Otto Wretling is a singular figure in the history of modern Swedish furniture. At the end of the 19th century he and a brother take over their father's painting firm in Umeå. Five years into the new century furniture production begins, and soon Firma Otto Wretling för modern rumskonst becomes a celebrated name beyond the home city.
Otto Wretling's furniture initially bears a clear influence of the new Art Nouveau style. Some of the models are executed in a manner that imitates the bark of trees. Over time Otto Wretling moves towards a more classicising expression before subsequently embracing a modern formal language, albeit with decorative elements. By this point the furniture is often painted by his son Stig Wretling. The colour palette is distinctive and idiosyncratic, which is why these pieces are today in many cases immediately recognisable as works produced by the firm. In 1936 Otto Wretling patents the so-called Idealbordet — an ingenious construction in which the tabletop can be folded out.
Norrlands Auktionsverk can now present a selection of furniture designed by Otto Wretling, gathered into a well-composed theme. It is an excellent opportunity to become more closely acquainted with the Art Nouveau era and early modernism as they were once interpreted in Umeå.
A warm welcome!
