Bergman bidders smash estimates in Stockhlom

Movie buffs, collectors and Ingmar Bergman fans gathered in Stockholm on Monday to bid for the legendary film-maker's personal items, with many going for more than 10 times their estimate.

A total of 339 objects from Bergman's home on the remote Baltic island of Faaroe were for sale, in line with his wishes to avoid disputes within his large family - he had nine children by six women - over his belongings.

"I'm surprised because of the prices! I couldn't dream of that!" auctioneer Tom Oesterman said during a break from the auction that was set to go on into the night. "Now we really see how big Bergman is."

He described as "fantastic" the price paid for a wooden model of a theatre, that had an estimate of 15,000 kronors (€1,470) but went for 1,025,000 kronors (€100,500).

A photograph of Bergman alongside composer Igor Stravinsky with an estimate of 2,000 Swedish kronors went for 27,000 kronors.

Potential buyers bid by telephone, e-mail, internet with shouts from within the auctioneers' salesroom for items ranging from the mundane to the fantastic.

"Many are just curious, they will maybe make a bid, but they're more here to see," said Mr Oesterman.

A poster for the film Fanny and Alexander with a reserve of 4,000 kronors went for 22,000 kronors. A sculptured head covered in gold leaf with an estimate of 4,000 kronors went for 62,000.

A lithograph by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch of Swedish author August Strindberg - a source of inspiration for Bergman - went for 540,000 kronors.

"It's a good price," said Mr Oesterman. "On the international market, it's worth 240-250,000 kronors."