Margret Solbach Collection
Murano Glass - Design - Art

On the third day of our auction series in June, the private collection of the art historian and pharmacist Margret Solbach (1927-2019), consisting of 150 items, will be offered. Her wide-ranging interest in art history is reflected in her collecting fields of Murano Glass, Design, Studio Jewelry and 19th and 20th century art.

Romantic subjects particularly appealed to Margret Solbach, as suggested by Anselm Feuerbach's copy of the 'Concerto campestre' attributed to Titian from 1852/55 (estimate € 8,000 - 9,000) as well as Erich Heckel's beach scene in crayon and watercolor on paper from 1927 (estimate € 18,000 - 22,000). But fine landscape drawings from around 1830 also illustrate the preference for delicate motifs in art.

In exciting contrast are the numerous design classics from Scandinavia and the USA, which the collector lived in. Among the rarities are Peder Moos’ side table (estimate € 4.000 - 5.000) and a stool (estimate € 7,000 - 9,000), both from the 1940s. Poul Kjaerholm's stool 'PK-33' (estimate 2,000 - 3,000 €) and 'PK-41' (2,000 - 3,000 €) stand for modern elegance.

The collector was deeply involved with Murano Glass, as the library of specialist literature attests. Designs by Napoleone Martinuzzi and Carlo Scarpa were among her favorites. Among the highlights of the Murano Glass offer is the floor vase 'Corroso a rilievo', which sells for an estimated € 12,000 - 18,000. Rare is Scarpa's bowl 'Tessuto' in dark purple and green, which enters the race with an estimate of € 2,200 - 2,800. A small silver collection with objects from the late 18th century as well as modern jewelry by Vivianna Torun Bülow-Hübe from the 1960s complete the catalog.

For decades, the art historian and pharmacist had put together her collection with the greatest care. She was always concerned with the quality of the objects, not just with big names or the display of great values. If she liked it and the piece met her standards, she bought it. In this way, glass objects from Murano and design furnishings found their place in her home, as did textiles from the Middle East, graphics and paintings from the 19th century or silver from the Rococo period. These objects were now honored in the auction on June 30, 2022.

The first chapter contained paintings and graphics. Three ink and pencil drawings by Emil Filla from around 1930 stand out in particular. A collector from the Czech Republic allowed EUR 2,900 for the framed works after the lot had been called up at EUR 800 (lot 1098).

As part of the Design of the 20th Century chapter, the unique pieces of furniture by Peder Moos triumphed. A stool and two tables from the 1940s were sold; after a fierce bidding war, the stool received EUR 34,000 (lot 1109). The suite is going to go back to Denmark. Subsequently, a collection of almost 70 pieces of Murano glass followed, in which the works by Carlo Scarpa held a special place. His spherical vase 'Velato' in amber-yellow glass, around 1940, was bid up from EUR 2,800 to EUR 15,000 by eager bidders on the phones and on several internet platforms (lot 1197). However, the highest result was EURO 18,000 for Scarpa's vase 'Corroso a rilievi', which rose from EUR 12,000.

After that, museums and collectors battled about nine pieces of jewelry by the Danish jewelry designer Vivianna Torun Bülow-Hübe. A choker from 1954 and a necklace from 1963 were each sold for EUR 2,800. Their starting prices were a reasonable EUR 600 each (lots 1217 and 1223).

Finally, a small but fine 18th-century silver collection and a collection of Middle Eastern textiles were put up for auction. The candlestick from The Hague ('S-Gravenhage) is now returning to the Netherlands for EUR 2,400, while an Austrian collector was able to secure all five weavings for himself.

You can find more furniture and valuables from the Margret Solbach collection in our after sale till 29 July 2022.