For over a century, Georg Jensen has produced some of the finest objects in Scandinavian modern design, including silver tableware, serving pieces, home decor, jewelry and more, frequently partnering with leading artisans to expand its offerings and respond to shifting tastes. Known for minimal aesthetics that reference nature, the craftsmanship of this legendary Danish silverware firm has regularly married function with thoughtful and beautiful design.
Founder Georg Jensen (1866–1935) was born in the small town of Radvaad, Denmark, and began his training as a goldsmith at 14. After studying sculpture and then training with master silversmith Mogens Ballin, he established his own silver business in Copenhagen in 1904. By 1918, the company was successful enough to open a shop in Paris.
Jensen’s firm produced an incredibly vast range of silver objects, from serving dishes and barware to centerpieces and chandeliers. For his early work, which bore ornate floral details and other organic forms of Art Nouveau, Jensen looked to the splendors of the natural world. The 1905 Blossom teapot, for instance, was topped with a magnolia bud and deftly balanced on toad feet, while some of Jensen’s best-known flatware patterns included Lily of the Valley, introduced in 1913, and Acorn, which debuted in 1915.
Collaboration with outside designers, long before such partnerships were common in design, would lead to some of the company’s most popular and enduring work of the mid-century. Sigvard Bernadotte and Vivianna Torun Bülow-Hübe created collections, as did Henning Koppel, whose curvy 1952 Pregnant Duck pitcher is a Georg Jensen classic.
After evolving and expanding throughout the 20th century, Georg Jensen was acquired by Investcorp in 2012. Today, the company is a global luxury brand with more than 1,000 stores around the world. It continues to produce seductive new pieces, such as a tea service made with Marc Newson in 2015, as well as timeless heritage designs, including the relaunch in 2019 of the 1018 solid sterling-silver Tureen 270. In 2020, the firm introduced the Jardinière 1505. Sculptural and richly decorative, the never-before-realized showpiece is hand-hammered from sheets of the finest sterling silver and is based on a 1915 sketch from Jensen’s archives.
Find an exquisite collection of Georg Jensen serveware, ceramics, silver and glass today on 1stDibs.
1960s Georg Jensen Rock Crystal Bangle #203 Vivianna Torun
By Georg Jensen
Located in Toronto, ON
Georg Jensen Bangle topaz colour rock crystal model # 203B Designed by Vivianna Torun Bülow-Hübe C. 1969. Sterling Silver extremely rare design. Fits wrists up to 7 inches, tension c...
Crystal, Rock Crystal, Sterling Silver
1960s Bent Knudsen Denmark Rare Sterling Agate Bangle Bracelet
By Bent Knudsen
Located in Toronto, ON
Rare Sterling Silver Moss Agate Bangle, Bent Knudsen Denmark C.1960. Signed Bent K Sterling Denmark. Design number 173. Item Weight 60.48 grams. Will fit up to ...
Agate
Georg Jensen Astrid fog design Bangle No 222 C.1969
By Georg Jensen
Located in Toronto, ON
Georg Jensen Astrid fog design Bangle No 222 C.1969. Of open brick-work design, mounted in sterling silver, inner diameter 66mm, will fit up to average 6.75 -7.00 inch wrist. Each li...
Sterling Silver
1970's Georg Jensen Sterling Red Agate Necklace Vivianna Torun
By Georg Jensen
Located in Toronto, ON
Vivianna Torun Bulow Hube for George Jensen, a rare Sterling Silver Necklace with reddish brown banded agate detachable pendant on collar, Denmark, C. 1975, stamped Georg Jensen in a dotted oval, Denmark, Torun, 133 pendant and 160 collar and 925S. Will fit up to 16 inch neck, pendant drop approximately 2.75 inches, width of agate 2 inches. Item Weight: 123 grams. Ref: The Jewellery Box Jens Ingvordsen P.275. Vivianna Torun Bülow-Hube know as Torun, was born 1927 in Malmo, Sweden. Torun was the first woman silversmith in the world to gain international recognition. She studied at Konstfack, the School of Arts, Crafts and Design in Stockholm, beginning in 1945 while pregnant with her first child, Pia. Eventually she married the child's father, a Danish journalism student. In 1948, Torun spent the summer in Paris meeting Picasso, Braque, Matisse, and the other great artists of the day. She married a French architect and lived in Stockholm until 1956 having a second child, a son, Claude. As early as 1952, Torun exhibited her jewelry, made both in Stockholm and France (and bearing hallmarks from each country) in Paris. In 1956 she moved to France with her third husband, Walter Coleman. She designed jewelry for among others, Billie Holiday which Holiday wore when she performed. The couple moved to Biot in the south of France. Torun produced many pieces during this period when young Swedish silversmiths would come to work in her studio, introducing her to new techniques. Torun renewed her acquaintance with Picasso who lived in the area and an exhibition of Torun jewelry...
Agate, Sterling Silver
1970's Bengt Hallberg Modernist Swedish Silver Tigers Eye Ring
Located in Toronto, ON
Bengt Hallberg Modernist Swedish Silver & Tigers Eye Ring, 1970. The ring of a concave form, claw set with cabochon tiger’s eye. Full marks to shank for Bengt Hallberg 0.835 std and ...
Tiger's Eye, Silver
Bent Knudsen Scandinavian Mid-Century Sterling Ring
By Bent Knudsen
Located in Toronto, ON
Bent Knudsen Danish Sterling mid 20th century large plain polished ovoid abstract Ring, design 56 signed Bent K. Item Weight: 6.8 gm. Ring Size: 7-8 Condition: good. Black reflection...
Jewelry historian Vanessa Cron combed 1stDibs and selected some dazzling pieces with timeless appeal.
Motherhood is one of the influences that has shaped the longtime Georg Jensen collaborator's quietly powerful creations.
