Georg Jensen silver up for auction at Cotswold auctioneers

Lot 142 is a rare desk timepiece model 596 designed by Johan Rohde in the Art Deco style, (Est £10,000-15,000)

One of the largest single-owner collections of Georg Jensen silver to come on the market in recent years has been consigned to Cotswold auctioneers Kinghams and will come up for auction on May 14.

The curated collection comprises fifty Lots of choice pieces from the Danish master silversmith, showcasing the design credentials and manufacturing skills of this sought-after maker. It was built up over thirty years by a UK-based private connoisseur. Georg Arthur Jensen (1866-1935) was a Danish silversmith and the son of a knife grinder. He began his training as a goldsmith whilst in his teens and created his first piece of jewellery in 1899, and in 1904 opened his small silversmithy. He embraced the Art Nouveau style of the day and later the modernist lines of the Art Deco movement.

By the late 1920's he had opened retail stores in Europe and New York, where his products were admired and acquired by the fashionable elite. He employed the talents of leading designers of the day, such as Johan Rohde, Sigvard Bernadotte, and Harald Nielsen. He is celebrated today as one of the leading lights in Danish design, with work in museums such as the Danish Museum for Decorative Arts. The company is still in operation today, a testament to the longevity of the quality and craftsmanship of its founder. The collection coming up at Kinghams showcases a cross-section of his work, such as flatware, barware, writing accessories, lighting, hollowware, and even a timepiece. Highlights include Lot 151, a Harald Nielsen-designed model 462B silver cocktail shaker designed in 1925, (Est £3,000-5,000). Lot 143 is a monumental Johan Rohde-designed silver model 250B Queens silver footed bowl designed in 1917 and measuring 32.5cm high, (Est £10,000-15,000).

Lot 142 is a rare desk timepiece model 596 designed by Johan Rohde in the Art Deco style, (Est £10,000-15,000). Perhaps the most spectacular item on offer is Lot 144, a Skonvirke silver model 383A Grape pattern five-branch candelabrum designed in 1915. Known affectionately amongst collectors as the 'Octopus' candlestick, it carries an estimate of £12,000-15,000. The collection will be offered at Moreton in Marsh auctioneers Kinghams on Wednesday, May 14. For further information, please contact Adrian Rathbone at [email protected] or 01608 695695. The catalogue can be viewed at www.kinghamsauctioneers.com