Ultimate Carl Auböck Pocket Watch Magnifier Tool [Q9Yurmio]

A glass and brass desk magnifier or paper weight in the form of a pocket watch. This fun and whimsical piece was created by the highly regarded and collected Austrian design Carl Auböck. It is well made, novel and the perfect accessory for the watch, or clock lover. These items were designed to be placed upon a map, or a book to help magnify the content below. There is a large piece of convex cut glass that sits in the frame where the watch dial would classically sit. The bale at the top allows it to be easily picked up, and even hung, if so desired.

The Werkstätte Carl Auböck is a workshop in Vienna that has been operating for four generations, recognized for its clever take on contemporary industrial design. Established in 1900 and restructured in 1926, the workshop came under the leadership of Carl Auböck II (1900–1957) after he completed his studies at the Weimar Bauhaus and took over the metalsmithing business from his father, Karl Heinrich Auböck (1872–1925). Initially, the workshop produced small bronze figurines known as Wiener Bronzen, which gained popularity as collectibles in Austria during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Influenced by his education and his father's legacy, Auböck II merged functional modernism with Austrian craftsmanship, shaping the distinctive visual identity of the Werkstätte Carl Auböck. While at the Bauhaus, Auböck II studied painting under the color theorist Johannes Itten and subsequently emerged as a significant figure in 20th-century Austrian painting. Despite his achievements, he remained committed to the decorative arts, crafting sculptural yet practical items, often disguising their functionality within their design. Examples include a large skeleton key that unscrews to reveal a corkscrew and a brass ashtray shaped like a crown. Auböck II infused a sense of playfulness into his creations, experimenting with materials and proportions, such as adorning whiskey glasses with fur and covering clocks in leather, which contributed to the workshop's reputation for innovative material use. He also produced nine-inch functional brass paper clips and oversized brass clothespins (which predated Claes Oldenburg's work) that served as paperweights and desk accessories. Other remarkable pieces were crafted from horn, bone, and found materials like pebbles and tree stumps, all preserving their natural characteristics.   

 The condition of the piece is excellent, with no damage to the original glass. It is fully signed on the edge of the bezel frame. Made in Austria, circa 1950's.