Ancient Icelandic photograph vanished during auction
In the Crossfire of Carelessness or Criminality: A Priceless Icelandic Photograph's Disappearance
A cherished piece of Icelandic history, a rare 19th-century photograph of Reykjavík harbor, has vanished mysteriously during its time at Stockholms Auktionsverk, a renowned auction house tracing its roots back to 1674.
Historian Árni Freyr Magnússon stumbled upon the photograph while skimming the auction catalog. Upon further exploration, he found that the National Museum of Iceland lacked a copy of this priceless piece. Determined to save the photograph for the nation, he placed a bid, intending to donate it to the Icelandic Museum of Photography.
However, Magnússon's triumph at the auction was short-lived. When he attempted to arrange transportation for the photograph, he received jarring news—the very image he had fought to secure had vanished.
Questions Loom over Auction House's Handling and Responsibility
"I've no bloody idea what happened to it, and I'm positive this ain't appropriate practice, especially from a seasoned auction house like Stockholms Auktionsverk," Magnússon lamented. "It smacks of sheer unprofessionalism."
While cautioning against placing blame prematurely, Magnússon pointed out that the photograph's disappearance paints an uncomfortable picture, leaving room for suspicions of theft or simple loss.
"There aren't many photographs of Iceland from that era," he asserted. "This is a substantial blow if this one's gone for good."
According to Magnússon, the auction house indisputably held the photograph—it was cataloged, photographed, and listed online for sale. "At one point, they had the angelic beauty in their possession," he admitted. "It's not just any picture; it's a symbol of our cultural heritage."
A Rare Historical Snapshot
The elusive photograph is a stereoscopic image, capturing two slightly different perspectives to mimic human depth perception, taken by British Captain R.J. Henry between 1858 and 1862. The image was part of the extensive collection of the late Swedish filmmaker, photographer, and collector, Ove Renqvist.
Renqvist's extensive archive included one of Sweden's largest collections of stereoscopic images, adding to the photograph's rarity and historical significance. Its loss would not only be a cultural blow for Iceland but also leave a gaping void in the broader photographic record.
As of now, Magnússon continues to seek answers from Stockholms Auktionsverk regarding the photograph's fate.
The mystery surrounding the missing Icelandic photograph deepens, as its absence from Stockholms Auktionsverk raises concerns about both their handling and accountability. Meanwhile, the void left by the disappearance of this rare stereoscopic image from the 19th century potentially impacts not only Iceland's cultural heritage but also the broader historical record of stereoscopic imagery.
