Freeman’s | Hindman has announced the upcoming auction Design for Living: A Private Collection of Georg Jensen Silver, taking place on December 11 in New York City.
This extraordinary single-owner collection brings together rare examples of Georg Jensen’s silver hollowware representing the very best of the Danish silversmith’s craftsmanship.
“This collection brings together formative works from Jensen and his team of designers that illustrate the development of the eponymous Jensen Style that would define the firm’s aesthetic throughout the 20th century and into the future,” said Nick Coombs, Senior Specialist, European Furniture and Decorative Arts, and Head of Sale. “Throughout the sale, designs by Johan Rohde, Sigvard Bernadotte, and Harald Nielsen join works designed by Georg Jensen himself to create a vision of modernity and craftsmanship that collectors, decorators, and designers will recognize as the pinnacles of the Danish firm’s oeuvre.”
Gemma Sudlow, Executive Vice President and Managing Director New York Region, added: “We are looking forward to partnering with Danish designer and tastemaker Helene Blanche to include her beautiful and timeless fabric and wallpaper designs in our sale promotion. Our 1905 townhome on New York’s Upper East Side, with its architectural and design features from the 1930s, will be the perfect setting to showcase this prestigious private collection.”
Design for Living: A Private Collection of Georg Jensen Silver draws from the zenith of Jensen’s oeuvre, featuring a diverse array of forms. Many of the items in this collection bear marks dating their creation to the lifetime of Georg Jensen (1866-1935) and celebrated designers such as Johan Rohde (1856-1935), Harald Nielsen (1892-1977), and Sigvard Bernadotte (1907-2002).
The collection also highlights how motifs and styles have evolved over the years while preserving the Jensen firm’s core artistic identity. Showcasing recognizable designs like the iconic grapevine, blossom, cactus, and louvre motifs, it also includes rare, standout works that typify the unique vision of the designers who contributed to the firm’s global reputation.
Among the highlights of the auction are a pair of large five-light silver candelabra designed by Johan Rohde (estimate: $50,000 – $70,000), blending classical themes with Jensen’s distinctive grape cluster and dolphin motifs, embodying the firm’s vision of harmonizing modernity with classicism. Almost 50 years after the Rohde candelabra were created, Sigvard Bernadotte’s No. 855B candlesticks (estimate: $5,000 – $7,000) echo the same fluted columns and refined details, exemplifying the craftsmanship and design that defined the Jensen firm.
The top lots from Design for Living: A Private Collection of Georg Jensen Silver will be showcased internationally, starting with a special exhibition at Freeman’s | Hindman’s sister auction house, Lyon & Turnbull, in London October 8 – 10. The collection will then return stateside where it will be displayed in Freeman’s | Hindman’s New York gallery beginning on December 6 through to the auction on December 11.