The craftsman of Troostwijk Auctions
The craftsman of Troostwijk Auctions
How every auction won becomes a chapter in our buyer's life
Behind every purchase lies a person, a story, and often a little adventure. One of those stories belongs to Wolfgang Mudrich from the Berlin area, an entrepreneur with a big heart for craftsmanship, history, and unique discoveries.
“I’m a true village kid,” Wolfgang says with a smile. “Where I grew up, it was never about money, it was about giving and sharing. That’s still how I live.” For decades, he has been running his own carpentry business, where craftsmanship and precision are at the core. But in his spare time, he often browses at troostwijkauctions.com, always on the lookout for special objects with character.
He still remembers his first purchase vividly: two saunas in 2020. “I actually stumbled upon Troostwijk Auctions by accident and thought, why not? The process was smooth and well-organized. From that moment, I was hooked.” He upgraded the first sauna himself. “The benches were a bit narrow, so I rebuilt them in my workshop. Now it fits perfectly, completely custom-made.” The second sauna is still a work in progress, he adds proudly. “It’s for our house by the Baltic Sea. It will be placed in the garden, overlooking the water. It’s going to be our own little piece of wellness at home.”
Since then, Wolfgang has made around a dozen purchases, from industrial vacuum cleaners to a huge cast-iron pan a meter wide, which later found a new life with a friend’s catering business. But one purchase really stands out: a collection of palm trees. “In 2023, I bought ten beautiful palm trees, each about four meters tall,” he says enthusiastically. “They are now in our garden and instantly create that sunny, Mediterranean feeling. Every time I see them, it feels like a mini vacation.”
One of his favorite finds is an old Wurlitzer jukebox, a dream come true. “I had always wanted one of those classic music boxes. When I finally found one, I had it completely restored. Now it lights up my home with that warm glow and nostalgic sound. Every time I turn it on, it takes me right back to my younger days.”
The restoration even led to a new friendship. “The man who repaired it has become a close friend. He helps me with the jukebox, and I help him with carpentry work. A perfect win-win.”
Wolfgang still lives near Berlin, where his business is based, but his heart belongs to the Baltic Sea, where he owns a historic house that he is lovingly restoring. “It’s a beautiful old property with history, right by the coast. Eventually, my wife and I plan to live there permanently. For now, we are renovating it step by step, room by room, filling it with unique finds from Troostwijk Auctions.”
The house is slowly taking shape, filled with warmth and character. “I want it to reflect the charm of the seaside, a blend of history, wood, and water,” Wolfgang explains. “When you walk inside, I want you to feel like you have stepped aboard an old ship.” Recently, he added twelve rustic dining chairs to the collection. “They came from the Netherlands and were exactly what I was looking for. They fit perfectly with the old interior of the house,” he says proudly.
He also purchased round ship windows, once part of a former US Army base. “They were originally used on military ships, but I’m giving them a new purpose. I’ll install them in the floor so that natural light can shine through into the rooms below. It’s not just practical, it adds a beautiful nautical touch.”
Wolfgang’s love for old, characterful objects runs through all his purchases. “What I love about Troostwijk Auctions,” he says, “is that everything gets a second life. Every piece tells its own story. It doesn’t feel like shopping, it feels like treasure hunting. You never know what you’ll find, and that’s what makes it exciting.”
And if he could wish Troostwijk Auctions anything for its 95th anniversary? “That the friendship continues for many years to come,” he says sincerely. “I’ve always felt that someone truly listens and cares. That means a lot to me.”
