Stockholms Auktionsverk recently confirmed (18 August, 2025) the completion of its acquisition of Uppsala Auktionskammare – a historic merger between two of Sweden’s most prestigious players in the quality auction market. The transaction, was announced June 25, 2025, uniting the two auction houses under the brand Stockholms Auktionsverk. This transaction continues the worldwide trend to consolidate auction houses as such businesses become more complex and international. The cost and scale of the necessary investments are more easily born when their footprint broadens.
With this completed transaction, “Together, Stockholms Auktionsverk and Uppsala Auktionskammare form the country’s largest team of specialists in Fine Art, design, and antiques. With roots stretching back to the Baroque era, a combined 645 years of auction experience, expertise, and passion are now brought together under one roof.
“This is a milestone for our industry. With Uppsala Auktionskammare’s entrepreneurial drive, strong client relationships, and outstanding expertise in Fine Art, we sharpen our specialist capabilities. At the same time, we retain the benefits of our extensive digital scale and leverage the fact that we are the Swedish auction house with the widest network of regional branches. This creates value for both sellers and buyers in Sweden and internationally,” says Cecilia Gave, CEO of Stockholms Auktionsverk.”
Founded in 1674, the firm is the oldest auction house in the western world and has, for more than 350 years, been a central marketplace for Swedish and international cultural history. From its earliest days the Swedish monarchy was associated with the firm. Famed monarch King Charles XI auctioned war trophies in the 17th century with them. In the 18th century Swedish King Gustav III acquired Rembrandt’s painting, the Kitchen Maid in their auction rooms.
Along the way, Stockholms Auktionsverk itself was sold by auction in 1733. With the house, was included the exclusive right to sell at auction on Stockholm.
More recently, the firm’s art has been making headlines, the works of Anders Zorn, Marc Chagall, Bruno Liljefors, Owe Zerge, and Gunnar Asplund have been sold by them.
More recently, along with art, books and libraries, the firm has added lifestyle auctions. Auctions reflect society’s changing values.
With the largest branch network of any Swedish auction house, the company is a leading force in the Nordic quality auction market.
Among the 15,441,837 auction records in Rare Book Hub’s Transactions+ database, it includes 29 of their auctions dating from 2014.
![<b>Sotheby’s, Jan. 27:</b> [World War II]. An archive of maps and files documenting the allied campaign in Europe, from the early stages of planning for D-Day and Operation Overlord, to Germany’s surrender. $200,000 to $300,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/9d2762bc-9f26-47ef-96de-1c28070e19f6.png "<b>Sotheby’s, Jan. 27:</b> [World War II]. An archive of maps and files documenting the allied campaign in Europe, from the early stages of planning for D-Day and Operation Overlord, to Germany’s surrender. $200,000 to $300,000.")