Nov 20, 2025
World Records and Million-level sales at Modern Art & Design
This week, Modern Art & Design — the leading live auction for modern art and design in the Nordics — went under the hammer at Bukowskis.
The auction once again demonstrated a strong market for both art and design. Among the highlights were high final prices within design, several multi-million hammer results, and a spectacular new world record for Isaac Grünewald’s masterpiece “Cirkus”
Grünewald’s groundbreaking masterpiece “Circus”, was part of a suite of three paintings from 1917–18, which originally held a place of honor in the dining room of the Grünewalds’ villa in Saltsjöbaden. The painting opened at 8 million SEK and, in a packed sale room, achieved an impressive final price of 17,25 million SEK – a new world record that reinforces Grünewald’s position as one of Swedish modernism’s foremost artists.
The Art Department
Additional highlights by Grünewald included "Den Flygande Holländaren" (Soluppgång), "Par under Edens Äppelträd" from Paradissviten, both of which sold for several million sums. Million-level results were also achieved for works by Tyra Kleen, Lynn Chadwick, Carl Kylberg, Karel Appel, and Adamson-Eric, the latter’s painting ”Orientalisches Motiv” fetching several times its estimate and setting a new record with a final price of 4,9 million SEK.
The Design Department
Highlights from the furniture department included two iconic café chairs designed by architect Carl Bergsten for the Art and Industrial Exhibition in Norrköping in 1906, an Art Nouveau sculpted and carved pine chair by Knut Fjaestad from 1915, and a selection of pine furniture by Axel Einar Hjorth. One of the department’s standout pieceswas a high-quality Jugend corner cabinet from the early 1900s which, despite a modest estimate, sold for a final price of 450 000 SEK.
In the ceramics section, notable items included monumental works by Hans Hedberg and highly sought-after pieces by Axel Salto and Pablo Picasso. The department’s most spectacular lot was a unique, signed jug by Picasso, which achieved a final price of 831 000 SEK.
The carpets and textiles department presented works by designers including Märta Måås-Fjetterström and Barbro Nilsson. The highest final prices were achieved by Barbro Nilsson with the carpets "Salerno" and "Nejlikan grön" – the latter was sold for a final price of 546 000 SEK and is the highest-paid carpet at auction this year.
So far this year, Bukowskis has sold 39 lots exceeding 1 million SEK, and achieved several new world records. Consignments are ongoing for our upcoming quality auctions – contact Bukowskis specialists today to sell at the best prices on the market.
Selected highlights
582
Isaac Grünewald
"Den Flygande Holländaren" (Soluppgång).
Hammer price
2 350 000 SEK
Estimate
1 800 000 - 2 000 000 SEK
419
Lynn Chadwick
"Maquette II Jubilee III".
Hammer price
1 550 000 SEK
Estimate
1 500 000 - 2 000 000 SEK
656
Isaac Grünewald
"Par under Edens Äppelträd" from Paradissviten.
Hammer price
1 550 000 SEK
Estimate
800 000 - 1 000 000 SEK
89
Hans Hedberg
A monumental faience sculpture of a lemon, Biot, France.
Hammer price
380 000 SEK
Estimate
350 000 - 400 000 SEK
157
Axel Einar Hjorth
A set of ten stained pine "Lovö" chairs, Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1930s.
Hammer price
300 000 SEK
Estimate
300 000 - 400 000 SEK
118
Pablo Picasso
A unique earthenware jug, "Pichet gothique aux marguerites", Madoura, Vallauris, France, 1953.
Hammer price
640 000 SEK
Estimate
300 000 - 400 000 SEK
112
Axel Salto
A stoneware vase in the "budding" style, Royal Copenhagen, Denmark, 1940s-50s.
Hammer price
250 000 SEK
Estimate
250 000 - 300 000 SEK
130
Carl Bergsten
An important chair, Gemla Leksaksfabrik, Diö, for the Norrköping Exhibition of Art and Industry, 1906.
Hammer price
270 000 SEK
Estimate
200 000 - 250 000 SEK
296
Barbro Nilsson
A carpet, 'Salerno blå med enkel bård', flat weave, c. 365 x 244 cm, signed AB MMF BN.
Hammer price
280 000 SEK
Estimate
200 000 - 250 000 SEK
302
Barbro Nilsson
A carpet 'Nejlikan grön', flat weave, c. 390 x 278 cm, signed AB MMF BN.
Hammer price
420 000 SEK
Estimate
200 000 - 300 000 SEK
152
Axel Einar Hjorth
A pair of stained pine "Lovö" armchairs, Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1930s.
Hammer price
230 000 SEK
Estimate
150 000 - 200 000 SEK
156
Axel Einar Hjorth
A stained pine "Utö" table, Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1930s.
Hammer price
270 000 SEK
Estimate
150 000 - 200 000 SEK
155
Axel Einar Hjorth
A stained pine "Utö" sofa, Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1930s.
Hammer price
140 000 SEK
Estimate
80 000 - 100 000 SEK
129
Knut Fjaestad
An Art Nouveau sculpted and carved pine chair, Sweden, 1915.
Hammer price
270 000 SEK
Estimate
40 000 - 50 000 SEK
127
An Art Nouveau corner cabinet,
carved birch, Sweden, early 1900s.
Hammer price
360 000 SEK
Estimate
15 000 - 20 000 SEK
Bukowskis is welcoming consignments for our upcoming auctions Welcome to contact us today
Stockholm
Louise Wrede
Head of Art Department, Specialist Contemporary Art, Private Sales
+46 (0)739 40 08 19
Stockholm
Marcus Kinge
Specialist Art, Head Specialist Prints
+46 (0)739 40 08 27
Stockholm
Camilla Behrer
Head of Design/ Specialist Modern & Contemporary Decorative Art & Design
+46 (0)708 92 19 77
Stockholm
Karl Green
Specialist Modern and Contemporary Decorative Art & Design
+46 (0)700 07 94 25
Stockholm
Eva Seeman
Chief Specialist Modern and Contemporary Decorative art and design
+46 (0)708 92 19 69
Stockholm
Christopher Stålhandske
Head Specialist Carpets, textiles and Islamic works of art
+46 (0)708 19 12 58
