At a renowned auction house in Stockholm, the hammer fell on Monday evening for 122 collection pieces from the kit furniture giant Ikea, which were sold for a total of 37,000 euros.
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Collectors' interest is growing in certain pieces that have become design icons of the brand, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year.
A cane sofa, a lacquered dresser and even a pair of “space-age” lamps are on display behind the window of a posh building in the Swedish capital. The pieces, which date from the 1950s to the 1990s, feature the famous Swedish brand known for its affordable furniture.
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“I've been working in the industry for 30 years and if someone had told me that one day I would organize an Ikea auction, I wouldn't have believed it,” laughs Li Pamp, CEO of Stockholm auction house Auktionsverk.
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“It is a controversial brand, known for its tendency to copy, for following trends and for having little concern with ecological issues (…), but there are certain pieces that stand out from the crowd. For many well-known designers, Ikea was the nursery where they began their careers,” she adds.
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Tableware, furniture, mirrors, lighting: more than 100 pieces from private individuals were sold. A red sofa that was sold in 1972 for 120 euros was sold for 2,000 euros.
Earlier this year, a “Cavelli” armchair caused a stir when it sold for 18,000 euros, compared to around twenty euros when it came onto the market in 1958.
“When I was little we saw it more as the place we went when we wanted cheap furniture. We assembled them and disposed of them after a few years,” recalls Thomas Raber, an elegant sixty-year-old who visits the auction house’s showroom.
“It’s fascinating to see these pieces now being sold as works of art and antiques.”
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“Time Travel”
“For me, it's a trip back in time,” smiles Anette Aly, a 78-year-old Swede who bought her first sofa in one of the brand's boutiques in 1963. “I see the same things again as I did years ago in the boutique when I’m 40 or 50 years old!” she adds.
The emergence of a high-end second-hand goods market does not leave Ikea indifferent.
“It's flattering and a testament to the fact that we've created designs that still have meaning today,” enthuses Thea Mix Davidson, head of the company's museum collections, before qualifying for the rising prices. “The only thing that sets us apart is that we want to make pieces that are accessible to everyone.”
The brand, which has tapped into the vintage trend, has reissued pieces from its old catalogs this year under the theme of “Back to the Future.”
Faced with a booming market, Li Pamp took the opportunity to launch an appeal: “Perhaps people have valuable Ikea pieces in their homes without knowing it? If you call us, we will help you with the evaluation!”