872/​1113

Sven Palmqvist (b. 1906, d. 1984)

Erik Herman Fleming (b. Stockholm 1894, d. s.p. 1954)

“The Wallenberg Globe”. A unique and impressive glass globe with silver base and mounting. Glass globe engraved with world map and the offices of EAC worldwide. Designed by Sven Palmqvist. Engraved by Ernst Åberg. Signed Orrefors 1952, Palmqvist, Åberg. Made at Orrefors, Sweden. Silver base and mounting with various motifs. Designed by Erik Herman Fleming. Made and marked by Borgila, Sweden with date mark B9=1952. H. 50 cm.

Provenance: East Asiatic Company's main office in Copenhagen.

Marcus Wallenberg (b. 1899-d. 1982) was the most influential person in Sweden’s post-war financial sector and industrial business community. Apart from being the leading figure within the community and displaying a great involvement in the Swedish industrial tradition during the 20th century, he was managing director of Stockholm’s Enskilda Bank (the later, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken/SEB) during the period between 1946–1958 . Furthermore, he and the Wallenberg family were the driving forces behind the establishment of many important Swedish companies such as Ericsson, Atlas Copco, Saab, ABB, SEB and others. In addition, Marcus Wallenberg also held a significant seat on various boards of directors.

During 1951–1952 Marcus Wallenberg was embarking on a circumnavigation of the globe with EAC’s shipping trades. The present Wallenberg Globe can be seen as a symbol of gratitude and mutual respect between the two of the most powerful forces in Nordic business life, Marcus Wallenberg and founder of EAC, H. N. Andersen, who was at the time was Wallenberg’s equivalent in Denmark.

The globe's base is engraved: “Jorden er ikke større end at den kan omspaendes af tanken” / (“The globe is no larger than it can be enveloped by a thought”) and “Med tack för generöst bistånd vid minnesrik resa jorden rundt 1951–1952, M. Wallenberg” / (“With gratitude for generous support on a memorable trip around the globe 1951–1952, M. Wallenberg”).

A comparable silver globe named “A true global Traveller” also by Erik Flemming is in the collection of the Cooper Hewitt museum in New York. This globe was originally made for so-called “Match King” Ivar Kreuger in 1930.

This lot is subject to Artist's Royalty.
Condition

Condition report on request.

Auction

Silver & ceramics, 7 June 2017

Category
Estimate

100,000–125,000 DKK

Sold

Price realised

140,000 DKK