METAL URGE: COLLECTING CARL AUBOCK'S MID CENTURY METAL MASTERPIECES

Known for his beautiful decorative objects made in brass, wood and horn, the pieces created by Austrian Weiner Werkstatte designer Carl Aubock are treasured. Recognizable for their clean, simple forms, his weighty designs were often everyday objects, cast in bronze or nickel. He did mid-century modern accessories and larger pieces in a pared down way, with just enough realistic detail. While walking The International Contemporary Furniture Fair, I stopped by the Viennese design booth to check out the whisper thin Lobmeyer glassware when some shiny brass things caught my eye. Aubock's designs are being reproduced, and this was their re-issue debut. A chance to attract a new audience and woo hard-core Aubock collectors for sure. Then while downtown recently, recently saw a trove of his original vintage pieces at Mondo Cane in Tribeca. Each piece has stand-alone beauty, but seeing them together really made me covet every single piece. The iconic designs just have that captivating effect.