MASTERPIECE LONDON 30 JUNE TO 6 JULY 2022
MASTERPIECE
MASTERPIECE LONDON 30 JUNE TO 6 JULY 2022
Modernity will be taking part in Masterpiece London 2022, which runs from 30 June – 6 July 2022. We are excited to be taking part in the first Masterpiece fair since 2019, looking forward to being back on the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. This will be our fifth appearance here. Masterpiece showcases the finest artwork and design from local and international dealers and galleries. This fair gives collectors the opportunity to purchase the best pieces available on the market from a wide variety of disciplines. Modernity is presenting a variety of works by Carl Malmsten, Arne Vodder, Alvar Aalto, Paavo Tynell as well as contemporary ceramicists Sandra Davolio and Alvina Jakobssen.
LONDON 2022
Andrew Duncanson & Isaac Pineus
Sebastien Holt
Directors of Modernity Stockholm
Director of Modernity London
info@modernity.se Tel. +46-8-20 80 25
sebastien.holt@modernity.se Tel +44-7712 7177 19
MASTERPIECE
Kaare Klint - model 4488, ‘the English chair’ Exquisite woodwork and canework make this piece by the Danish master Kaare Klint an exceptional 20th-century Scandinavian Bergère chair. The elegant brass sabots on the chair’s feet are very uncommon and allow us to date the chair precisely since Klint only used them for his very early versions. Klint thought his friend’s 18th-century chair from England, which he often sat in when visiting, was so perfectly proportioned and well-made that he redesigned it as a near copy in 1931. That is why model 4488 is often referred to as “the English chair”.
LONDON 2022 Armchair model 4488 designed by Kaare Klint for Rud. Rasmussen, Denmark, 1930s. Mahogany, ebony, cane, and black horsehair upholstery with cognac leather piping.
MASTERPIECE
Sideboard “Credenza” model 29A designed by Arne Vodder for Sibast, Denmark. 1958-1959. In rosewood, steel and birch inner. A rare early model.
LONDON 2022
Arne Vodder - Sideboard model 29A, ‘Credenza’ When Arne Vodder designed this low-top sideboard, he also presented what is considered the most adored and iconic piece of Danish storage furniture from the 1950–1960s. The model 29A was the flagship in a series of storage furniture that shared many of the same features. The name “Credenza”, which in Italian simply means cabinet for tableware, likely stuck to this model as it was one of the few pieces of Danish Mid-century furniture that enjoyed a real commercial success in Italy.
MASTERPIECE Pair of armchairs designed by Hans J. Wegner and Palle Suenson for C.B. Hansens Etablissement, Denmark. 1940s. In Mahogany, Niger leather and brass.
Hans Wegner & Palle Suenson
This chair model from the 1940s was collaboratively realised by two of Denmark’s most influential furniture designers, Hans J. Wegner and Palle Suenson. They designed it for the luxury liner “M/S Venus”, a grand ship built 1931 for the BergenStavanger-Newcastle route, sunk by bombers in 1945, and later raised and rebuilt for resuming its passenger service from 1948.
LONDON 2022
Shelf, “Funkis” designed by Axel Einar Hjorth for NK, Sweden, 1931. Elm and leather.
MASTERPIECE
Cabinet designed by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1950’s. Walnut. Extremely rare, possibly unique.
LONDON 2022 Occasional table “The Egyptian table”, designed by Mogens Lassen for Rud Rasmussen, Denmark. 1935. Mahogany, foldable frame and top with raised edge, brass fittings.
MASTERPIECE Easy chair designed by Uno Åhrén for Mobilia, Sweden. 1925. Rosewood and velvet.
LONDON 2022
Uno Åhrén - the ‘Ladies’ Salon’ The model was designed by Uno Åhrén and was shown as a pair in the so-called ladies’ salon, together with the unique cabinet “The Garden of Eden” and a coffee table, in the Swedish Pavilion at the World’s Fair in Paris in 1925. Åhrén participated in the World’s Fair in Paris in 1925, and became one of the foremost proponents of functionalism, but working only at the beginning of his career as a furniture designer - after the Stockholm Exhibition in 1930, he was mainly active as an architect.
MASTERPIECE
Cabinet “Flora” model 852 designed by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden. 1937. Mahogany, birch and hand-coloured paper.
LONDON 2022
Josef Frank - Cabinet model 852, ‘Flora Josef Frank developed his characteristic style combining elements of Viennese elegance with Swedish functionalism. He wanted to incorporate natural forms and colours into his interiors so that the inhabitants could experience a sense of freedom in enclosed spaces. This example of the “Flora” cabinet is the earlier model manufactured after 1939.The fact that it does not have wooden door protection around the keyhole, unlike the later version, proves its early date of manufacture. This earlier version is also identifiable as such because of the use of slightly larger botanical paper prints.
MASTERPIECE
LONDON 2022
MASTERPIECE Dining table, designed by Josef Frank, Sweden, 1950s. Amboyna root and mahogany, edge in boxwood and ebony. Possibly unique.
LONDON 2022
MASTERPIECE Pair of easy chairs designed by Otto Schulz for Boet, Sweden, 1940s. Wool upholstery and lacquered wood.
Otto Schulz - Boucle Easy Chairs This Schulz model is one of the designer’s rarest and finest chairs. Both chairs are newly reupholstered in the most luxurious Boucle fabric by one of Sweden’s best reupholsters. Otto Schulz was one of the most prominent furniture designers of his time; he founded the Swedish company Boet and an eponymous magazine that became an extremely influential design publication during the 1930s and 40s. This chair is based on the “Sulla chair” and the Greek klismos chairs. Schulz made several versions; the most refined is this one without an added loose seat cushion. Instead, he created one deep seat to perfect his sense of modern elegance.
LONDON 2022
Easy chair designed by Ib Kofod-Larsen for Christensen & Larsen Cabinetmakers, Denmark. 1949. Maple, Brazilian rosewood with horsehair fabric.
MASTERPIECE
Desk designed by Carl Malmsten, Sweden, 1934. Mahogany with inlay of exotic woods. Text ‘Ora et labora’ translates to ‘Pray and work’.
LONDON 2022
Table lamp designed by Axel Enoch Boman for Orrefors, Sweden. 1915 Glass and bronze.
MASTERPIECE Swedish Grace sofa designed by Carl Malmsten, Sweden. 1929. Mahogany frame with exotic wood inlay. Fabric upholstery.
LONDON 2022
Rug “Svarta Trädgårdsmattan” designed by Märta Måås-Fjetterström, for MMF Sweden, 1950’s. Wool.
MASTERPIECE
Alvar Aalto - ‘Paimio’ and beyond... Armchair 41 is one amongst many famous designs to originate from the interior of the tuberculosis sanatorium in the Finnish city of Paimio, and henceforth sharing its name. The sanatorium was a major Functionalist milestone and armchair 41 is considered one of Aalto’s masterpieces. Alvar Aalto was a Finnish architect and designer. His work includes architecture, furniture, lighting, and glassware, as well as sculptures and paintings. The pure Functionalist phase in Aalto’s work lasted for several years. Aalto had adopted the principals of user-friendly, functional design in his architecture, and it was characteristic of Aalto to treat each building as a complete work of art right down to the furniture and light fittings. The design of his furniture combined practicality and aesthetics with series production, encouraging a more beautiful everyday life in the home.
LONDON 2022 Armchair 41 “Paimio” designed by Alvar Aalto, Finland, 1931. Birch.
MASTERPIECE Rare shelf designed by Alvar Aalto for Hedemora, Sweden, 1933. Lacquered birch.
LONDON 2022 Ceiling lamp model A332 “Beehive” designed by Alvar Aalto for Valaistustyo, Finland, 1953. Painted aluminium and polished brass. Early six tier version.
MASTERPIECE
Pair of wall lamps, designed by Alvar Aalto for Valaistustyö, Finland, 1950’s Brass and lacquered steel. Very rare example.
LONDON 2022
Floor lamp A811 designed by Alvar Aalto for Valaistustyö, Finland. 1950’s. Cast iron, brass, lacquered metal and leather. Rare model.
MASTERPIECE
Ceiling light designed by Paavo Tynell, Finland. 1950’s. Pierced brass with glass.
LONDON 2022
Paavo Tynell - ‘The Man who illuminated Finland’ Paavo Tynell is one of the most important 20th-century lighting designers. He was a trained sheet metal worker, and his unique background shows in this ceiling lamp’s stunning craftsmanship. His works are among the rarest Nordic lighting design and sought after if in outstanding original condition. Today, Tynell is often referred to as ‘the man who illuminated Finland’. Hundreds of small perforations are stencilled into the shade by hand so that when the lamp is lit, a remarkable pattern appears on the surrounding walls and ceiling, like stars in the sky. The stylised, spiral flowers decorating the stem and beneath the glass shade are telltale signs of its maker. Whilst Tynells early work proved to be of a functionalist nature, his designs would become more floral and delicate. Tynell’s works on display at Masterpiece showcase the versatility of the designer.
MASTERPIECE
Table lamp model 9209 designed by Paavo Tynell for Taito Oy, Finland, 1950’s. Pierced brass and cane.
LONDON 2022
Floor lamp model 9621 designed by Paavo Tynell for Taito Oy, Finland, 1940’s. Brass and rattan.
MASTERPIECE
Rug designed by Greta Skogster-Lehtinen for Aaltosen Mattokutomo, Finland, 1930’s. Flat weave. Designed for the office of the Prime Minister of the Finnish Parliament.
LONDON 2022
Vase “Surrea” by Wilhelm Kåge for Gustavsberg, Sweden. Ca 1940. Carrara-glazed stoneware & marked “GUSTAVSBERG KÅGE”.
MASTERPIECE
Sandra Davolio Sandra Davolio is a renowned contemporary Danish-Italian ceramic artist represented by Modernity. Davolio takes her inspiration from nature. She carefully thumbs these characteristically delicate fringe-like protrusions onto thrown wet clay, resulting in forms that resemble corals or blossoms. The play of light on the pleats of the white porcelain is particularly striking. Because of the complex structure and thinness of the applied porcelain, these pieces are extremely difficult to fire. Her work is represented in multiple major collections of international museums and institutions, such as the Smithsonian Design Museum’s Cooper Hewitt in New York, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, and the Swedish National Museum in Stockholm.
Vessel by Sandra Davolio, Denmark, 2021. Porcelain & Unique.
LONDON 2022
Vessel by Sandra Davolio, Denmark, 2021. Porcelain & Unique.
MASTERPIECE Vessels by Sandra Davolio, Denmark, 2021. Porcelain, Both are Unique.
LONDON 2022 Vase/sculpture ‘The Apple’ designed by Ingeborg Lundin for Orrefors, Sweden, 1957. Glass.
MASTERPIECE
Sculpture “Amazon Pistil” by Eric Grate, Sweden. 1931. Stoneware & Unique.
LONDON 2022 Vase designed by Kyllikki Salmenhaara for Arabia, Finland. 1950’s. Stoneware, light and brown-toned glaze.
MASTERPIECE
Vases designed by Kyllikki Salmenhaara for Arabia, Finland. 1950’s. Stoneware.
LONDON 2022
Vases designed by Kyllikki Salmenhaara for Arabia, Finland. 1950’s. Stoneware with chamotte.
MASTERPIECE
Vase designed by Berndt Friberg for Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1964. Stoneware in light blue rabbits fur glaze.
LONDON 2022
Berndt Friberg - A Master of Glazes Berndt Friberg is among the most skilled Swedish ceramicists of the 20th century. He produced tremendously sought-after pottery and mastered the technique of rabbit’s fur glaze, which is achieved by mouth spraying layers of differently coloured glaze onto the body of the vessel. His ceramics with this type of glaze — in a large variety of different colours — are particularly collectable. His work consists of objects in every size, ranging from miniatures — the smallest of which is no larger than a few centimetres — to large floor vases. Friberg spent almost fifty years at Gustavsberg, the most renowned Swedish porcelain company that originated in 1826. On display at Masterpiece 2022 will be a selection of Modernity’s Berndt Friberg collection.
Vase designed by Berndt Friberg for Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1950s. Stoneware with brown and blue toned rabbits fur glaze.
MASTERPIECE
Vase designed by Berndt Friberg for Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1960’s. Stoneware with brown and blue toned rabbits fur glaze.
LONDON 2022 Collection of vases designed by Berndt Friberg for Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1950’s.* Stoneware in pale blue, orange, white and mustard rabbits fur glaze.
Note: Some vases are no longer available from www.modernity.se.*
MASTERPIECE Vases designed by Berndt Friberg for Gustavsberg, Sweden. 1962. Stoneware with brown and blue rabbits fur glaze.
LONDON 2022
Vase designed by Berndt Friberg for Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1960’s. Stoneware in blue with brown toned rabbits fur glaze.
MASTERPIECE
Vase designed by Berndt Friberg for Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1950’s. Stoneware in brown with white accent rabbits fur glaze.
LONDON 2022
Vases designed by Berndt Friberg for Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1950’s. Stoneware in tan and pale blue rabbits fur glaze.
MASTERPIECE
Vase designed by Berndt Friberg for Gustavsberg, Sweden. 1957. Stoneware with brown rabbits fur glaze.
LONDON 2022
Vases designed by Berndt Friberg for Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1960’s. Stoneware with brown rabbits fur glaze.
MASTERPIECE Ceramic sculpture ‘Hybrida’ by Alvina Jakobsson, Sweden. 2022. Stoneware & Unique.
LONDON 2022 Ceramic sculpture ‘Hybrida’ by Alvina Jakobsson, Sweden. 2022. Stoneware & Unique.
Alvina Jakobsson - ‘Hybrida’ Alvina Jakobsson is a contemporary ceramic artist represented by Modernity. The start of Jakobsson’s process involves her pinching disks of semi-wet clay into the desired form. She then applies the moulded shapes to the body of the vessel, which creates each sculpture’s unique sense of movement and fluidity. This “Hybrida” sculpture by Alvina Jakobsson is handmade to achieve the complex folded surface. The sculpture’s title “Hybrida” is also the title of the range to which it belongs and merges the artist’s two previous ranges, “Lystra” and “Dandy”. Working in the south of Sweden, Jakobsson continues to create striking earthenware vessels and sculptures. In 2021, she received the City of Malmö’s cultural scholarship for artistic activities.
MASTERPIECE
Ceramic sculpture “Lystra” by Alvina Jakobsson, Sweden. 2021. Stoneware & Unique.
LONDON 2022
Dish designed by Birger Kaipiainen for Arabia, Finland, 1970’s. Stoneware.
MASTERPIECE
Dish designed by Birger Kaipiainen for Arabia, Finland. 1970’s. Stoneware.
LONDON 2022
Monumental dish designed by Birger Kaipiainen for Arabia, Finland. 1960’s. Stoneware.
MASTERPIECE
Dish designed by Tapio Wirkkala, Finland. 1950’s. Laminated birch plywood.
LONDON 2022
Dish designed by Tapio Wirkkala, Finland. 1950’s. Laminated birch
MASTERPIECE
LONDON 2022
Sculpture designed by Tapio Wirkkala for Kultakeskus Oy, Finland. 1960s. Aluminium and glass.
MASTERPIECE LONDON 30 JUNE TO 6 JULY 2022
We offer all Masterpiece attendees and Modernity subscribers our many thanks for their interest in 20th Century Nordic design and art and in Modernity as a collection. You can discover more at Modernity by visiting our website. Alternatively, you may contact us via the logo below:
Images courtesy of Modernity Stockholm AB, photographs produced by Åsa Liffner & James Harris. ‘Masterpiece Catalogue 2022’ was created by Luca Monteregge & Alexandra Record for Modernity London Ltd. and Modernity Stockholm AB. All rights reserved by the imageholders © 2022 Modernity Stockholm AB.