From Yves Klein’s golden icon to Josef Frank’s "Flora" – masters of the 20th century meet at The Modern Art & Design Sale

The  most prominent highlight of the sale is Yves Klein’s "Âge d’or [Golden Age], (MG 36)" from 1959 – a magnificent work from the artist's legendary Monogold series, estimated at SEK 13–15 million, the highest estimate for any object on the Swedish auction market to date this year. Andy Warhol is also represented, notably with the recently discovered version of the painting "Frölunda Hockey Player "(1986) – an unexpected encounter between pop art and Swedish sports culture – as well as "Monkey (Toy Painting)"  from 1983, a nostalgic and playful reflection on the world of childhood.

Fernand Léger’s "Composition (Le médaillon)" (1929–1931) marks the artist’s shift toward a more organic, surrealist form, while Maria Helena Vieira da Silva’s "Souterrain/Colonne" (1950) interweaves architecture and abstraction into a poetic visual language. Einar Jolin’s atmospheric panorama "Promenerande på Strandvägen" (1939) and Peter Weiss’s "Världslandskap" (1942) ground the auction in the humanism and history of European modernism.

“After a wonderful start to the autumn season, we are proud and delighted to present The Modern Art & Design Sale – one of our most carefully curated and valuable auctions ever. It clearly shows how the ideas of modernism continue to shape and inspire our present time – and it is, of course, extraordinary to see how the iconic works of Yves Klein and Andy Warhol still attract great attention and interest today,”
says Victoria Svederberg, Head of the Art Department at Stockholms Auktionsverk.

The design section of the auction brings together some of the most influential designers of the 20th century. Josef Frank’s "Flora" chest of drawers for Svenskt Tenn and Erik Chambert’s floral cabinet represent Swedish modernism at its finest. Other highlights include Axel Einar Hjorth’s Utö table (1932), Wiwen Nilsson’s elegant silver vase (1934), Folke Bensow’s "Table No. 10" in Kolmården marble, Jonas Bohlin’s cabinet "Slottsbacken" (1987), and striking ceramic cherries by Hans Hedberg from the artist’s own collection.

“The design objects featured in The Modern Art & Design Sale showcase the very best of 20th-century craftsmanship – pieces that unite artisanal mastery with boldness and personality. Interest in Swedish design from this golden era is stronger than ever. And following this spring’s world record for an Erik Chambert cabinet, it’s a thrill to now present another remarkable example here at Stockholms Auktionsverk,” says Ulrika Ruding, Head of the Design Department.

The catalogue for The Modern Art & Design Sale is available from today. You can find it here. The exhibition opens on 7 November at Nybrogatan 32 in Stockholm, and the auction takes place on 19–20 November.