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Modern Art + Design presents: Rolf Walter Collection

Rolf Walter – Functionality and beauty in focus


Born in Sachsen in 1938, Rolf Walter grew up in the former East Germany. The East German state did not allow him to study, so he fled to West Berlin in 1956. There, he studied mathematics and physics at Freie Universität, his greatest interest, however, was art and design, and it was in this interest that his collecting began.


At an exhibition at the Akademi der Künste in West Berlin, Rolf Walter saw a painting by the East German artist and poet Gerhard Altenbourg. He was so moved by the work that he decided to seek out Altenbourg to learn more about his art. The meeting led to a lifelong friendship and a large collection of the artist's work, which has been housed at the Kupferstichkabinett in Berlin since 2015.

During the same period, Rolf Walter became interested in the Bauhaus movement. Berlin was an excellent city to live in with this interest. The museums were full of art, and several contemporary architects had been given the opportunity to realize their ideas. His collecting was still motivated by his curiosity about the designer behind the objects. Rolf Walter had the opportunity to get to know Marianne Brandt, Kurt Schmidt, Margaretha Reichardt, and Wilhelm Wagenfeld, all of whom had studied at Bauhaus, the well-known German School of Arts and Crafts, Design, and Architecture. Rolf Walter was also interested in the work by Bauhaus students Marcel Breuer, Anton Lorenz, and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.



In 1979, Rolf Walter moved to Sweden. On one occasion, at the Moderna Museet, he saw a photo of a jug by Sylvia Stave. Once again, his curiosity about the designer behind the object was aroused. With the help of the Swedish Embassy in Paris and the consulate in Toulouse, he managed to track her down in Nice. After that meeting, Rolf Walter began to build a collection of Sylvia Stave's objects, which are now housed at Nationalmuseum in Stockholm. Rolf Walter was also interested in other architects and designers such as Gunnar Asplund, Folke Arström, Sven Markelius, and Wilhelm Kåge.


Rolf Walter's great interest and collecting have had a significant impact on some of the key figures in the Bauhaus movement. His collection has contributed to the remembrance of important artists and designers, where the common thread has always been the history, functionality, and beauty of the objects.




Rolf Walter Collection will be sold at Modern Art & Design

Viewing: May 11 – 15, Berzelii Park 1, Stockholm
Open: Weekdays 11 am – 6 pm, Weekends 11 am – 4 pm
Live Auktion: May 16 – 17, Arsenalsgatan 2, Stockholm

Discover the full catalogue



Objects from Rolf Walter Collection


214. Marcel Breuer, a table, model "B27", Thonet, 1930s.
214. Marcel Breuer, a table, model "B27", Thonet, 1930s.
Hammer price 
5 000 SEK
Estimate
4 000 - 6 000 SEK
216. Marcel Breuer, a table, model "B10",  Thonet ca 1927-1930.
216. Marcel Breuer, a table, model "B10", Thonet ca 1927-1930.
Hammer price 
12 000 SEK
Estimate
15 000 - 20 000 SEK
220. Marcel Breuer, a table, model "B12", Thonet, ca 1930.
220. Marcel Breuer, a table, model "B12", Thonet, ca 1930.
Hammer price 
19 000 SEK
Estimate
8 000 - 10 000 SEK
222. Marcel Breuer, a table, model "B27", Thonet, 1930s.
222. Marcel Breuer, a table, model "B27", Thonet, 1930s.
Hammer price 
5 000 SEK
Estimate
6 000 - 8 000 SEK


Requests & condition reports Contact specialist


Eva Seeman
Stockholm
Eva Seeman
Chief Specialist Modern and Contemporary Decorative art and design
+46 (0)708 92 19 69
Camilla Behrer
Stockholm
Camilla Behrer
Head of Design/ Specialist Modern & Contemporary Decorative Art & Design
+46 (0)708 92 19 77
Jonatan  Jahn
Stockholm
Jonatan Jahn
Head Specialist Contemporary and Modern Design
+46 (0)703 92 88 60