Stockholms Auktionsverk Presents: The Design Sale

Interest in Stockholms Auktionsverk’s major design auction continues to grow strongly each season, attracting an ever-expanding Nordic and international audience. The breadth and high quality of this spring’s edition reflect a vibrant and dynamic market.

“It is both inspiring and significant to present a design auction that is the most valuable ever held at Stockholms Auktionsverk, the world's oldest auction house, measured by total estimate. Our ambition is to highlight carefully selected objects in their proper context – here, we have the opportunity to showcase design history at its very best,” says Ulrika Ruding, Head of the Design Department.

The star lot of The Design Sale is Diego Giacometti’s rare and extraordinary “Berceau” table with stylized cat figures, where sculpture and function appear to merge seamlessly. With an estimate of SEK 3–4 million, it is the highest-valued 20th-century table ever offered at auction in Sweden.

“It is a privilege to present this exceptional work. Giacometti combines sculpture and furniture design in a way few others have achieved, and this table possesses a unique presence that truly defines a space,” says Ulrika Ruding.

Valentin Kielland’s richly carved Art Nouveau cabinet from 1902, nearly 2.3 metres tall, carries a symbolic narrative through its female figures and organic forms. The cabinet was, in fact, close to being discarded before its owners changed their mind at the last moment. It is now offered with an estimate of SEK 300,000–400,000.

“It is extremely rare to see an Art Nouveau cabinet from Norway at auction, and to present a work by Valentin Kielland of this quality is something truly special. Here, national identity, artistic freedom, and a strong personal expression converge. It is a remarkable opportunity – not least for those seeking to acquire an object that today is found in museum collections,” says Ulrika Ruding.

Among the auction’s classics is Josef Frank’s highly sought-after "Flora" chest of drawers for Firma Svenskt Tenn, where botanical elements meet playful yet structured design. Uno Åhrén’s elegant armchair from circa 1925 captures the essence of Swedish Grace in its most refined form, while Olle Ohlsson’s unique silver suite, Glittering Summer Tales, enchants with narrative decoration across eleven bowls that together form a virtuoso sculptural ensemble, valued at SEK 1–1.5 million.

The intricate and exceptionally rare chairs by Poul Kjærholm from the early 1950s also draw attention. Recently rediscovered at an estate in western Sweden, they belong to an experimental series produced in very limited numbers, of which only a few examples remain.

The auction also includes other leading Nordic design, such as Axel Einar Hjorth’s rustic “Utö” sofa, elegant lighting by Paavo Tynell, glass by Vicke Lindstrand, ceramics by Wilhelm Kåge and Hans Hedberg, and textiles by the masterful Barbro Nilsson for Märta Måås-Fjetterström AB. Together, they form a rich and dynamic picture of design development during the groundbreaking 20th century.

The preview for The Design Sale opens on April 17 at Nybrogatan 32 in Stockholm and runs until the auction on April 28.

Explore the catalogue here.