The paintings of Tove Jansson, known as the creator of Moomins, have once again been sold at record prices reaching almost half a million euros. More of Jansson’s works will be auctioned next week at the Home & Art auction on March 31, 2021. There is a clear boom in online auctions, both in terms of art and design.

During February and March 2021, 11 of Jansson’s paintings have been sold at Helander in Helsinki, with sales prices hovering over 492,000 euros. Photo: Auction Helander.

To date, 11 works have been sold, with sales prices totaling for more than 492,000 euros in February and March 2021. Auction House Helander’s CEO and broker Mika Sirén says that the result of the auctions are an indication that customers are ready to buy more expensive works at an online auction, in addition to the traditional hammer auction.

CEO, broker Mika Sirén. Photo: Auction House Helander.

According to Sirén, there has been a growing international demand for art and design recently: “The final price for the works reflects a clearly identifiable, growing demand for Tove Jansson’s art. The same upward trend in demand is observed for design and other high-end art, especially in international markets. We are already talking about the online auction boom, ”says Sirén.

“The same upward trend in demand is observed for design and other high-end art, especially in international markets. We are already talking about the online auction boom”

 

Item 302, Sitruuna asetelma, signed oil painting and Item 307 Maisema rinteeseen,, oil painting, signed -48

The Lots will be displayed in the main building of Helander (Hernepellonkuja 8-10) on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 from 12:00 to 19:00 and on the auction day on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 from 12:00 to 13:00. We recommend participating in the auction online. Bids can be submitted to the auction in advance, online during the LIVE auction or by phone during the auction. You can submit bids through the auction list in advance after you have registered for the service. Read more about buying from the auction here or view the Lots in the catalog by clicking here!

Prices and information on works sold so far:

1. Katajanokalta. Final price € 108,472.00

Katajanokalta, oil painting, Tove Jansson, signed  -45. Size of the work is 49 x 61 cm. Photo: Auction House Helander.

In February 2021, Jansson’s work Katajanokalta, painted in 1945, reached a hammer price of 85,000 euros at Helander’s Design & Art auction. Including all costs its s final price was 108 472 euros, which is the highest price ever paid for a work of art by Jansson. The work was purchased by a private collector.

Katajanokalta has been on display at Jansson’s memorial exhibition at the Tampere Art Museum in 2002 and at Jansson’s centenary exhibition in 2014 at Ateneum.

2. Kaminan lämmössä / Figur i Interiör. Final price 83 090,00 €

Kaminan lämmössä / Figur i Interiör, oil painting, Tove Jansson, signed -53. The size of the work is 53 x 44 cm, the outer dimensions with frames are 75 x 66 cm. Photo: Auction House Helander.

A work painted by Jansson in 1953 in Kaminan lämmössä / Figur i Interiör (freely translated as figure in interior) was sold in March 2021 at a hammer price of 65,000 euros at the Helander Design & Art auction. Including costs, its final price was EUR 83,090. The work was purchased by a private collector.

Kaminan lämmössä (Figur i Interiör) has been exhibited at the Jansson Memorial Exhibition at the Tampere Art Museum in 2002, at the Memorial Exhibition in Japan in 2004 and at the Ateneum Celebration Exhibition in 2014 as part of Tove Jansson’s centenary program.

3. Höstlig bukett. Final price 53 691,00 € 

Höstlig bukett, oil painting, Tove Jansson, signed Bredskär -48. Dimensions of the work 59 x 57 cm, external dimensions with frames 77 x 87 cm. Photo: Auction House Helander.

The work Höstlig bukett (freely translated: the autumn bouquet), apparently completed in Bredskär in 1948, was sold in March 2021 at a hammer price of 42,000 euros at Helander’s Design & Art auction. The final price of the work was EUR 53,691.00. The work was purchased by a private collector.

4. Pulloasetelma. Final price 51 135,00 €

Pulloasetelma, öljyvärimaalaus, Tove Jansson, signeerattu 1953. Teoksen mitat 43 x 33 cm, ulkomitat kehysten kanssa 61 x 51 cm. Kuva: Huutokauppa Helander.

Jansson’s work from 1953, Pulloasetelma (freely translated: assembly of bottles), was auctioned in March 2021 at Helander’s Home & Art auction for a hammer price of 40,000 euros. The final price of the painting was therefore EUR 51,135. The work was purchased by a private collector.

Pulloasetelma has been exhibited at the Jansson Memorial Exhibition at the Tampere Art Museum in 2002 and at the Memorial Exhibition in Japan in 2004.

5. Kopparkanna. Final price 40 909,00 €

Kopparkanna,oil painting, Tove Jansson, signed -44. Marked on the back 84 a. Size of the work 60 x 47 cm, external dimensions 76 x 63 cm. Photo: Auction Helander.

Jansson’s Kopparkanna (signed -44) work was sold at a hammer price of 32,000 euros at the March Design & Art auction. The final price of the work was 40,909 euros. The work was purchased by a private collector.

6. Pensseliasetelma. Final price 38 353,00 €

Tove Jansson, signed -46. The dimensions of the work are 62 x 52 cm, the external dimensions are 78 x 68 cm. Photo: Auction House Helander.

Pensseliasetelma (freely translated: an arraignment of paintbrushes) was sold for the hammer price of 30,000 euros at the March Antiques & Art auction. The final price of the work was thus 38,353 euros. The work was purchased by a private collector.

7. Gröna muren. Final price 33 240,00 €

Gröna muren, pastel work, Tove Jansson, signed 59, dimensions work 25 x 30 cm, external dimensions 44 x 52 cm. Photo: Auction House Helander.

The only pastel work amongst the auctioned works of Jansson, Gröna Muren (freely translated: the green wall), was sold at Helander’s Home & Art auction in March for € 26,000, raising its final price to € 33,240.00. The work was purchased by a private collector.

8. Sinipukuinen nainen / Kvinnan i blått. Final price 30 684,00 €

Sinipukuinen nainen / Kvinnan i blått, oil painting, Tove Jansson, signed -65. The size of the work is 92 x 72 cm, the external dimensions are 95 x 75 cm. Photo: Auction House Helander.

Sinipukuinen nainen / Kvinnan I blått  (freely translated: the woman in blue) was auctioned at the Design & Art auction in March for 24,000 euros, making its final price 30,864 euros. The work was purchased by a private collector.

Sinipukuinen nainen / Kvinnan I blått has been exhibited at the Turku Art Museum in 1993 and at the Ateneum celebration exhibition in 2014, which is part of Tove Jansson’s centenary program. The work was restored in April 2011.

9. Unnamed / name not known. Final price 20 458,00 €

Tove Jansson, mixed media, signed -32. The size of the work without frames is 23 x 14 cm. Photo: Auction Helander.

Another Jansson work was also auctioned at the February Design & Art auction. The mixed-action work, which depicts a young woman, was sold for a hammer price of EUR 16,000, bringing the final sale price to EUR 20,458. The work was purchased by a private collector.

10. Velbert i Rhendalen. Final price 19 180,00 €

Velbert i Rhendalen,Tove Jansson, mixed media, signed. The work was drawn in the 1930s. Fold, tears, slight moisture damage at the bottom. The dimensions of the work are 46 x 40 cm, the external dimensions are 69 x 83 cm. Photo: Auction House Helander.

Velbert I Rhendalen (freely translated as: Velbert in Rhendale), drawn by Tove Jansson, was sold for 15,000 euros at Helander’s March Home & Art auction. The final price of the mixed-media drawing was therefore EUR 19 180. The work was purchased by a private collector.

11. Niitty / Hed. Final price 12 789,00 €

Niitty / Hed,oil painting, Tove Jansson, signed -63. The dimensions of the work are 45 x 54 cm, the external dimensions are 56 x 65 cm. Paint partially detached. Photo: Auction House Helander.

Nitty / Hed (freely translated: meadow), painted by Jansson in 1963, reached a hammer price of 10,000 euros at Helander’s March Design & Art auction. Including expenses, its sale price was EUR 12,789.

Some of the paint in the work has come off. The work was purchased by a private collector.

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