On Wednesday, Uppsala Auktionskammare presented the first part of its international Quality Auction of Modern and Contemporary Art and Design. Headlining the auction were Wilhelm Kåge's 'Farstagods', Märta Måås-Fjetterström's colourful carpets and Carl Hörvik's furniture from the Stockholm exhibition in 1930. But the big star of the show was Axel Einar Hjorth and his extremely rare recliner Skoga. Only four known copies of the model have been offered on the market, the chair in the auction was one of them. With an original estimate of SEK 150,000-200,000, the asking price tripled before the hammer fell on SEK 520,000 (approximately $49,603) – a new world record for a chair by Axel Einar Hjorth, and also one of the most expensive chairs of all times sold at auction in Sweden.
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"There has been a lot of focus on inflation, uncertain stock market development and rising interest rates, but the auction's fantastic results show that there is still an enormous purchasing power for art and design," commented Pontus Silfverstolpe, one of Barnebys' founders. "The continued international interest in Swedish design from the 20th century is also noticeable. Without a global market and the opportunity for the Swedish auction houses to find buyers around the world, the results would have been completely different for pieces such as Axel Einar Hjorth's pine furniture."
Related: Axel Einar Hjorth: Modernism's Common Man
The sports cabin furniture, which has become some of the most popular Hjorth furniture at auction in recent years, comes from Sweden's interwar period, marked by functionalism and the rise of political ideals in the 1920s and 30s that would form the basis of people's homes. With the debate on statutory holiday rights, Nordiska Kompaniet predicted an increased demand for furniture for holiday homes and Axel Einar Hjorth presented the Sandhamn series in 1929. Demand increased, which led to Hjorth designing several series in stained pine in the following years, for example the Utö, Lovö and Skoga models.
Related: Swedish Design Classics
The rare Skoga model is also marketed as garden furniture because it is foldable and thus suitable for easy storage during the winter season.
"The auction specimen was found like so many others of Axel Einar Hjorth's pine furniture out in the Archipelago. It was this summer that a person saw one of the chairs in a home and recommended the owner to contact Uppsala Auktionskammare. I have a strong feeling that she does not regret her decision," continued Pontus Silfverstolpe.
The second day of the auction offered art by both Swedish and international Modernists. Ten lots were sold for over one million kroner (including buyer's commission), of which Serge Poliakoff's Composition Abstraite achieved the highest price: SEK 11,625,000 (approximately $1,110,245).
