Scandinavian Design

Scandinavian Design - Pitkä elää Alvar Aalto and Tapio Wirkkala

Our traditional special auction on 20 February will offer once more high-quality objects of Scandinavian Design. From Alvar Aalto to Tapio Wirkkala, furniture, lighting design, objets d'art, whatever is desired can be found.

Alvar Aalto is present for example with one of his rare wardrobes for the Paimio sanatorium (lot 8). It was designed in 1928 and made only a little later. The exemplar in white comes from a renowned private collection in North Germany, it can be acquired for €3,500 – 5,000. Other designers excel in the furniture department as well, like Preben Fabricius and Jørgen Kastholm with their pair of 'Skater' easy chairs, 1968, for Kill International. The ingenious design (lot 198) is estimated between €4,500 and €5,000. Grete Jalk, one of Denmark's most famous female designers, created another outstanding ensemble around 1964: Two easy chairs and ottomans, which were displayed at the famous department store Den Permanente in Copenhagen, where the consignor purchased the set directly off the exhibition in 1967. Now, divided into two sets, these presumed prototypes will be on offer for affordable €1,500 – 1,800 each (lots 178 and 179). Hans J. Wegner's 'Mama Bear' easy chair for AP-Stolen, Copenhagen, 1954, is rarely seen on the market, it is on offer - with renewed 'Hallingdal' fabric - for €6,000 – 8,000 (lot 62). More furniture by Eero Arnio, Yrjö Kukkapuro and Verner Panton is available.

Illuminate the new interior for example with a very rare hanging light by Poul Henningsen. The 'PH-5/5' with chrome-plated tubular brass, sheet aluminium and glass was designed in 1926. It is an early execution, identifiably marked PAT. APPL. and estimated at an affordable €1,800 – 2,000 due to a restored glass shade (lot 7). Swede Hans-Agne Jakobsson is present with various lighting designs from romantic lanterns to brilliant sconces. We would like to point out his functional 'B-54' table light, 1955, though, available for €1,200 – 1,500.

In the Arts and Crafts section, illustrious names like Kaj Franck and Friedl Holzer-Kjellberg can be found. Diverse glass objects by Timo Sarpaneva for Iittala, for example his 'Devil's Fist', 1951 (lot 98) for €800 – 900 or the famous 'Orkidea', 1954 (lot 97) for €450 – 600 will be on offer. Tapio Wirkkala is present as well, we chose his 'Hopeakuu' pendant from 1970 for N. Westerback, Helsinki as an example (lot 124, estimate €1,200 - 1,500).

Faridah Younes

Panton still in vogue

Verner Panton is this auction's big winner. Most of his designs sold with respectable price increases. His four 'Visiona II' wall panels in dark red and purple received the highest hammer price of €3,200, having been called up at €2,000 (lot 195). The earlier Danish production of his 'Cone chair', 1958, was in hot pursuit and sold for €3,000 (lot 83). Hans J. Wegner is still popular as well. His 'Y chairs' from the year 1950, very rarely seen in brilliant red, received €2,200 (lot 40). The pair of 'Skater' easy chairs by Danish designers Preben Fabricius and Jørgen Kastholm was fervently battled over, their price increasing from €4,000 to €5,200 (lot 198).

In the lighting design selection, Paavo Tynell stood out once more. His ceiling light from the year 1948 (lot 32) and his pair of '9227' table lights, 1950 (lot 41), were each sold for their lower estimate of €2,200.

Ceramicist Birger Kaipiainen's objects get more and more attention, his table clock and a decorative wall plate both sold for their estimates of €350 respectively €1,000 (lots 121 and 123).

Find further nice pieces online at our homepage

Post auction sale ends on March 23.