[AMUNDSEN, Roald (1872-1928)] - photo 1
[AMUNDSEN, Roald (1872-1928)] - photo 2

[AMUNDSEN, Roald (1872-1928)]

Lot 57
14.12.2022 10:30UTC +00:00
Classic
Sold
£ 138 600
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 870713
Lot 57 | [AMUNDSEN, Roald (1872-1928)]
Estimate value
£ 100 000 – 150 000
[AMUNDSEN, Roald (1872-1928)]

A Norwegian flag taken by Amundsen on his four major expeditions, to the North-West Passage, 1903-06, the South Pole, 14 December 1911, the North-East Passage, 1918-1920, and the North Pole, 13 May 1927.

Silk, approx. 380 x 530mm (the blue cross rather faded, some original staining), Amundsen's signature and the places and dates of his expeditions, in Norwegian, embroidered in white silk (perhaps over ink); pasted onto modern board. [With:] Portrait photograph signed ('Roald Amundsen') and inscribed in Norwegian to 'Mette from Uncle Roald', 24 December 1927, the image by Lomen Bros [Nome, Alaska]. Provenance: Amundsen's great-niece Mette Amundsen (1921-1980); and by descent.



A Norwegian flag carried by Amundsen on his four great expeditions. The Roald Amundsen House in Uranienborg has an identical flag on display in Amundsen's study, with the commentary:



'"This flag accompanied Roald Amundsen on all his voyages" ... According to a survey by Gustav “Goggen” Amundsen, Roald Amundsen took altogether twelve flags on the expeditions with Gjøa, Fram, Maud and Norge. One flag was given away by Amundsen during his trip to Japan in 1927, another he gave to King Haakon VII. Hjalmar Riiser-Larsen also received one, as did Amundsen’s good friend Fritz Gottlieb Zapffe. Zapffe’s flag is today on display at the Polar Museum in Tromsø'.



The present flag seems to be one of at least three which passed from Amundsen to his brother, Gustav, and on Gustav's death in 1930 to the latter's son, Gustav 'Goggen' Amundsen (father of Mette Amundsen). Flags given by Goggen to a founder of the Roald Amundsen Museum and to Einar Walther Nansen have sold at Sotheby's, 7 May 2009, lot 222 and 24 May 2022, lot 104. The staining on the present flag closely matches that on the second example, indicating that the staining is of early date and perhaps from one of Amundsen's voyages. According to family repute, the embroidered signature and records of his achievements on the present flag were executed by Amundsen himself in the last year of his life.





Special notice


This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice.
Place of origin:Northern Europe, Norway, Europe
Auction house category:Letters, documents and manuscripts
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
10.12.2022 – 13.12.2022
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
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