Scandinavian Design

In the event of the first auction series in 2015, Quittenbaum Art Auctions successfully sold Scandinavian and International Design over two evenings and reached a gross proceeds of €300,000 all included.

On Tuesday, March 3, the Scandinavian Design with around 260 lots was in the center of attention, featuring designers like Alvar Aalto, Arne Jacobsen, Verner Panton and Arne Vodder. The silver selection was very popular. The objects affirmed their estimates with the help of international dealers and private collectors: a New York based collector allowed €600 for the 'Parallel' cake server by Oscar Gundlach Pedersen for Georg Jensen (tax: €300 – 400), a decorative bowl by Aage Weimar reached €1,000 (all included) (tax: €900-1,000) and a jug by Finn Tapio Wirkkala with a pattern reminiscent of stylized tree bark received pleasant €2,000 all included (tax: €1,500 – 1,700). The extremely beautiful 'Hopeakuu' jewelry set, also by Tapio Wirkkala, paying homage to the silver moon, now graces a museum collection. Furniture from Scandinavia is sought-after as always. The 'A 809' floor light by Alvar Aalto (tax: €4,500 – 5,000) was purchased by a German dealer for €5,100 all included. The pair of 'Skrindan' easy chairs by Swede Kerstin Hörlin-Holmquist with a characteristic bright and cheerful original fabric, 1963, was knocked down for almost €2,000 (all included). Hans Wegner's 'AT-304' table with bandy legs from the year 1955 went for €5,100 into a German private collection.

Arne Vodder, a pupil of Dane Finn Juhl is responsible for timeless, beautiful designs that would sell well at Quittenbaum's as expected. For example, his most famous piece of seating furniture, a chaise longue of teak and beech and leather straps from the year 1950 will move to Norway for €11,000 all included (tax: €9,000 – 10,000), furthermore a sideboard from the 'Triennale' series, c1968, hammer: €2.040 all included (tax: €900 – 1,200) and last but not least the '212' dining table, 1960s, hammer: €2,805 all included (tax: €1,800 – 2,000).

On Thursday, March 5, some really exciting prices were received during the International Design auction with 350 lots. In the 'Prewar' section, tubular steel furniture was highly coveted. For example, Marcel Breuer's early 'B 5' chair sold for €1,785 all included and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's 'Barcelona' daybed was knocked down at €5,610 all included. Two early night stands, attributed to Vittorio Dassi, were fervently fought over and found a new home in Northern Germany for €3,315 all included.

In the 'German Postwar' section, two metal desks by Mauser-Werke sold for €4,080 respectively €4,335 all included, a one of a kind dining table by Otto Wesendonck from the year 1984 changed hands for €5,100 all included. Objects by Wilhelm Wagenfeld and the Braun AG were popular too.

The Italian Design has many friends and shone through excellent results this spring. Decorative implements by Piero Fornasetti, from a tray (€1,275 all included), over an umbrella stand (€893 all included), a set of 'Adam' coasters (€717 all included) to a carpet (€1,148), were sought-after and were sold almost without exception. Classics like Joe Colombo's 'Elda' chair (€3,315 all included), Mario Bellini's eight 'Cab' chairs (€4,463 all included), Osvaldo Borsani's 'P 32' chair (€1,785 all included) and a pair of silver jugs by Mario Botta (€3,188) changed hands for their expected estimates in most cases. Ettore Sottsass' hanging cabinet, designed in 1965 and made as a one of a kind in 2007, was coveted and affirmed its tax with €10,200 all included. The Italian highlight of the evening was however a mirror attributed to Fontana Arte. After a heated bidding combat with a strong participation of American dealers, a collector from Southern Germany got the upper hand on the classic mirror from the 1950s. It doubled its upper estimate and was knocked down at €7,650 all included.

International designs by Charlotte Perriand (two 'CP-1' brackets - €1,076 all included), Pierre Paulin ('Big Tulip' armchair - €1,870 all included), Otto Kolb (armchair for Walter Knoll - €2,040 all included), Charles Eames (Lounge chair - €1,870 all included), Don Shoemaker ('Sling Swinger' chair - €1,913 all included) and Shiro Kuramata ('Kyoto' table - €2,550 all included) completed the offer and received their average estimates from international dealers and collectors.