Poul Kjaerholm PK 80 daybed, 1957. Estimate: $10,000-$15,000. Wright image.
CHICAGO – Wright continues to be the only auction in the USA that produces an auction dedicated solely to Scandinavian design. Their 2012 sale will be Thursday, Nov 15, beginning at noon CST. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.
Designs issuing from Scandinavia in the 20th century shifted the paradigm of modernism toward a fundamentally human ethos, which has been, and remains, an abiding benchmark for function, quality and beauty.
Since 1920, designers from Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway have produced forms in natural, tactile materials, which rebuff the machine-age industrialism of Bauhaus. A convergence of social transformations, international influences and ancient artistic traditions manifested into new forms which veered away from the classicized, status-driven designs of the past to become a bedrock of modernity.
Crafted of warm woods with a distinct clarity of function and form, Scandinavian design is the most aesthetically consistent and philosophically inclusive design movement of the last century. Its appeal derives primarily from form and material, yet also from the inherent grace, comfort and style of spiritually uninhibited yet formally disciplined design.
Nowhere is the Nordic sensibility more evident than in the sweeping back and embracing arms of a rare Finn Juhl sofa (estimate: $20,000-$30,000), upholstered in wool and leather. Its unconventional shape is recognizably Juhl, generous in both spirit and form.
Also of particular importance in the sale is a selection of Swedish carpets by Carl Dagel, Barbro Nilsson and Märta Måås-Fjetterström among others. Scandinavians excel in carpet-making by necessity, since carpets warm homes during the long, frigid Nordic winters. Scandinavian carpets are also representative of designers’ respect for native craft traditions, such as handweaving, turning the craft into one of the finest workmanship and quality. Particularly striking among the group is a handwoven Salerno Blue tapestry carpet by Swedish designer Barbro Nilsson (estimate: $30,000-$40,000). Shades of blues meld into white, brown and taupe to create fluid geometries, which exist within one another, creating shifting spatial forms that are deceptively simple upon first inspection. Another fine carpet by Märta Måås-Fjetterström features abstract dahlias, in muted Gustavian tones of mauve, soft greens and cream.
The variety of price points offered in the Scandinavian design auction reflects the egalitarianism inherent in Scandinavian culture, and makes the sale one of Wright’s most accessible. Scandinavian design is among the most steadfast of genres. Even in a slower market, Nordic pieces retain their value. Wright’s consistent and fair estimations make the Scandinavian design auction competitive among auction houses representing similar works.
For details contact Wright at 312-235-4183.
ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE
Poul Kjaerholm PK 80 daybed, 1957. Estimate: $10,000-$15,000. Wright image. Axel Salto budding vase, circa 1950. Estimate: $5,000-$7,000. Wright image. Paavo Tynell chandelier, circa 1950. Estimate: $30,000-$50,000. Wright image. Hans Wegner set of eight cow horn chairs, 1952. Estimate: $20,000-$30,000. Wright image.
