-known designers of Austrian modernism: Carl Aubock.
There is something so very retro about Aubock's pieces; many of his works display what we describe as retro or "atomic" details from the Mid-Century era. Details like a tell-tell boomerang curving shape, thin "space ship" tripod legs, antennae-like protrusions and more. But all of these details are used sparingly and smartly, creating elegant pieces; not like a catalog of furniture for the Jetsons (though we imagine the Jetsons' might like this work!)
Though Aubock's work displays some definite space-age details, his work is also very down to earth, and utilizes many natural materials to create unique combinations of shape and material. His tree trunk tables are a great example. Featuring a rough-hewn, naturally-shaped, thin slice of a tree trunk for a top, this natural top is placed with three metal, tripod "space ship" legs. Both the two styles complement and contrast nicely to create a piece of furniture very unique to Aubock's style.
He also appears to have been a master of accessories, especially items like magazine holders, martini sets, tabletop boxes, bookends, umbrella stands and more. Made up of a variety of materials, many of his accessories seem to use materials like wood, leather, glass and metal, especially brass-definitely masculine materials.
As mentioned, Carl Aubock was from Austria, and came from a very creative family. He studied painting at Vienna's Academy of Fine Art and was even a student at the Bauhaus. He eventually returned to his home town in Wien, Austria to do his own work. So in tune with what he though modern design could do, heal the world, that his son and his grandson both followed his creative footsteps.
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