In addition to having invented an alloy that drastically reduced the foundry production costs associated with making bronze, copper and brass, Danish designer and silversmith Just Andersen created sculptural furnishings, accessories and decor that are widely coveted and collectible today. Disko, an alloy made of lead, tin and antimony, shares characteristics with brass, and many of Andersen’s antique candle holders, vases and vessels and other decorative objects — produced in Art Nouveau, Scandinavian neoclassical and Art Deco styles — contain this material.
Growing up in Greenland, Andersen was originally a sculptor and painter. He moved to Copenhagen and attended the Royal Academy of Art and the School of Danish Crafts. At the latter, he studied under Jens Møller Jensen.
Andersen trained in silversmithing in Copenhagen with Mogens Ballin and with the revered Danish silver firm Peter Hertz. Working in Ballin’s workshop after it had changed hands when the founder’s wife fell ill during the early 1900s, Andersen sharpened and refined his skills. He completed unfinished projects of Ballin’s when he passed away in 1914, sometimes partnering with Jean Rene Gauguin in order to do so. Andersen opened Just Andersen Pewter in 1918, where he produced objects in silver and gold but also in pewter, bronze and his alloy, disko, which he named after Greenland’s Disko Bay.
Andersen created designs for Georg Jensen, Peter Hertz, A. Michelsen and other manufacturers. He opened showrooms in several cities including Berlin and Los Angeles. Andersen’s work is held in the collections of museums all over the world.
Find antique Just Andersen decorative objects, lighting and ceramics on 1stDibs.
Just Andersen Art Deco Pewter Dish / Ashtray, Model 2350, Denmark, 1930s
By Just Andersen
Located in Stockholm, SE
Decorative Art Deco pewter dish designed by Just Andersen, Denmark, circa 1930s. Model 2350, featuring a beautifully fluted and sculptural rim surrounding a shallow central bowl. Ori...
Pewter
$180Sale Price|30% Off
H 12 in W 24 in D 10 in
Bohemian Feigl and Morawetz Libochovice Art Deco Glass Polar Bears Ashtray 1930s
Located in Lucenec, SK
Made by Feigl and Morawetz Libochovice and designed by the Czech sculptor Karel Zentner. An antique figurative ashtray made out of clear pressed glass, partially frosted. Figurative ...
Art Glass, Glass
Bulé yellow glass ashtray, Art Deco, 1930
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
It's a Bulé yellow glass ashtray with decorations inside. The color is somewhere between transparent and yellow-green. The green is very thick. It's a typical example of Art Deco gla...
Glass
Oval Vintage Pewter Tray by Just Andersen Art Deco Denmark, 1930s
By Just Andersen
Located in Montecalvoli, IT
Oval vintage pewter tray by Just Andersen Art Deco Denmark, 1930s This beautiful oval vintage tray by Just Andersen was designed and manufactured in Denmark in the 1930s. The tin bo...
Pewter
Le Corbusier Glass Ashtray, France, 1930s
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Iconic square glass ashtray inspired by the timeless design associated with Le Corbusier. Crafted in thick molded glass with a geometric grid pattern, it perfectly embodies the clean architectural lines and functional aesthetic of the Art Deco and early Modernist periods. Its substantial weight, minimalist form, and textured surface make it equally suitable as an ashtray, catchall, or decorative desk accessory. A true design classic that complements both vintage and contemporary interiors. Style : Art Deco Modern Bauhaus Key Features : Thick molded glass construction France, 1930s Iconic square design attributed to the Le Corbusier style Geometric grid texture Heavy, durable construction Can be used as an ashtray, vide-poche, or desk tray Timeless architectural design Keywords : Le Corbusier ashtray, glass ashtray, square glass ashtray, Art Deco ashtray, Modernist glass, Bauhaus design, French glass ashtray, vintage glass tray...
Glass, Art Glass
Bronze Ashtray by Niels Dam Ravn, 1930s, Denmark
By Nordisk Malm, N. Dam Ravn
Located in Værløse, DK
Bronze Ashtray designed by Niels Dam Ravn in the 1930s. * Bronze ashtray with lid with motif of a deer * Designer: Niels Dam Ravn * Manufacturer: No...
Brass
Art deco ashtray by Demeyere, 1930s
By Demeyere
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Art deco chromed ashtray with bakelite by Demeyere. Beautiful art deco design. 1930s - Belgium Dimensions: Height: 72cm/28.34" Width: 38cm/14.96" depth: 24cm/9.44" Ref.: 741421
Chrome
$386
H 1.97 in W 7.88 in D 4.73 in
Vintage Art Deco Glass Ashtray with Crystal Glass and Metal, Italy, 1930s
Located in Montecalvoli, IT
Vintage Art Deco Glass Ashtray - Crystal Glass and Metal - Timeless Design Italy 1930s - Glass Art, Elegant Gift Idea, Table Decoration This rare vintage ashtray from the 1930s comb...
Metal
Art Deco Ashtray by Demeyere, 1930s
By Demeyere
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Art deco chromed ashtray with bakelite by Demeyere. Beautiful art deco design. 1930s - Belgium Dimensions: Height: 72cm/28.34" Width: 38cm/14.96" depth: 24cm/9.44" Ref...
Chrome
Art Deco Glass Ashtray by Maurice Marinot, France, c. 1930s
By Maurice Marinot
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Art Deco Glass Ashtray by Maurice Marinot, France, c. 1930s An exceptional glass ashtray by Maurice Marinot (1882–1960), one of the most influential figures in early 20th-century Fr...
Art Glass
$175
H 1.25 in W 6.25 in D 4 in
1930s Style Art Deco Machine Age Copper Toned and Bakelite Double Ashtray.
Located in Seattle, WA
An 1930s style Art Deco ashtray featuring a sleek Machine Age aesthetic. Constructed from deep brown possible Bakelite and accented with polished copper toned ribbed bands along the ...
Bakelite
Bo Fajans. Ceramic advertising ashtray. Art Deco style, 1930s/40s.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Bo Fajans Ashtray, 1930/40s. Ceramic advertising ashtray with impressed text : BÖHLMARK & C:o, MORA, Frosts KNIVAR”. Classic Art Deco design with green glaze and relief details. Or...
Ceramic
Pewter Ice Bucket made by Just Andersen, 1930s, Denmark
By Just Andersen
Located in Værløse, DK
Elegant Pewter Ice bucket made by Just Andersen in the 1930s * Ice bucket in Pewter with removable insert drainer and lugs * Designer: Just Andersen * Model: 1959 * Year: 1937–193...
Pewter
Swedish Art Deco Bronze Figural Candleholder / Ashtray by GAB, 1930s
By Just Andersen, GAB Guldsmedsaktiebolaget
Located in Stockholm, SE
A striking and sculptural Swedish Art Deco bronze candleholder / ashtray by Guldsmedsaktiebolaget (GAB), dating to the 1930s. This rare and highly decorative piece features a styliz...
Bronze