Record price for Carlsund – “Brown Operator” sells for SEK 9.3 million.

Bukowskis’ newly renovated Berzelii Park 1 premises enjoyed a sensational reopening with the first day of the new December Auction + Asian Auction, featuring objects spanning all time periods and genres. The very finest lots from all departments led to several fierce bidding wars, resulting in a new record for Otto G Carlsund with his work “Brown Operator” and 13 other lots selling in excess of SEK 1 million.

The second day saw another lot fetching more than SEK 1 million with Asian works of art exceeding expectations in all categories, particularly furniture. Bukowskis’ Asian department has now recorded a higher turnover than any other Swedish auction house this year. In the auction’s final category, jewellery, Gunnila Bernadotte’s much talked-about tiara sparkled particularly brightly as it climbed from an estimate of SEK 60-80,000 to achieve a final price of SEK 343,000.

Andreas Rydén Deputy Managing Director and Art Head Specialist:
-The clearest trend is that the market is seeking the highest quality. Opening the newly renovated Berzelii Park 1 with 14 lots selling in excess of SEK 1 million is fantastic!

Cecilia Nordström Asian Ceramics & Works of Art Specialist:
- The auction showed a positive trend. It’s obvious that there’s a real interest in Asian pieces again. The recall rate was extremely low, and we were able to predict high levels of interest right from the viewing, which drew many visitors from far and wide. The significant interest in Chinese furniture was particularly pleasing. For example, a desk sold for SEK 784,000.

Louise Arén CEO:
-This strong end to the auction season further reinforces Bukowskis’ market-leading position.

Lots sold for more than SEK 1 million:
• No. 161 Öyvind Fahlström “Column No. 1”. Estimate: SEK 600,000-800,000. Final price: SEK 2,642,000.
• No. 166 Otto G Carlsund “Brown Operator” (L’Opérateur brun). Estimate: SEK 4,000,000-5,000,000. Final price: SEK 9,283,976. New record!
• No. 179 Johan David Swartz “King Karl XII of Sweden”. Estimate: SEK 1,400,000-1,600,000. Final price: SEK 1,837,000. New record!
• No. 183 Anders Zorn “Caïque Oarsman”. Estimate: SEK 7,000,000-9,000,000. Final price: SEK 8,575,000.
• No. 206 Carl Fredrik Hill "Havsbris - Luc-sur-mer". Estimate: SEK 4,000,000-5,000,000. Final price: 4,287,500 SEK.
• No. 208 Otto G Carlsund “Cinema Suite”. Estimate: SEK 1,200,000-1,500,000. Final price: SEK 4,062,329.
• No. 225 Carl Larsson “Girl with Ice Skates”. Estimate: SEK 1,300,000-1,600,000. Final price: SEK 2,388,750.
• No. 231 Carl Larsson ”By the night lamp/Just before bed time”. Estimate: SEK 2,000,000-2,500,000. Final price: SEK 1,960,000.
• No. 234 George Stubbs “Eagle, a Bay Racehorse”. Estimate: SEK 1,000,000-1,500,000. Final price: SEK 1,837,500.
• No. 249 Mårten Andersson, “The Coffee Drinkers”. Estimate: SEK 600,000-800,000. Final price: SEK 1,063,916.
• No. 259 Helene Schjerfbeck, “The Confirmation Candidate”. Estimate: SEK 5,000,000-7,000,000. Final price: SEK 6,031,082.
• No. 263 Karl Hofer, “Dinner Party”. Estimate: SEK 600,000-800,000. Final price: SEK 1,641,216.
• No. 264 Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd, “Non-violence”. Estimate: SEK 600,000-700,000. Final price: SEK 1,139,216. New record!
• No. 547 Vase, porcelain. Qing dynasty with Xianfeng’s six character mark and period. Estimate: SEK 50,000-75,000. Final price: SEK 1,347,500.