Gunnel Sahlin - From the archive

Södermanlands Auktionsverk pays tribute to one of Sweden’s foremost glass artists, Gunnel Sahlin. In a themed auction comprising 92 lots, we are able to follow her artistic journey from the colourful works of the mid-1980s to the multifaceted expressions of the 2000s. The auction includes both serially produced pieces and unique works, making it a treasure trove for those who wish to adorn their homes with something beautiful as well as for the most dedicated collectors.

Gunnel Sahlin was born in 1954, but it was some three decades later that her career truly took off. In the seminal volume Svenskt Glas, published by Wahlström & Widstrand in 1995, she appears under the heading “Young Artists of the Eighties.” Even then, she had already made a lasting mark on Swedish glass history—despite having trained as a textile designer at Konstfack. After significant contributions at Kosta Boda, she began working on a freelance basis in the early 2000s. By that time, alongside her artistic practice, she had also held a professorship at Konstfack.

In a carefully curated selection from her long and prolific career, the auction presents, among other works, three lidded urns from 1986. In primary colours—yellow, red, and blue—set against a black ground, they stand as imposing time capsules (measuring 40 cm in height) from a long-past decade. Alongside these are examples from her series Pegasus, Adonis, Naturalis, Delight, and Joy. And what would a Gunnel Sahlin theme be without her Frutteria pieces?

Throughout the auction lots, Gunnel Sahlin’s playful approach to art is clearly manifested. Or, to borrow four sentences from Kerstin Wickman:

“She possesses a unique ability that few designers have. The beauty she creates is never banal, overworked, or superficial. Nothing needs to be added or taken away. The rhythm is assured, as if she were a Japanese Zen artist.”

All the items in the auction come from Gunnel Sahlin’s own collection, known as “the archive.”

A warm welcome to Södermanlands Auktionsverk and the theme Gunnel Sahlin!