Wilhelm Kåge – A Swedish Private Collection

Bukowskis presents the second part of a major collection of ceramics, art, and graphic works by Wilhelm Kåge. This collection has been carefully assembled over more than 20 years, with its most significant pieces acquired through various auctions.
The collector has placed great importance on the provenance of the objects, and many of the acquisitions come directly from Wilhelm Kåge’s own private collection.

The first part of this collection, featuring primarily Farsta ceramics, was presented at the live auction Modern Art & Design on 20 May 2026. This second part highlights Kåge’s versatility as a designer within the field of ceramics while also showcasing his work as a painter and commercial illustrator. The collection includes unique pieces from Kåge’s early production associated with the Home Exhibition at Liljevalchs in 1917, as well as examples of the popular Argenta ware, rare table services, and much more.

Wilhelm Kåge served as Artistic Director of the Gustavsberg Porcelain Factory from 1917 to 1949 and founded Gustavsberg Studio in 1942. As a leading figure in the birth of Sweden’s art industry and its rise to international recognition, Kåge was a true pioneer. During this important era in Swedish art history, he became the foremost name in the field of ceramics.

Wilhelm Kåge received significant international acclaim during his lifetime. When The New York Times reviewed a Kåge exhibition in New York in 1958, the newspaper described him as one of the three most important contemporary ceramic artists in the world. His long-standing friendship and artistic dialogue with the Japanese master Shōji Hamada are highlighted in the exhibition “Wilhelm Kåge & Shōji Hamada – Ceramics Across Borders” at the Nationalmuseum, on view from 23 April 2026 to 28 February 2027.