Pictured above: Edvin Lydén, "Vision", sold for 31 747€

Bukowskis Design + Art Helsinki -auction in November showed, once again, the worldwide popularity of Finnish design and art! The auction's more than 600 pieces of Finnish and international design and art were sold for over one million euros.

Both Finnish and international modern art was popular: Pablo Picasso's linocut "Femme au Chapeau" from 1962 was sold for 41 986€ and Edvin Lydén's "Vision" for 31 747€. Lars-Gunnar "Nubben" Nordström's striking "Composition" doubled the asking price and sold for 23 307€. Georges von Swetlik, a previously relatively unknown artist in the world of art auctions, reached respectable final prices, for example with his "Red study, virgin theme" selling for 11 140€.

Finnish ceramics were in vogue - the auction included a considerable collection of ceramic plates by Birger Kaipiainen and the bidding was intensive for these playful pieces. Rut Bryk was no less popular with her equally playful and intensely delicate ceramic reliefs and her gorgeous "Venetian Palace" from 1955 was sold for 14 468€.

Glass in all varieties was also in high demand, for example Tapio Wirkkala’s glass sculpture was sold for 12 254€ and Timo Sarpaneva’s “The Devil’s Fist” reached, after intensive bidding, a final price of 9 192€. Several “Savoy” vases by Alvar Aalto were offered, in various colours and sizes, and they were all sold for final prices between 2 454€ and 14 459€.

Different kinds of furniture, especially armchairs, were highly sought after. Ilmari Tapiovaara’s chairs for Hotel Marski in Helsinki were sold for a combined price of 22 547€ (11 886€ + 10 661€). Tapiovaara’s lamps were also popular - his “Maija Mehiläinen” model that was represented in a ceiling lamp, a table lamp and two floor lamps, were sold for between 2 026€ and 4 169€. Danish design was also popular among the armchairs and Hans J Wegner’s stylish and comfortable chairs from the 1950s found a new home for 5 149€. Adults were not the only ones who found stylish seating in the auction – Alvar Aalto’s little red children’s chair from the early 1930s is delighting its new owner for 2 699€. The popularity of items from the 1930s can also be seen in the final price for Greta Skogster-Lehtinen’s beautiful rug which was sold for 5 149€

Paavo Tynell’s lamps, of which the auction included over 60 different ones, attracted buyers both in Finland and abroad, and no wonder – Tynell’s skillfull way of using shape and material to manipulate the light has made his lamps popular worldwide. Read more about Tynell and his lamps here. Lisa Johansson-Pape’s and the previously mentioned Ilmari Tapiovaara’s lamps were also popular. Alvar Aalto’s iconic Mehiläispesä (Beehive) –ceiling lamp was represented in a rare maroon colour, sold for 7 967€.

SEE ALL FINAL PRICES HERE

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