Early Edition Carl Auböck Tree Coffee Table in Walnut

Carl Auböck II and Carl Auböck III for Werkstätte Carl Auböck, ‘Tree’ coffee table, walnut, brass, bamboo, Austria, design 1948 , made 1951/1952

This is one of the earliest Tree Trunk coffee tables by Carl Auböck, designed in 1948 and produced around 1951–52. Early examples can be identified by their bamboo feet, which were later replaced with rubber. Each leg is stamped simply “Auböck,” rather than “Made in Austria,” indicating that this table predate export-oriented production. At the time, the table was not yet intended for international distribution, making this a particularly rare and historically significant early piece.

This hand-made piece is designed to fully showcase the individual characteristics of the wooden slab on top. The organic, free flowing edges of the wood contribute to a dynamic and natural appearance of the design. This free-form character of the top contrast beautifully with the stark simplicity of the base, consisting of tubular legs executed in brass with bamboo capped feet. The asymmetrical composition enhances the design's strength and visual appeal, a characteristic commonly found in post-war furniture design. This design by Auböck anticipates the designs of George Nakashima and Alexandre Noll.

Carl Auböck (1900-1957) started his professional journey by completing an apprenticeship in his father's metalworking shop in Vienna, Austria. He further honed his skills by studying at prestigious institutions like the Bauhaus in Weimar. In 1925, he took over his father's business and continued to produce mainly Viennese bronzes and small brass objects, often incorporating natural materials into his designs. After World War Two, Carl Auböck expanded his production to include furniture pieces, with occasional assistance from his son Carl. These pieces included the Tree Tables, which were made from tree slabs with unique shapes and grains that Auböck senior had discovered discarded as firewood at a turnery. The top surface of the slab was smoothed and polished, while the bottom was simply stripped of bark, then burnt and oiled.