Haupt, Nobel and Pre-Raphaelite Mastery Head to Auction

Anders Zorn, Carl Larsson, and Edmund Blair Leighton are among the prominent figures featured in Bukowskis' Important Winter Sale, the final international auction of the year scheduled for 6-8 December. Alongside classic art by Swedish and international masters, a diverse array of items, ranging from historical artifacts and Asian handicrafts to exquisite silver and sought-after jewellery, will be up for bidding.

Upon returning to Stockholm after several years in Paris and London, the esteemed cabinetmaker Georg Haupt was appointed the master of the trade at the request of King Adolf Fredrik. Over his fifteen years in Stockholm, Haupt brought about a revolution in Swedish furniture making, focusing on both quality and innovation. A notable testament to his legendary craftsmanship is evident in the pair of cabinets featured in the auction. Haupt managed to construct a 180-degree curved surface adorned with intricate intarsia – a technical skill unparalleled among Swedish ebenists in the 18th century. The distinguished recipient of these cabinets was none other than the renowned Court Marshal De Geer, Catharina Charlotta Ribbing af Zernava (1720-1787). Since their creation around 1780, these cabinets have maintained an unbroken provenance. In 1818, Catharina's youngest son, Louis De Geer (1759-1830), relocated the cabinets to Christineholm near Nyköping, where they remained until recently.

Just four days following Alfred Nobel's death on 10 December 1896, four men gathered in the notary's office of Stockholms Enskilda Bank at Lilla Nygatan 27 in Old Town. Their objective was to unseal Nobel's will. The will eventually found its place in the Nobel Foundation's safe, while the Notary Löfgren kept the envelope, labeled and signed by Alfred Nobel, along with the duplicate protocol, serving as a memento of that historic day. On 6 December, you will have the opportunity to bid on these unique documents, inherited and preserved by Notary Löfgren's heirs.

The jewellery department at Bukowskis is showcasing remarkable pieces by WA Bolin, Cartier, and Van Cleef & Arpels. One of the standout items is a platinum necklace adorned with cabochon-cut emeralds, boasting a provenance from the Broström family.

Having spent several years in Paris, Anders Zorn and his wife Emma decided to move back to Sweden. In 1904, the artist purchased land a few kilometers outside Mora and named the place Gopsmor. Transitioning from portraying notable figures in opulent settings, Zorn shifted his focus to capturing ordinary people in various outdoor and indoor scenes. Among the many works produced in Gopsmor is the painting Flottar Maja ('Maja Floats') from 1917, featured in the upcoming auction.

Another Swedish masterpiece from Dalarna is Carl Larsson's Sommardag, Karin och Brita i trädgården / Sommartid ('Summer day, Karin and Brita in the garden' / 'Summer time'). The painting from 1911 currently holds the highest bid in the auction, ranging between SEK 6-8 million (about £450,00 - 600,000). In this work, the artist captures his wife Karin and their second youngest daughter, Brita. Karin, with her back turned to the viewer, is depicted embroidering one of the bed draperies for the bedroom at Lilla Hyttnäs. After the birth of their first daughter, Suzanne, Karin redirected her artistic talents towards decorating their home, designing furniture, weaving, and embroidering. Today, Lilla Hyttnäs in Sundborn stands as one of the world's most renowned artists' homes, owing not only to Carl Larsson's watercolours but also to Karin Larsson's distinctive interior design.

Other international art includes Edmund Blair Leighton's Pre-Raphaelite work, Faded Laurels, dating back to 1889. Blair Leighton frequently opted for subjects and themes that resonated with his contemporary audience, such as emotions like love, fear, and grief. In Faded Laurels, he delves into the timeless theme of the rise and fall of fame. The catalogue also features King David & Abigail by Matthijs Voet and The Temptations of Saint Anthony by David Teniers.

The Important Winter Sale will end on 8 December with the Asian section, which features fine objects from several important private Scandinavian collections. Notable highlights include a large gilt bronze Bodhisattva dating back to the Ming Dynasty and a high-quality assortment of imperial porcelain.

Viewing is available from 30 November to 5 December at Bukowskis' premises on Berzelii Park 1 in Stockholm. The auction itself is scheduled to take place from 6 to 8 December at Arsenalsgatan 2.

Find all Bukowskis' lots on Barnebys