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Georg Jensen SilverBy Judith Miller The name Georg Jensen has been synonymous with fine silver and exquisite design since the beginning of the 20th century. The young boy with a fascination for sculpting clay figures went on to become one of the most prominent designers in Europe.After graduating from Copenhagen's Kunstakademiet in 1892, Jensen took a job as foreman at the workshop of Mogens Ballin, where he learned about the Arts and Crafts movement and the idea that a craftsman should celebrate the properties of his raw materials. This doctrine was something that Jensen remained faithful to throughout his career - the delicate hand-hammered finishes on much of his work draw attention to the qualities of the silver, often in lieu of any other surface decoration. After dabbling with jewellery design as a side project, Jensen established his own workshops on Bredgade, a fashionable Copenhagen street, in 1904. Jensen's first experiments with jewellery were soon followed by a foray into holloware. 'Design No 2', an early teapot, displays many of the characteristics that came to be associated with Jensen silver. Resting on three claw feet, it has a simple form with graceful curves, a decorated finial and an elongated ivory handle. Soon Jensen began to hire other designers, many of whom produced work that is very highly regarded today. Jensen was at his lowest ebb when he first met the painter Johan Rohde in 1897, having just lost his first wife to kidney disease. Rohde agreed to exhibit a piece of Jensen's sculpture at his alternative 'Frie Udstillingen' art showcase. In 1905 it was Rohde's turn to approach Jensen, commissioning him to make silverware from his own clay models and initiating a collaboration that lasted the rest of their working lives. As Jensen's company grew it became necessary to conquer foreign markets in order to sustain growth, and this was something that Jensen took to with aplomb. At the 1914 Baltic Exhibition in Malmo he sold his entire stock to Niels Wenden, and appointed him his Swedish representative. The next year, Jensen travelled to California to exhibit at the Panama Pacific International Exposition. Once again, he returned home with hand luggage only, having sold everything in his show to the media magnate William Randolph Hearst. Georg Jensen silver continues to inspire this kind of single-minded devotion in many enthusiasts. The foremost contemporary dealer in antique Georg Jensen is The Silver Fund, which has outlets in London and New York. You might also try to acquire a piece at Lyon and Turnbull in Edinburgh - expect to pay around £1,000 for a teapot. A large and important piece signed by Jensen himself will cost many times that figure. Picture Above: A Georg Jensen silver lidded dish, with dolphin finial to cover, c 1925 5in (12.5cm) diam, $6,500. Credit: The Price Guide Company/The Silver Fund |
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