ビンテージ・イケアが人気、３０万円で落札のソファも

【ストックホルムＡＦＰ＝時事】スウェーデン・ストックホルムでこのほど、１９５０～９０年代のイケア製品１２２個の競売が行われ、落札総額は３万７０００ユーロ（約５８０万円）に上った。（写真は、イケアのビンテージ家具が展示された競売会社のショールーム。スウェーデン・ストックホルムで）
　今年で創業８０年を迎えるイケアは手頃な価格帯の組み立て式家具で有名だが、近年ではコレクターが増えている。
　競売会社のリ・パンプ代表は「競売業界に３０年いるが、もし働き始めたばかりの頃に『あなたはいつかイケア製品の競売を取り仕切るだろう』と言われたら『まさか、そんなこと絶対にありえない』と返したと思う」と笑った。
　イケア製品をめぐっては「いろいろな面で賛否両論」あり、流行のデザインを模倣してきた歴史や「環境と持続可能性の問題」で批判されてきたとパンプ氏は指摘した。
　一方で「多くの有名デザイナーが１回はイケアで働いたことがある。そしてその多くにとって、イケアがデザイナーとして初めて働いた会社だった」という。
　競売には家具だけでなく、食器や鏡、照明器具も出品された。
　１９７２年に１２０ユーロ（現在のレートで約１万９０００円）で販売された赤いソファは、２０００ユーロ（約３０万円）で落札された。
　今年ストックホルムで行われた別の競売では、１９５８年の発売当初約２７ユーロ（約４２００円）のアームチェア「カベッリ」が１万８０００ユーロ（約２８０万円）で落札された。
　競売前に、展示室を訪れた６０代の男性は「子どもの頃は、安い家具が欲しければイケアと決まっていた」「自分で組み立てて、数年使ったら捨てるものだった」と振り返った。「それが８０年後の今、美術品、骨董（こっとう）品として競売にかけられているのはとても興味深い」
　イケア誕生の地エルムフルトにあるイケア・ミュージアムの学芸員は「光栄だ。８０年をかけて偉大なブランドをつくり上げたことが証明された」と話した。
　一方、人気商品が高額で取引されていることについては、「少し不満だ。私たちはすべての人のために物作りをしているのだから」と述べた。
　ビンテージ調の流行を受け、イケアはこのほど昔の人気デザインをリメークした新コレクションを発表した。キャッチコピーは「未来への回帰」だ。
　競売会社のパンプ氏は、知らずに「お宝」の上に座っている人も多いはずだと指摘する。古いイケア家具を持っている人は古物商に電話して査定を依頼するように提案し「われわれももちろんお手伝いします！」と話した。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2023/12/29-17:01）

At a chic Stockholm auction house, 122 carefully-curated items with unusual provenance went under the hammer on Monday evening: vintage furnishings from flatpack furniture retailer Ikea was sold for a total of 37,000 euros ($40,000).
Collectors' interest has blossomed over the years for Ikea pieces that have become design icons, as the Swedish company -- normally known for more budget-friendly piece -- celebrates its 80th anniversary this year.
Inside the showrooms at Stockholm's Auktionsverk, the world's oldest auction house, a tubular sofa, a lacquered chest of drawers and even a pair of space age lamps take pride of place.
The pieces, which date from the 1950s to the 1990s, are all marked with the stamp of the famous Swedish brand known around the world for its DIY furniture.
I've been working in the auction industry for almost 30 years, and if somebody when I started would have said that 'One day you will host an Ikea auction in a very nice showroom', I would have said 'No, no, that's absolutely that's not possible', laughed Li Pamp, head of the auction house.
Ikea has in many ways been controversial, she noted, citing the company's history of copying and following trends and criticised for environmental and sustainability reasons.
But there are also some items that stand out, Pamp said.
Many very famous designers have been at some point in their career involved in Ikea. And for many, Ikea was the starting point of their career.
Tableware, furniture, mirrors, lights: more than 100 pieces curated from private homes were sold at Monday's auction. A red sofa sold in Ikea stores in 1972 for the equivalent of 120 euros went under the hammer for 2,000 euros.
Earlier this year, an Ikea Cavelli armchair made headlines when it sold for 18,000 euros at another Stockholm auction -- a fortune compared to the around 27 euros it cost when it first went on sale in 1958.
As I remember it as a young child, if you wanted some cheap furniture you'd go to Ikea, said Thomas Raber, in his 60s, appearing elegant as he meandered through the showroom ahead of Monday's auction.
You put it together yourself, and then when you'd had it for a few years, you'd throw it away, he recalled.
And now 80 years later, it's here and it's being auctioned as a piece of art, an antique. I think that's fascinating.
- 'Journey back in time' -
For Anette Aly, a 78-year-old Swede who bought her first sofa at an Ikea store in 1963, it's a journey back in time.
I see the things I saw 40-50 years in the store!
The emergence of a high-end vintage market hasn't escaped the retailer.
It's flattering. It's confirmation that we've created the greatest brand in over 80 years, raves Thea Mix Davidsson, collection curator at the Ikea Museum in the company's hometown of Almhult.
The high prices for the coveted pieces are the only thing that bugs us a little bit. We are meant to design for everyone.
Picking up on the trend for all things vintage, Ikea has launched a new collection with fresh takes on iconic Ikea designs, with the slogan return to the future.
With that market booming, Pamp said many people could literally be sitting on unknown treasures.
It could be that people have valuable Ikea items at home without knowing it, she said, urging them to give the auction house a call for an evaluation.
We will of course help you!