Anton Michelsen and Royal Copenhagen

Here's  a  superb and varied collection of jewelry from the workshops of the renowned Danish silversmith,  Anton Michelsen.   There are six pieces new to the site, mostly very rare. The rest  are returning favourites. The designers featured include Gertrud Engel, the 1950s foliage artist, and Eigil Jensen, who trained with Hans Hansen and created numerous outststanding modernist pieces during his 40 years with Anton Michelsen.

item  2180,  Eigil Jensen for Anton Michelsen, Sterling silver cuff bangle, SOLD

item 2181,  Eigil Jensen for Anton Michelsen, Sterling silver brooch, SOLD

item 2182,  Anton Michelsen Sterling silver clip earrings, cost  £65

item 2183,  Erik  Herløv for Anton Michelsen, silver gilt forget--me-not brooch,  SOLD

item 2184,  Erik  Herløv for Anton Michelsen, silver gilt forget--me-not bracelet, SOLD

item 2185,  Nils Thorsson for Royal Copenhagen Porcelain/Anton Michelsen pendant, 

item 0500,  Anton Michelsen silver stretchy spiral bangle, SOLD

item 0937, Gertrud Engel for Anton Michelsen, Sterling silver curled leaf brooch, SOLD

item 0294,  Gertrud Engel for Anton Michelsen, Sterling silver grass brooch,  SOLD

item 0043,  Gertrud Engel for Anton Michelsen, Sterling silver Viking Ship brooch, costs £ 75

item 0364,  Anton Michelsen medium silver gilt enamel daisy brooch, SOLD

item 0695,  Anton Michelsen very large silver gilt enamel daisy brooch, SOLD

Michelsen very large and medium daisy brooches. 

item 0759,  Eigil Jensen for Anton Michelsen, Sterling silver boomerang ear clips, SOLD

item 0934,  Royal Copenhagen Porcelain/Anton Michelsen, Flora Danica buttercup pendant/brooh, costs  £145

The Anton Michelsen Silversmithy was founded in 1841, and had thus long celebrated its centenary when it was bought up by the Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Manufactory in 1968. As Royal Copenhagen then went on to purchase Georg Jensen as well, Michelsen was gradually merged with Jensen, and today only the annual forks and spoons bear the Michelsen name.

NB.
1. Georg Jensen was apprenticed to Anton Michelsen in the 1890s, not the other way around! Several of the most popular late 20th century Jensen pieces were actually originally designed for Michelsen.

2. In the 1850s Michelsen was commissioned to redesign the Royal medals and has been making these by appointment ever since. Hence the expertise in enamelwork which led to
3. the most popular jewellery design of the twentieth century , the Marguerite Daisy, created in 1940 to celebrate the birth of Princess (later Queen) Margrethe. 

4. After its takeover by Royal Copenhagen in 1968, silver designers were encouraged to work with ceramicists, which resulted in some very interesting and sought-after creations.

5. At least since 1950 Anton Michelsen acknowledged its designers by stamping their signatures on each piece.  The Michelsen company commissioned such innovative designers such as
Karen Strand,  Gertrud Engel,  Eigil Jensen,  Nanna & Jørgen Ditzel,  Knud V Andersen and Jens Windfeld Hansen.

6. Michelsen set up a subsidiary in Sweden during the WWII and for some time after. MIC was the maker's mark used for items produced in Sweden, and this mark is often seen on Gertrud Engel designs of the 1950s, although they were also made in Denmark. In Sweden they also cooperated with the Swedish company Borgila.

Source:
Antik & Auktion 4/99