Jewellery, Watches, Silver and Objects of Vertu

Foreword

Georg Jensen initially studied sculpture at the Royal Danish Academy of Arts before working as a ceramicist. In 1902 he moved away from ceramics into silver, working for master silversmith Mogens Ballin. His designs proved popular and in 1904 he took the bold step to open his own silversmithy in Copenhagen, creating silver jewellery.

Having grown up in the countryside north of Copenhagen amidst lakes and forests, Jensen drew his inspiration from nature. Symbols of the natural world weave a common thread throughout his designs: fruits, blossoms, leaves and organic shapes, introducing a stylised vision of nature, with smooth surfaces and sculptural forms. Using enamel and semi-precious stones, his jewellery was affordable and accessible to all levels of society and quickly achieved popularity and commercial success. Jensen exhibited at several major foreign exhibitions, winning a gold medal at the Brussels Exhibition in 1910, and building a reputation as an outstanding and highly original silversmith. By 1924 he was producing silver jewellery and homewares within retail outlets in Paris, London and New York, and bringing in talented designers, whose names he actively promoted to design for the brand.

By 1935 the firm had branches worldwide and carried more than 3,000 patterns in open stock. Unlike other manufacturers, Jensen refused to discontinue old patterns. After his death the business was carried on by his son, Søren Georg Jensen. In 1973 the company became part of the Royal Scandinavia Group.

Noonans are delighted to offer for sale this significant Private Collection of Georg Jensen jewellery, including early examples that rarely come to the auction market.

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