Gustaf Tenggren Gustaf Tenggren
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Stockholms Auktionsverk Fine Art & Antiques Gustaf Tenggren Gustaf Tenggren at Fine Art & Antiques Auction 3 December 2014 Lot No 2252 Susannah and the Elders, 1919 Gustaf Tenggren at Fine Art & Antiques Auction 3 December 2014 Lot No 2252 Susannah and the Elders, 1919 Experts Fine Art & Antiques Viewing 21 – 30 November Auction 3 December Nybrogatan 32, Stockholm www.auktionsverket.com Andreas Rydén Pierre Olbers St Bellies +46 8 453 67 62 +46 8 453 67 61 andreas.ryden@ pierre.olbers@ auktionsverket.se auktionsverket.se Stockholms Auktionsverk, Box 5274, -102 46 Stockholm Sweden Nybrogatan 32, +46 8 453 67 50, +46 8 24 24 07 Lot No 2269 Siegfrid, 1932 www.auktionsverket.se [email protected] 4 gustaf tenggren gustaf tenggren 5 Experts Fine Art & Antiques Viewing 21 – 30 November Auction 3 December Nybrogatan 32, Stockholm www.auktionsverket.com Andreas Rydén Pierre Olbers St Bellies +46 8 453 67 62 +46 8 453 67 61 andreas.ryden@ pierre.olbers@ auktionsverket.se auktionsverket.se Stockholms Auktionsverk, Box 5274, -102 46 Stockholm Sweden Nybrogatan 32, +46 8 453 67 50, +46 8 24 24 07 Lot No 2269 Siegfrid, 1932 www.auktionsverket.se [email protected] 4 gustaf tenggren gustaf tenggren 5 Gifted with a visionary, sometimes bizarre imagination, Tenggren founded his reputation as a unique sketcher and artist. Photo from 1919. Gathering at the home of Gustaf Tenggren’s sister and brother-in-law, Ester and Arvid Gustafsson. To the farleft Gustaf Tenggren and his mother Augusta. Behind them on the wall several paintings by Gustaf Tenggren, among others ”Walpurgis Night” and ”Little Red Riding Hood”. Probably the last photo taken before his departure to the United States in the summer of 1920. Gustaf Tenggren – an unknown celebrity By: Lars Emanuelsson Taking into account the attention lavished on other world-famous Swedes such as Greta Garbo, Björn Borg, Abba and Ingmar Bergman, it seems strange that Gustaf Tenggren – in Sweden – created barely a blip on the celebrity radar. Especially as his career is truly remarkable. Lot No 2254 The Princess and the Witch, 1918 B¡ ¢¡ 1896 in a dilapidated soldier’s cottage in the parish After several completed commissions in Copenhagen, he at that time: ¡. ´. Wyeth, Max§eld Parrish and µ. ´. Leyen- Writers Guild, the book agents of the Western Printing of Magra in Vastergotland, Western Sweden, Gustaf moved took the §nal leap to the United States in the summer of decker. A range of illustrated books, calendars, lucrative publishers. From the 1940s onwards, he produced a string of with his family to a suburb of Gothenburg immediately be- 1920. He had family in Cleveland, Ohio, as two of his sisters advertising commissions, portraits and magazine illustrations million-selling picture books for children, many of them sold fore the turn of the last century. With eight people living in a had previously settled there. It was there that Tenggren generated plenty of income, and made his name famous with the pre§x ‘Tenggren’s’ – Tenggren’s Mother Goose, for one-room apartment, it soon became necessary for Gustaf to founded his reputation as a unique sketcher and artist, gifted during the 1920s. example. His long series of Little Golden Books were huge start making a contribution to the family §nances. After four with a visionary, sometimes bizarre imagination. The image commercial successes. At the turn of the millennium in 2000, years in school, he found work as an errand boy, but gradu- world he created was a cocktail of strange creatures from B· ¸ ¢¹ ¸ º ¸ »¸¼¡» by Walt Disney in one of them – The Poky Little Puppy – had actually sold 15 ally began an apprenticeship as a lithographer. With the the fairy tales of his Swedish childhood, Caribbean pirates, 1936, he had actually developed into a star artist with the million copies, making it the best-selling illustrated children’s assistance of a scholarship, he started studying at the Slöjd- mythological heroes from the world of antiquity, and Arabian status of a legend. During the three years he was employed at book of all time in the United States. föreningen (Swedish Society of Industrial Design) school merchants and slave girls from The 1,001 Arabian Nights. the studio, he worked on a number of Disney’s most famous At the time of his death in 1970, he had illustrated 50 at the age of 13, moving on to Valand Academy of Art three Tenggren’s move to New York City was the next logical step, §lms, including Snow White, Pinocchio, Bambi and Fantasia. books in as many years in the United States, and had become years later. During his last year at school (1916–17), he had and he quickly established himself there as a worthy compe- After parting company with Disney in 1939, he entered an institution in American children’s book culture. already made a start on his career as an artist and illustrator. titor to the best-known illustrators on the American market into a long-term working relationship with the Artists and 6 gustaf tenggren gustaf tenggren 7 Gifted with a visionary, sometimes bizarre imagination, Tenggren founded his reputation as a unique sketcher and artist. Photo from 1919. Gathering at the home of Gustaf Tenggren’s sister and brother-in-law, Ester and Arvid Gustafsson. To the farleft Gustaf Tenggren and his mother Augusta. Behind them on the wall several paintings by Gustaf Tenggren, among others ”Walpurgis Night” and ”Little Red Riding Hood”. Probably the last photo taken before his departure to the United States in the summer of 1920. Gustaf Tenggren – an unknown celebrity By: Lars Emanuelsson Taking into account the attention lavished on other world-famous Swedes such as Greta Garbo, Björn Borg, Abba and Ingmar Bergman, it seems strange that Gustaf Tenggren – in Sweden – created barely a blip on the celebrity radar. Especially as his career is truly remarkable. Lot No 2254 The Princess and the Witch, 1918 B¡ ¢¡ 1896 in a dilapidated soldier’s cottage in the parish After several completed commissions in Copenhagen, he at that time: ¡. ´. Wyeth, Max§eld Parrish and µ. ´. Leyen- Writers Guild, the book agents of the Western Printing of Magra in Vastergotland, Western Sweden, Gustaf moved took the §nal leap to the United States in the summer of decker. A range of illustrated books, calendars, lucrative publishers. From the 1940s onwards, he produced a string of with his family to a suburb of Gothenburg immediately be- 1920. He had family in Cleveland, Ohio, as two of his sisters advertising commissions, portraits and magazine illustrations million-selling picture books for children, many of them sold fore the turn of the last century. With eight people living in a had previously settled there. It was there that Tenggren generated plenty of income, and made his name famous with the pre§x ‘Tenggren’s’ – Tenggren’s Mother Goose, for one-room apartment, it soon became necessary for Gustaf to founded his reputation as a unique sketcher and artist, gifted during the 1920s. example. His long series of Little Golden Books were huge start making a contribution to the family §nances. After four with a visionary, sometimes bizarre imagination. The image commercial successes. At the turn of the millennium in 2000, years in school, he found work as an errand boy, but gradu- world he created was a cocktail of strange creatures from B· ¸ ¢¹ ¸ º ¸ »¸¼¡» by Walt Disney in one of them – The Poky Little Puppy – had actually sold 15 ally began an apprenticeship as a lithographer. With the the fairy tales of his Swedish childhood, Caribbean pirates, 1936, he had actually developed into a star artist with the million copies, making it the best-selling illustrated children’s assistance of a scholarship, he started studying at the Slöjd- mythological heroes from the world of antiquity, and Arabian status of a legend. During the three years he was employed at book of all time in the United States. föreningen (Swedish Society of Industrial Design) school merchants and slave girls from The 1,001 Arabian Nights. the studio, he worked on a number of Disney’s most famous At the time of his death in 1970, he had illustrated 50 at the age of 13, moving on to Valand Academy of Art three Tenggren’s move to New York City was the next logical step, §lms, including Snow White, Pinocchio, Bambi and Fantasia. books in as many years in the United States, and had become years later. During his last year at school (1916–17), he had and he quickly established himself there as a worthy compe- After parting company with Disney in 1939, he entered an institution in American children’s book culture. already made a start on his career as an artist and illustrator. titor to the best-known illustrators on the American market into a long-term working relationship with the Artists and 6 gustaf tenggren gustaf tenggren 7 Lot No 2273 The Fairy,1917 Lot No 2274 Walpurgis Night, 1916 8 gustaf tenggren gustaf tenggren 9 Lot No 2273 The Fairy,1917 Lot No 2274 Walpurgis Night, 1916 8 gustaf tenggren gustaf tenggren 9 G¼ T¡Â¡ 1896 – 1970 2252 ”Susannah and the Elders” 2264 ”The House Gnome’s Bundle” 2275 ”It was an old man in a 1919. Watercolour. 23x21 cm Illustration for the series pilgrim costume” 30,000 – 40,000 € 3,200 - 4,300 ”Bland Tomtar och Troll” 1917. Illustration for the series Watercolour. 21 x 21 cm ”Bland Tomtar och Troll” 1920. 2253 ”Self Portrait” 25,000 – 30,000 € 2,700 – 3,200 Watercolour. 23 x 22 cm 1914. Watercolour. 18 x 12,5 cm 15,000 – 18,000 € 1,620 – 1,950 15,000 – 18,000 € 1,620 – 1,950 2265 ”The Donkey Lettuce” Illustration for Grimm’s Tales 1917.