Stockholms Auktionsverk

About Stockholms Auktionsverk

Stockholms Auktionsverk holds the extraordinary distinction of being the oldest auction house in the world that is still in operation. Founded in 1674 on the initiative of Baron Claes Ralamb, then Governor of Stockholm, the house predates both Sotheby's (1744) and Christie's (1766) by many decades, and its unbroken history offers a remarkable window into the evolution of the European art market over three and a half centuries.

History

The founding of Stockholms Auktionsverk was a product of the Swedish Stormaktstiden, or Great Power era, when Stockholm was emerging as a significant European capital. Baron Ralamb recognized the need for a regulated marketplace where the city's growing merchant class and aristocracy could buy and sell valuable goods in a transparent and orderly manner, and the auction house was established under royal charter, quickly becoming an integral part of Stockholm's commercial and cultural life.

Over the centuries, Stockholms Auktionsverk has counted some of Sweden's most celebrated figures among its clients: King Karl XI, King Gustav III, the poet Carl Michael Bellman, the dramatist August Strindberg, and the Nobel Prize-winning author Selma Lagerlof all bought or sold at the house. Perhaps the most storied single transaction in the firm's history occurred in 1779, when Rembrandt's painting Kokspigan (The Kitchen Maid, 1651) was sold to King Gustav III — a sale that underscores the caliber of material that has passed through these rooms.

Today, Stockholms Auktionsverk is owned by Auctionet, the Nordic online auction platform whose registered buyer base exceeds one million users across more than 180 countries. This combination of centuries-old heritage and cutting-edge digital infrastructure gives the house a distinctive market position: the gravitas and specialist knowledge of a traditional auction firm, delivered through a platform that enables global participation.

Specialist departments

The house's specialist departments cover a comprehensive range of collecting categories:

• Fine Art, spanning Old Masters through contemporary works, with particular strength in Swedish and Nordic painting
• Furniture and Design, encompassing Baroque, Gustavian and Neo-classical periods through to twentieth-century Scandinavian Modern, an area in which the house is a recognized authority
• Jewelry and Watches, Silver and Ceramics
• Asian Art
• Books and Manuscripts
• Rugs and Textiles

Auctions and recent results

The auction calendar is anchored by the Signature Sales, curated multi-category events held in spring and autumn that showcase the finest consignments of the season, regularly including material with distinguished provenance — pieces from the Swedish royal collections, aristocratic estates and important private collections. In addition to the Signature Sales, the house conducts a busy program of specialist and online auctions throughout the year, many of which are accessible via the Auctionet platform.

In a historic move in 2025, Stockholms Auktionsverk acquired Uppsala Auktionskammare, one of the Nordic region's other leading auction houses with a history dating back to 1731, further consolidating its position as the dominant force in the Swedish and Nordic auction market. Recent notable results include the January 2026 Erik Haamer auction, where drawings for the Estonian national epic Kalevipoeg achieved a record price for the artist, with a final result of 1.3 million SEK against an opening estimate of just 50,000 SEK — a dramatic illustration of the competitive bidding that the firm's international platform can generate.

Selling and buying

For sellers, Stockholms Auktionsverk offers valuation services both at its Stockholm premises and through online submissions. The specialist team assesses each item and provides an estimate; accepted consignments are professionally photographed, catalogued and marketed to the firm's extensive buyer network, with commission rates discussed on a case-by-case basis. The firm also handles complete estate valuations and sales, drawing on centuries of experience in managing the dispersal of significant private collections. Buyers can participate via the Auctionet online platform, by telephone, or through absentee bids; the online system supports real-time bidding during live sales and timed bidding for online-only auctions, and a buyer's premium is charged on all purchases at the rate published in the conditions of sale for each auction.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Stockholms Auktionsverk?

It was founded in 1674, making it the oldest auction house in the world still in operation, predating Sotheby's (1744) and Christie's (1766) by decades.

Who owns Stockholms Auktionsverk today?

It is owned by Auctionet, the Nordic online auction platform, whose registered buyer base exceeds one million users across more than 180 countries.

What notable acquisition did the firm make in 2025?

In 2025, it acquired Uppsala Auktionskammare, a leading Nordic auction house with a history dating back to 1731.