Thank you, Kim Hostler, co-founder of Hostler Burrows Gallery (with Juliet Burrows) for a fascinating and passionate presentation at the program Collecting Design this morning. Focusing on mid-century Scandinavian, which is her ultimate expertise, we looked at the market through three Danish icons, which illuminate the diversity that characterizes Nordic mid-century design and its market. Finn Juhl’s iconic Chieftains Chair, we learnt from Kim, was named after the chief of the tribe, deriving from its primitive language. Juhl created this sculptural chair for the 1949 Cabinetmakers’ Guild in Copenhagen, and during the show it was noticed by King Frederick IX who famously set on it, ordered 80 examples for the Danish diplomatic offices across the globe, and made history. Danish architect Philip Arctander created only one chair in his career. It was designed in 1944, and was barely noticed until recently when it was rediscovered, becoming a beloved object utilized by many interior designers, particularly when reupholstered in ship skin. It is stylish, cozy, fun, and comfortable. We concluded with the most expressive of all Scandinavian ceramics, those magical vases made by ceramicist Axel Johann Salto, whose textures had come to emulate nature and botanical growth. It is his mature work, where Salto had achieved an expressive expression in the glazing, which have resulted in his finest work. The vase he created 1944 at Royal Copenhagen, which fetched £373,250 in Phillips in 2012 is one of these fascinating examples. Thank you, Kim Hostler for enriching our knowledge and for contributing to the program Collecting Design: History, Collections, Highlights. All images courtesy of Hostler Burrows.
FINN JUHL (Danish, 1912-1989) Chieftain Chair in teak, Niels Vodder Caninetmaker Denmark, ca. 1949 Leather, walnut
PHILIP ARCTANDER (Danish, 1916-1994) Mussel Lounge Chairs, ca. 1940 Beech, Mongolian lamb upholstery
AXEL SALTO (Danish, 1889-1961) Unique Budding Vase, 1944 stoneware with solfatara glaze 16.125” H Royal Copenhagen Denmark stamp, signed and dated by the artist Unique
Berndt FribergBERNDT FRIBERG (Swedish, 1899-1981) Collection of vases, ca. 1955 Porcelain, Blue “hare’s fur” glaze All Unique, artist signed with studio marks
AXEL EINAR HJORTH (Swedish, 1888-1959) Sandhamn Chairs, Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, ca. 1930 pine