This season's final Live Auction presented consistently high quality. The great international interest in furniture and Works of Art resulted in fantastic final prices for objects by masters such as Haupt and Roentgen – a brilliant conclusion to an exciting auction season.
Björn Extergren, Head of Consignment and Sales Department, Fine Art. Specialist Antique Furniture, Decorative Arts and Asian Ceramics
Among the more spectacular objects in the silver department, we can mention a rococo coffee pot by Petter Eneroth, a Swedish 16th century parcel-gilt silver spoon, and an early 19th century gold and enamel box.
With Royal Provenance
Bukowskis, as a royal purveyor, presented a dedicated section for items with royal provenance in connection with the double jubilee. One of the highlights from the auction's first day was a salt cellar with a matching egg stand in gold, with the provenance of King Karl XIII. After intense bidding, the objects were sold for a final price of 725,000 SEK. Other lots from the royal section that went under the hammer included a presentation box with provenance from King Gustav III, an armchair attributed to Nils Christian Salton, with provenance from King Oscar I, and an imperial cigarette case by Fabergé, a gift from Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna to King Gustav V. The department also featured a portrait by Per Krafft depicting Gustaf III.
Highlights from the extensive carpet section included a large antique Agra, with provenance from Engestofte Castle in Denmark, an antique Keshan "Motachem," and "Falurutan Blue" by Barbro Nilsson. Among the category of other textiles, we can mention a woven tapestry from the 17th century.
The jewellery department presented jewelleries of various types and expressions from different historical periods, including a ring adorned with a 6.25-carat emerald-cut diamond - another lot exceeding one million SEK (final price 1,937,500 SEK). Several pieces from WA Bolin were featured, including a ring with faceted sapphire and diamonds. From Fabergé, we saw a stunning stylized hexagonal snowflake in platinum-silver and gold, embellished with rose-cut diamonds, designed by Alma Pihl.
Finally, the Asian department also succeeded, closing the last auction day with two lots exceeding one million SEK. The first was an 18th-century Zitan altar table (final price: 1,025,000 SEK), and the second was a bronze Tara sculpture (final price: 1,312,000 SEK), which was also the highest-priced Asian item of the season on the Nordic market. Other noteworthy items included four imperial porcelain dishes decorated with a red five-clawed dragon bearing the mark of Emperor Daoguang.
– Bukowskis maintains its strong position as the market leader in the segment of Asian Works of Art. We thank our customers for their trust this season and look forward to an exciting intake for the autumn, says Cecilia Nordström, Head Specialist Asian Ceramics and Works of Art, European Ceramics and Glass.
As part of the Bonhams network, Bukowskis reach a global market with millions of customers through a combination of our digital platforms and auction houses in Stockholm, Copenhagen, London, Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Sydney.
Consignments are underway for upcoming auctions.
Masters & Royal Provenances: A Strong start for the Season’s Final Live Auction
Bukowskis’ Important Spring Sale began with furniture & Works of Art, Silver & Objects of Vertue, Glass & Porcelain, Carpets and Jewellery going under the hammer. Unique to this season was a section dedicated to objects with royal provenance.
The auction's first lot exceeding one million SEK was a Gustavian secretary by Georg Haupt, with inlays in the form of laurel wreaths, crossed sprigs, ribbon bows, and pendants, which sold for a final price of 2,250,000 SEK. Additionally, an imperial table by David Roentgen (Louis XVI, circa 1785-1790), with an estimate of 250,000 - 300,000 SEK, quickly gained momentum during the bidding and sold for a final price of 1,875,000 SEK. Other highlights from the furniture section included a pair of bureaus by the master craftsman Nils Petter Stenström, a bureau attributed to Fredrik August Eckstein, and an dining table from England in solid mahogany (George III, late 18th century), all reaching a final price far above estimate.
Among the Works of Art, we can mention a pair of marble-veneered mirrors from Northern Italy, a Gustavian chandelier from the later part of the 18th century, a pair of Empire candelabras, and several gilded table candelabras.