20th Century Design

Stockholms Auktionsverk Cologne presents 20th Century Design, a special auction dedicated to the ideas, forms, and materials that shaped modern living in the 20th century. The catalog brings together designer furniture from numerous countries and reflects the international exchange that decisively shaped the design history of this century. Special emphasis is placed on Italian, Scandinavian, and German design.

Italian design is exemplary for innovation and creative freedom and is represented by works by Vico Magistretti and Mario Bellini, among others. Bellini's iconic Le Bambole sofa is one of the highlights of the auction and impressively embodies the innovative spirit of the 1970s. Also outstanding is the legendary Swiss De Sede DS-66 “Tatzelwurm,” here in an extraordinary 22-piece version—an impressive example of modular living concepts and luxurious comfort of late modernism.
Scandinavian design is reflected in the functional clarity and craftsmanship of Børge Mogensen and Niels Koefoed, whose furniture continues to impress with its timeless elegance. This contrasts with German design, with its rational austerity and systematic design language, represented by Dieter Rams and Reiner Schell, whose designs embody the demand for functionality and reduction to the essentials.

Further highlights include a generous Togo sofa landscape by Michel Ducaroy for Ligne Roset, a Memphis-style floor lamp by Olle Andersson for Boréns, and a coffee table by Milo Baughman. You can also expect many exciting discoveries in the catalog.

Across national borders, styles, and decades, 20th Century Design offers a curated overview of those objects that have had a lasting impact on our understanding of living, comfort, and aesthetics—an invitation to discover and acquire design history in all its diversity.