Georg Jensen A/S

Georg Jensen A/S
Industry Retail
Founded April 19, 1904 (1904-04-19) in Copenhagen, Denmark
Founder Georg Jensen
Headquarters Søndre Fasanvej 7, 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark
Areas served
 Worldwide
Key people
 Hazem Ben-Gacem (Chairman)
Francesco Pesci (CEO)
Parent Investcorp
Subsidiaries Georg Jensen Investment ApS
Website Official website
A Georg Jensen shop at Strøget, Copenhagen

Georg Jensen A/S (originally Georg Jensens Sølvsmedie A/S) is a Danish designer company with focus on silverware. It was founded by famed silversmith Georg Jensen in 1904.

History

A Georg Jensen Thermos

After finishing at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in 1892, Georg Jensen tried his hand at clay sculptures, before moving to the applied arts. He began as a modeller at the Bing & Grøndahl porcelain factory and, in 1898 he had small pottery workshop. In 1901, he abandoned ceramics and resumed work as a silversmith and designer with the master, Mogens Ballin.[1] This led Jensen to make a landmark decision, when in 1904, he risked what small capital he had and opened his own little silversmithy at 36 Bredgade in Copenhagen.

In 1909, Jensen opened his first shop in Berlin, and the following year, he received a gold medal for the work he displayed at the International Exhibition in Brussels. In 1912, he opened a larger workshop and a larger retail shop in Copenhagen.[1]

The company's Berlin store entered a period of financial trouble with the beginning of World War I. The company did, however, enjoy international success, winning the grand Prix at the 1915 world's fair, with William Randolph Hearst reportedly buying the whole exhibition.[2]

Georg served as director until 1924 and continued as creative leader until his death in 1935.

Modern

Royal Copenhagen purchased Georg Jensen in 1972 and merged it with Orrefors Kosta Boda, Boda-Nova Höganäs Keramik and the Venini, to create the Royal Scandinavia Group. In 2001, the private equity group Axcel Capital Partners bought Royal Scandinavia Group.[3] In 2012, Investcorp acquired Georg Jensen from Axcel for US$140 million.[4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Georg Jensen Jewelry Exhibition". Bard Graduate Center. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  2. ↑ Boom, Caroline. "The History of Georg Jensen". Antiques and Design. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  3. ↑ "New owners of Royal Scandinavia" (Press release). Carlsberg Group. 22 December 2000. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  4. ↑ DeMarco, Anthony (5 November 2012). "Georg Jensen Sold To Investment Group For $140 Million". Forbes. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
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