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Lot Essay
According to Michael Von Essen, Curator and Founder of the Georg Jensen Museum, Copenhagen, the building depicted on this matchbox was the headquarters of the Swedish match firm Krueger and Toll. In the early 20th century, Ivar Krueger, known as "The Match King," acquired patents worldwide to monopolize the match trade.
Krueger was also an avid collector of Georg Jensen silver, and he outfitted his house with many pieces, including 12 silver chandeliers by the firm. Krueger commissioned Jensen to produce large and small silver matchboxes decpicting his newly-built headquarters , located in Västra Trädgardsgatan. The architect of tyhe building was Ivar Tengbom (1878-1968), who also designed the Concert House in Stockholm.
Krueger's unscrupulous business practices resulted in the collapse of his financial empire. He committed suicide in 1931. His checkered life story was made into the 1932 movie, The Match King.
Krueger was also an avid collector of Georg Jensen silver, and he outfitted his house with many pieces, including 12 silver chandeliers by the firm. Krueger commissioned Jensen to produce large and small silver matchboxes decpicting his newly-built headquarters , located in Västra Trädgardsgatan. The architect of tyhe building was Ivar Tengbom (1878-1968), who also designed the Concert House in Stockholm.
Krueger's unscrupulous business practices resulted in the collapse of his financial empire. He committed suicide in 1931. His checkered life story was made into the 1932 movie, The Match King.