Record auction – the largest Contemporary Art & Design auction in 10 seasons
The largest hammer auction for contemporary art and design in the Nordic region resulted in sales of 27 million SEK. The hammer auction offered several lots exceeding one million SEK.
Swedish artist Lena Cronqvist's six bronze sculptures accounted for the auction's highest final price, landing at a total of 3,758,290 SEK.
Sculptures in different materials and stature are increasing in demand. Lena Cronqvist's bronze girls with personal expressions can be found in many public collections.
“It is extremely exciting that the whole sculpture collection is kept together, still owned by one single buyer. Lena Cronqvist is one of the most celebrated artists of our time. The collection became the auction's highest listing of 3,758,290 SEK” says Karin Aringer, Specialist in Contemporary Art and Photography.
The prints department had several lots with many bids and ended with a high final price. Andy Warhol's "Moonwalk" stood for the auction's most intense bidding, and reached a final price of 2 021 250 SEK, high above the estimate.
The highest price listing within the international art selection stood for John Chamberlain's sculpture "Le First", which achieved the final price of 2,108,658 SEK. As an artist, Chamberlain seriously developed abstract expressionism from the two-dimensional painting to the physical object. Also, Danish artist Per Kirkeby's painting "Ghosts" was sold to an international buyer with the final price of 1,039,758 SEK and Banksy’s graphic work "Christ with shopping bags" accounted for intensive bidding and ended at 612,000 SEK.
The interest in the Swedish artist Ola Billgren continues to be great and several works were sold over highly estimates. The print department also saw a high international standard with plenty of works by David Hockney, Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat.
”We are thrilled that print department in this auction reached high prices that stand out internationally, which shows Bukowskis is an international marketplace for art," says Cecilia Berggren, Prints, Classic Art, 19th/20th Century Specialist.
Bukowskis also sees a great demand for strong Swedish design. Bukowksis reached a new record price for Jonas Bohlin's iconic concrete chair in this auction. The chair, which was part of Bohlin's installation and degree work at Konstfack in 1981, stood for the highest final prize in the design department and landed a total of 235,875 SEK. Furthermore, the interest in objects by designer Mats Theselius continues to be great. His armchair "El Dorado” reached 95,625 SEK and the extraordinary motorcycle "MC hommagé à Royal Enfield”, which is only available in an edition of nine copies, finalized at 114,750 SEK.
The trend for Swedish-designed glass art continues and remains strong, with Åsa Jungnelius' glass sculpture "Snippan" outshining with a final price of 33,150 SEK.
“Personal interior design is a strong trend. Our customers have very good taste and we see a great demand for unique items that stand out, such as the rare dining table "Eros" by Angelo Mangiarotti in Carrara marble. Even more exciting is the fact that Jonas Bohlin's concrete chair reached a new record price and that contemporary Swedish designers such as Åsa Jungnelius and Hanna Hansdotter are so attractive at auctions,” says Jonatan Jahn, Specialist Design and 20th-21st Century Works of Art.
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Consignment and valuation
Consignments are now under way for our upcoming auctions. Welcome to contact us today.
