Rare Josef Frank cabinet takes centre stage at The Design Sale

The spring edition reinforced The Design Sale’s position as Sweden’s largest dedicated design auction, achieving several Swedish and world records. Among the highlights, a table by Diego Giacometti sold for SEK 6.3 million, making it the highest-priced piece of 20th-century furniture ever sold at auction in Sweden.

As the autumn edition is now unveiled, a rare cabinet by Josef Frank takes centre stage.

The Plan de Paris cabinet was made in walnut by Firma Svenskt Tenn in the early 1950s. Its doors feature a facsimile of the rare 1550 map of Paris by Truschet and Hoyau, depicting the winding streets and landmarks of the Renaissance city. The use of printed imagery on cabinet doors was an innovative concept developed by Josef Frank and his creative partner Estrid Ericson, and this example belongs to a particularly exclusive group of designs.

“This is a masterful piece of craftsmanship in which every element works in harmony: Frank’s refined design, his creative boldness and a map of Paris that transforms the cabinet into a magical time machine. Cabinets featuring map motifs are exceptionally rare, which naturally makes this piece particularly significant. It also reflects the calibre of this autumn’s The Design Sale, where we have brought together both outstanding highlights and remarkable breadth, spanning the most exciting periods and designers in Swedish and international design,” says Ulrika Ruding, Head of the Design Department at Stockholms Auktionsverk.

Other highlights include sought-after furniture by Axel Einar Hjorth and Otto Schulz, Frits Henningsen’s elegant wingback armchair, Finn Juhl’s iconic Høvdingestolen and the exuberant, colourful designs of the Italian Memphis Group.

The decorative arts section features ceramics by Jennifer Lee, Hans Hedberg and Wilhelm Kåge, a magnificent earthenware dish by William De Morgan, and eleven glass sculptures from the private collection of Edvin Öhrström. The textile section showcases outstanding design through carpets by Märta Måås-Fjetterström, Barbro Nilsson and Fernand Léger. Highlights also include fine Nordic silver by Georg Jensen, Wiwen Nilsson and Olle Ohlsson, lighting that exemplifies the elegant Swedish Grace and Swedish Modern styles, and an extensive jewellery section featuring creations by Björn Weckström and Vivianna Torun Bülow-Hübe.

The preview exhibition for The Design Sale opens at Nybrogatan 32 in Stockholm on 16 October and runs until the auction dates of 27–28 October.

Explore the catalogue here.