A collection of furniture and art from Danske Bank's historic headquarters has fetched DKK 1.8 million at auction. The collection featured pieces spanning several centuries, all of which were part of the bank's iconic buildings and offices at Holmens Kanal.
The sale, held by Bruun Rasmussen Auctioneers in Lyngby last week, included a wide range of items, from classic Danish design pieces to historical artworks. The auction attracted significant interest from buyers, with nearly all of the items selling.
Photos: Danske Bank.
The auction's collection primarily consisted of items from the historic Erichsen's Palace on Kongens Nytorv, a protected building known for its classicist architecture and rich history. The palace, built in the 18th century, served as a prominent part of Danske Bank's old headquarters before the bank relocated to a new office in Postbyen earlier this year.
'The items not only represent unique artistic and historical values, but also tell the story of Denmark's cultural and social development through the ages. You could almost say that anyone who has ever owned a bankbook has a tiny share in the items up for auction,' says Anders FredstedSpecialist in European Furniture at Bruun Rasmussen.
'For an aesthete and history buff, who has spent almost every working day among all these wonderful items, it is of course a little hard to see them leave the old buildings. But Danske Bank has moved to a completely different style of office building, where the silverware, chandeliers, clocks and all the antique furniture would just look out of place,' says Bettina Sinnet FornitzArt Curator at Danske Bank.
Among the notable sales was Hans J. Wegner's iconic chair, "Jakkens Hvile," which sold for DKK 55,000, and six of his "China Chairs," which fetched DKK 60,000. Artworks also drew high bids, with William Scharff's painting "Rytter" selling for DKK 100,000, far exceeding its estimated DKK 30,000, and his piece "Tre siddende kvinder" doubling its estimate with a final bid of DKK 60,000.
More information:
Bruun Rasmussen
www.bruun-rasmussen.dk