Designer: Carl Auböck II (1900 – 1957) and Michaela Frey Aichberger (died 1980)

Item: Wall tray

Manufactured by: Werkstätte Carl Auböck

Country of origin: Austria

Year made: Late 1950s

Materials: Patinated brass and enamel on copper plate

Dimensions: ½” x 4 ¾” x 4 ¾”

Condition: Excellent.

References: Auböck, Carl IV, die arbeiten der Werkstätte carl auböck – fotografiert von 1948 – 2005, Carl Auböck Archive (2009), page VIII/06.

Description: This is an exceptionally rare decorative wall tray or plaque that was an artistic collaboration between Carl Auböck II and another important Viennense artist Michaela Frey Aichberger, also known as Michaela Frey. Frey Aichberger is best known for her enamel jewelry such as brooches and bracelets, which are also highly sought after.

Frey Aichberger opened her workshop in Vienna in 1951 and became well known designing for and selling her work through Hermes, as did Auböck. After her death, the workshop renamed Freywille began producing works by other well-known European artists such as Friedensreich Hundertwasser.

Frey Aichberger hand painted the enamel the signs of the Zodiac, which were then placed inside the Auböck tray at the Auböck Werkstätte. Very few of these were made, perhaps only one for each sign of the Zodiac. This is Leo. A photograph of Residence G, which is Auböck IV’s uncle’s residence can be found on page VIII/06 of the Archives with several of these trays on display.

We had this authenticated by the Werkstätte Carl Auböck who provided us information about the collaboration between Auböck and Frey Aichberger, because there is no information in the Archive books about these trays other than that single photo. They advised us of the extreme rarity of these trays.