The international auction house Phillips is presenting The Collection of Ambassador John L. Loeb Jr., a remarkable group of artworks that reflects both a personal passion for Scandinavian culture and an important chapter in art collecting history. The sale, held across Phillips’ London and New York salesrooms, brings nearly 150 works to market and is regarded as one of the most significant private collections of Danish art ever assembled. John L. Loeb Jr., who served as United States Ambassador to Denmark from 1981 to 1983, began forming the collection during his diplomatic tenure in Copenhagen. Immersed in Danish culture and artistic heritage, he developed a deep appreciation for the country’s painters of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, eventually building what is considered the largest private collection of Danish art outside Denmark.
At the heart of the offering are works by the celebrated painter Vilhelm Hammershøi, known for his quiet interiors and subtle explorations of light. Several examples from his renowned Strandgade interiors, painted in Copenhagen around the turn of the twentieth century, rank among the highlights of the sale, with estimates reaching several million dollars. The collection also includes paintings by notable Danish artists such as Bertha Wegmann, P. S. Krøyer and Anna Ancher, reflecting the richness of Denmark’s artistic tradition during this period. In the context of Phillips’ auction programme, which often features contemporary figures such as Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat, the Loeb collection stands apart for its focus on quieter Scandinavian painting and its atmospheric, introspective scenes. It seems fitting that this remarkable collection is accompanied by a curation of designs from Invisible Collection’s roster.
Like an imaginary collector’s home, each space is imbued with the confident aura of assured taste — one that needs no explanation. Rare paintings by Danish masters resonate with furniture pieces created by contemporary star designers from Invisible Collection. The quietude and beauty of 19th-century art are revealed from a new perspective when paired with bespoke furniture from the 21st century. Highlights include new seating by Leo Sentou presented in a salon-like display, the bold Doucet armchair dressed in Dedar, and a variety of elegant stools in precious wood and marble. An unmistakable Clam chair alongside Louise Liljencrantz’s Cloud coffee table stands as a nod to the Danish, and more broadly Scandinavian, atmosphere that inhabits the space. The overall décor reflects Ambassador Loeb’s words: speaking to Phillips, he recalls collecting art he “feels comfortable with and comforted by.” Whether art or design (if one can still make the distinction), the act of collecting is always about finding the piece one feels comfortable living with. Quite literally.
This exhibition, scheduled to last only a few more days, further cements Invisible Collection’s bond with the world of collecting, and specifically with Phillips: in addition to an upcoming collaboration in New York, we launched a year-long residency at Phillips Los Angeles.
