This elegant brooch, part of the Moonlight collection, depicts stylized butterflies perched onflowers designed by Arno Malinowski for Georg Jensen, dating from circa 1942. Arno Malinowski was one of Georg Jensen's key designers, introducing naturalist and stylized motifs of flowers and animals. Malinowski Designs for Georg Jensen are highly sought after being some of the most iconic pieces of Georg Jensen Jewelry.(courtesy The High Boy) 2 1/4" diameter. Clasp is strong and sound.
Georg Jensen was a Danish silversmith who began his training originally as a goldsmith at the age of 14 under the Danish silversmith Mogens Baillin. He was the son of a knife grinder from the town of Raadvad, just north of Copenhagen.
Jensen opened his own shop in Copenhagen in Denmark in 1904 and is well know today for his fine quality Art Nouveau creations. These creations have been signed in a number of different ways and although he died in 1935, his namesake company continues to produce pieces bearing his signature today.
The Arts & Crafts Movement (1880-1914), refers to a group of craftsmen, artists, designers and architects who wanted to raise the status of the applied arts to that of the fine arts. The aim of this movement, which was shared by Georg Jensen, was to make everyday items objects of beauty, which working people could afford. The Arts & Crafts movement was in full swing when Georg Jensen began work.
When the First World War struck, Jensen's company created the famous iron jewellery to save the company's dwindling stock of silver. Jensen's jewellery pieces include brooches, rings and cuff-links, hat pins, with his earlier work being very collectable and often found at auction.
By the 1920s, Georg Jensen had received honours and accolades that established his importance in the art world. His career was of great significance for the design of his jewellery. His training, first as a silversmith and later as a sculptor, was invaluable when he returned to the work of an artisan and began to design jewellery. Not only did he exploit the potentials of the metal, he also combined silver with 'warm' semi-precious stones such as amber, coral, opals and malachite. Like none other before him, he gave the surface of the silver life, at the same time using stones to bring colour to the pieces. By using stones in ovals, drops and triangles, he created a surprising contrast between the stones and the detailed treatment of the silver which absolutely makes the pieces distinctive and attractive.
Jewellery represented the majority of his production. The quality and beauty of Jensen's personal work is now recognised by collectors the world over.
Jensen's fame spread worldwide and, in spite of continued financial struggle, the company grew. A larger workshop was found at Ragnagade, where the smithy remained until 1988.
The company has won many awards of the years, including the Medaille d'Or in Brussels in 1910; a Diplome d'Honneur in Gent in 1913; a Grand Prix at San Francisco in 1915; and a Grand Prix in Rio de Janeiro in 1923.
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