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A lidded box with geometric decoration by Hedwig Bollhagen made €600 (£540) and a brightly painted bowl by Werner Burri took a top-estimate €1200 (£1080).

Closely associated to the Bauhaus, but not as yet attributable to a particular artist, was a set of wooden Christmas decorations offered at Quittenbaum. The 18 pieces consisted of various geometric wooden shapes, threaded onto string. The forms were similar to those used by Oscar Schlemmer, another of the school’s all-rounders, in the figures of his futuristic Triadic Ballet.

The bidders were not put off by the lack of attribution and bid €5500 (£4955).

There was no doubt about the authorship of a wooden doll (previewed in ATG No 2395) in the same sale. It was designed by Schlemmer for his daughter and built by Josef Hartwig. It finally changed hands at €24,000 (£21,620).