Dutch jeweler Georg Arthur Jensen 1866-1935

Modernist style moth and flowers round brooch pendant. Sterling silver. Work by Dutch jeweler Georg Arthur Jensen (1866-1935)
Dutch jeweler Georg Arthur Jensen
Born in the city of Raadwad, north of Copenhagen, Georg Arthur Jensen (1866-1935) – a famous Danish jeweler, silversmith, founder of the company Georg Jensen. Aged fourteen, Georg began to study sculpture. Next, he graduated from the Danish Academy of Fine Arts where he studied jewelry design. After finishing his studies in 1884, young Jensen got the opportunity to pursue his own artistic interests. So, he traveled the world, honing his skills.
Jensen worked with ceramics, silver, and in 1904 opened his workshop in the center of Copenhagen. Here he became widely recognized for the elaborate jewelry in the art-deco style.
Although Jensen himself was an adherent of the modernist style, he had the wisdom and foresight to give the designer freedom of expression. Accordingly, this expanded his stylistic framework as a manufacturer and allowed him to keep up with the times.
He opened stores in Berlin, Stockholm, Paris, London, and in 1924 – in New York. Georg Jensen created a world-renowned brand, died in 1935 at the age of 69. Jensen was ahead of his time, both as a silversmith and a jeweler, and in the field of trade. Noteworthy, the brand created by him exists to this day, with stores located all over the world. The crown in the Georg Jensen brand logo underlines its age, tradition and quality. Besides, in Danish brands, the crown indicates that the brand is a supplier of the royal court.
The grape motif is one of the symbols of the heritage of Georg Jensen, who expanded the boundaries of silver design. One of his favorite themes is the creation of complex natural elements. The idea of grapes appeared in the early 1900s, during his trip to Italy. While working, he carefully studied the paintings of famous Italian artists, which depicted grapes, such as Caravaggio. In the 1920s, Jensen arranged works with grapes in the central place of his personal exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in Copenhagen. These works attracted a lot of attention. After 3 years of work, Jensen decorated the most important event of that period – the silver anniversary of the wedding of King Christian X and Queen Alexandra.
Initially, Jensen produced silverware, which was very popular in the XIX century. However, now the main areas of the brand are jewelry and watches. For more than 100 years Georg Jensen jewelry is famous for its recognizable style, great quality and attention to the details. Yet, to this day, Georg Jensen silverware remains one of the best in the world.