Nov 5, 2024
Exclusive Silverwork at Modern Art & Design
The Silver Department Celebrates Nordic Silversmithing at this Autumn's Modern Art & Design Auction. Featuring exquisite pieces by some of the 20th century’s leading silversmiths such as Georg Jensen, Sigvard Bernadotte, Henning Koppel, Wiwen Nilsson, Inga Lagervall Ringbom, and Rolf Lindståhl—all of whom contributed to reshaping the art of silversmithing with groundbreaking design.
Henning Koppel – Master of Design
Henning Koppel (1918–1981) was a pioneer in Danish design. After studying drawing and sculpture at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, he began his design journey in exile in Sweden during World War II, creating silver pieces for Orrefors and Svenskt Tenn. Upon his return to Copenhagen in 1945, he started a collaboration with Georg Jensen, marking the beginning of his unique design style known as the "New Look."
Koppel broke away from the strict geometry of Art Deco, instead creating asymmetrical, organic forms that imbued his pieces with a sense of movement and life. His innovative work with items such as bowls, vases, and jewellery earned him several gold medals at the Milan Triennale. Koppel’s elegant, nature-inspired aesthetic remains a source of inspiration in the design world to this day. One of the department’s highlights, created by Henning Koppel for Georg Jensen, is the wave-shaped bowl with an openwork base supported by three feet.
More about the bowl
Rolf Lindståhl – Master of Geometry in Swedish Silversmithing
Rolf Lindståhl, born in Linköping, is a distinguished Swedish silversmith with a long and impressive career. After studying at the Swedish Jewelers and Silversmiths' School in Mjölby and later at Konstfack, he opened his own studio in Stockholm in 1974.
Lindståhl works within traditional silversmithing but is known for his creative exploration of geometric forms, particularly in larger works such as chalices, pitchers, vases, and bowls. His unique style has been showcased in several solo exhibitions in Sweden and abroad, including at Contemporary Swedish Silver, where he has been a long-time member. Lindståhl's work is represented in both the Nationalmuseum and Malmö Museum, a testament to his significant contribution to Swedish craftsmanship.
All works by Rolf Lindståhl at Modern Art & Design
475
Rolf Lindståhl
A sterling silver bottle with a rock crystal on the lid, Stockholm 1988.
Hammer price
4 000 SEK
Estimate
5 000 - 7 000 SEK
476
Rolf Lindståhl
A sterling silver bottle with lid, Stockholm 1988.
Hammer price
8 000 SEK
Estimate
10 000 - 12 000 SEK
477
Rolf Lindståhl
A sterling silver coffee pot, Stockholm 2005.
Hammer price
18 000 SEK
Estimate
15 000 - 18 000 SEK
478
Rolf Lindståhl
A sterling silver jug with with blue acrylic handle, Stockholm 2010.
Hammer price
8 000 SEK
Estimate
10 000 - 12 000 SEK
479
Rolf Lindståhl
A sterling silver vase, Stockholm 2011.
Hammer price
7 000 SEK
Estimate
7 000 - 9 000 SEK
Wiwen Nilsson – A Leading Figure of Swedish Modernism in Silver
Wiwen Nilsson (1897–1974) was a pioneering Swedish designer, born in Copenhagen. After learning the craft in his father's workshop and training in Germany, Denmark, and France, he became known for his geometric and minimalist silver designs. His breakthrough came at the Stockholm Exhibition in 1930, where his modernist style was celebrated for its restrained elegance.
Nilsson created everything from jewellery to table silver and tea services, with his works regarded as icons of Swedish functionalism and modernism. This year marks the 50th anniversary of his passing, yet his timeless designs continue to inspire today.
All works by Wiwen Nilsson at Modern Art & Design
456
Wiwen Nilsson
A sterling silver vase, Lund 1943.
Hammer price
28 000 SEK
Estimate
10 000 - 12 000 SEK
457
Wiwen Nilsson
A rectangular sterling lidded box, Lund Sweden 1962, reportedly a gift from Wiwen to GAN (Gösta Adrian-Nilsson).
Hammer price
26 000 SEK
Estimate
10 000 - 12 000 SEK
458
Wiwen Nilsson
A box with lid, sterling silver, Lund 1962.
Hammer price
16 000 SEK
Estimate
12 000 - 15 000 SEK
459
Wiwen Nilsson
Six pairs of sterling silver and gilt silver salt and pepper shakers, Lund 1951.
Hammer price
20 000 SEK
Estimate
10 000 - 12 000 SEK
460
Wiwen Nilsson
A set of three sterling silver candlesticks, Lund 1973-1974.
Hammer price
165 000 SEK
Estimate
40 000 - 50 000 SEK
Will be sold at Modern Art & Design
Viewing November 14–18, Berzelii Park 1, Stockholm
Open weekdays 11 am – 6 pm, weekends 11 am – 4 pm
Live auction November 19–20, Arsenalsgatan 2, Stockholm
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