Stockholms Auktionsverk presents: Classic Week

Among the highlights of The Curated Classics Sale are three significant works by John Bauer. The watercolours "Ut i vida världen" (Out Into the Wide World), "Sjökungens drottning" (Queen of the Lake King), and Prinsessa (Princess) showcase the artist’s unique visual universe and enduring place within Sweden’s cultural heritage. The auction also presents Carl Larsson’s 1906 watercolour "På väg till badet" (On the Way to the Bath ) and Carl Fredrik Hill’s expressive "Skräck" (Terror), one of the artist’s most psychologically charged works from his later years of illness. The sculpture section features an exceptional selection of works by Carl Milles, as well as Per Hasselberg’s celebrated "Grodan" (The Frog), offered in bronze, plaster, and alabaster.

“The art section of the auction brings together the national romantic, the poetic, and the deeply personal in works that continue to resonate powerfully today. John Bauer’s paintings in particular possess a timeless allure, where fairy tale and inner life are intricately intertwined,” says Cecilia Berggren, Specialist in Classical Art at Stockholms Auktionsverk.

The auction also offers an outstanding selection of furniture and decorative arts with exceptional provenance. Highlights include a Gustavian cabinet from Drottningholm Palace, an original painted corner cabinet by Georg Haupt, and a signed secrétaire by the Rococo master Nils Dahlin. A particular highlight is Johan Neijber’s magnificent chest of drawers from around 1780, appearing on the market for the first time ever. The season’s most beautiful table is an exquisite Italian work from the first half of the 18th century featuring an irresistible micro-mosaic tabletop likely dating back to Roman times.

The silver department also shines with several rare and museum-quality objects, including a Carolinian casket by Petter Bernegau, Swedish 17th-century filigree works, a major collection of early 18th-century silver tankards, magnificent Rococo candelabra by Jacob Lampa, and a rare Rococo casket from the Swedish era in Stralsund.

In The Fine Jewellery Sale, jewellery takes centre stage for the first time in a fully dedicated auction at Stockholms Auktionsverk. Romantic 18th-century jewels meet Belle Époque and Art Deco creations alongside the iconic design language of the post-war era. Highlights include Queen Lovisa’s spectacular gold serpent bracelet and historical jewels with royal provenance, alongside exceptional creations from renowned jewellers such as Graff and Van Cleef & Arpels. The sale also features an exquisite emerald parure and a remarkable solitaire ring by S:t Erik’s silversmith in 18K white gold, set with an early brilliant-cut diamond weighing an impressive 6.55 carats.

“Jewellery embodies not only craftsmanship and precious materials, but also stories of style, identity, and the spirit of its time. This auction demonstrates how centuries of jewellery history converge — from royal splendour to modern design icons,” says Charlotte Elmér, Head of the Decorative Arts Department at Stockholms Auktionsverk.

Following the tremendous success of the Vega Collection auction earlier this year, Stockholms Auktionsverk’s book department now presents The Rare Books, Maps & Manuscripts Sale, featuring some of the year’s most sought-after historical documents. Among the more than 300 lots are eleven autograph letters by Carl Linnaeus, manuscripts by August Strindberg, and Albert Einstein’s correspondence concerning unified field theory. The auction also includes the original manuscript of Frans G. Bengtsson’s classic novel The Long Ships, Gustav Vasa’s Bible from 1540–41, and rare maps, atlases, and magnificent natural history volumes.

“These are materials that provide us with a direct connection to history. To read Linnaeus´ own words, follow Strindberg’s thoughts in manuscript form, or engage with Einstein’s reasoning is to come unusually close to the people behind these great names. They are testimonies from a time when handwritten correspondence was the leading social medium,” says Katharina Fahlstedt, Chief Curator of Books, Maps and Manuscripts at Stockholms Auktionsverk.

The Asian Fine Art Sale spans more than a thousand years of Asian art and decorative craftsmanship. The auction comprises over 230 lots from China, Japan, India, and Korea, with highlights including an imposing Ming Dynasty Dipankara Buddha from the private collection of Nils Nessim and a pea-green incense burner bearing the Jiaqing mark.

The public viewing for all auctions opens on 29 May at Stockholms Auktionsverk and continues until 8 June.

Explore the auction catalogues in the links below:

The Rare Books, Maps & Manuscripts Sale: 8 June

The Curated Classics Sale: 9–10 June

The Fine Jewellery Sale: 10 June

The Asian Fine Art Sale: 11 June