Wright’s Scandinavian Design auction totals $1.6 million

May 16 '13

Wright’s Scandinavian Design auction is still the only sale in North America dedicated exclusively to works from Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Comprised of 229 lots, Scandinavian Design achieved over $1.6 million, selling 79% by lot and 86% by value.

The sale opened with a set of six wastebaskets by P.S. Heggen (Lot 100), estimated at $3,000-5,000. They sold for $37,500, an astonishing result over seven times the high estimate. Another well-sold lot was a pair of occasional tables by the Swedish designer, Erik Mattson (Lot 223). Despite a modest estimate of $2,000-3,000, the tables sold for $30,000.

Other notable lots in Scandinavian Design include:

· Lot 146 – Nanna Ditzel, chair. Estimate: $5,000-7,000. Result: $25,000.

· Lot 181 – Hans Wegner, pair of Chinese chairs. Estimate: $9,000-12,000. Result: $23,750.

· Lot 228 – Arne Vodder, pair of nightstands. Estimate: $5,000-7,000. Result: $37,500.

· Lot 269 – Børge Mogensen, pair of cabinets. Estimate: $3,000-5,000. Result: $18,750.

· Lot 274 – Niels O. Møller, set of eight dining chairs. Estimate: $5,000-7,000. Result: $16,250.

Swedish carpets performed outstandingly well, a testament to their enduring popularity. The top four lots in the Scandinavian Design auction were carpets:

· Lot 117 – Marianne Richter, carpet. Estimate: $30,000-40,000. Result: $69,700.

· Lot 270 – Marianne Richter, Fasad carpet. Estimate: $12,000-15,000. Result: $64,900.

· Lot 111 – Barbro Nilsson, Falkman carpet. Estimate: $10,000-15,000. Result: $52,500.

· Lot 157 – Barbro Nilsson, Red Carnations carpet. Estimate: $10,000-15,000. Result: $50,000.