Unique Danish design icons at auction in Copenhagen
Thursday 13 June '13 from 3 pm
Flemming Lassen’s upholstered easy chair, “Den trætte mand” (the tired man), is one of the main attractions at Bruun Rasmussen's summer international design auction, which also offers an impressive range of Axel Salto’s sublime stoneware and a number of Børge Mogensen’s original pieces of furniture from his own home in Gentofte.
“Den trætte mand” (the tired man) by Flemming Lassen
The upholstered easy chair in lambskin was designed in 1935- 36 by the Danish architect Flemming Lassen (1902-1984), who is famous both for his functionalist buildings and his simple furniture design. For the Cabinetmakers’ Guild Competition in 1935, he designed an upholstered easy chair in soft shapes, named “Hussaren” (the hussar). This was the inspiration for “Den trætte mand”, which was presented at the Cabinetmakers’ Guild Exhibition the following year. The aim was to sit “as warmly and securely as a polar bear cub in the arms of its mother in the midst of the ice cap”.
Flemming Lassen: "The Tired Man". Easy chair upholstered with sheepskin, partly fitted with buttons. Designed 1935- 1936. Made late 1930s by cabinetmaker A. J.
Iversen. Estimate: DKK 300,000-500,000 / € 40,000-67,000.
“Jagtstolen” (hunting chair) by Børge Mogensen
It is rare, indeed, to get as close to furniture designer Børge Mogensen (1914-1972), as is now the case, with a number of pieces from the furniture designer’s own home on Soløsevej in Gentofte. The crowning glory is “Jagtstolen” – a prototype which stood in his beautiful sun room. Home was, for him, a laboratory, where he could try out new ideas for furniture in practice. In addition to the chair up for auction, which was presented at the Cabinetmakers’ Guild Exhibition in 1950, the auction features several prototypes of Børge Mogensen’s most famous furniture.
Børge Mogensen: "Hunting Chair". A very rare, early solid oak easy chair. Seat and back with patinated natural leather. Prototype. Designed 1950. Made by cabinetmaker Erhard Rasmussen. Estimate: DKK 150,000 / € 20,000.
Sublime stoneware by Axel Salto
The major international demand and the sky-high hammer prices fetched at the recent auction are responsible in part for the extremely attractive range of Axel Salto’s (1889-1961) sublime stoneware at this summer’s auction. This time, we are offering 33 works estimated from DKK 15,000–800,000, which provide a unique insight into the diverse universe of the artist. The auction’s highlights include a monumental vase in sprouting style with sung glaze estimated at DKK 600,000- 800,000, and a large vase in sprouting style with oxblood glaze, estimated at DKK 500,000-750,000.
stoneware by Axel Salto
more highlights:
Finn Juhl: Freestanding two seater sofa and matching easy chair mounted on teak legs. Estimate: DKK 150,000-200,000 / € 20,000-27,000.
Frits Henningsen: Freestanding two seater highback sofa, mounted on oak legs. L. 152 cm. Estimate: DKK 125,000- 175,000 / € 17,000-23,500.
Hans J. Wegner: Freestanding desk of solid teak, mounted on slightly oblique oak legs. Front with two drawers. Stretchers, drawer mounting and handles of brass. Estimate: DKK 100,000-150,000 / € 13,500-20,000.
