designed for: Anton Michelsen
Denmark
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 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.
Designers of the mid and late 20th century include:
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.
Source:
Antik & Auktion 4/99
products
AM Sterling silver horseshoe cufflinks
AM Sterling silver horseshoe brooch
AM Eigil Jensen green enamel leaf brooch
AM Viking Longship Brooch
AM Eigil Jensen Boomerang brooch
AM Strand brooch & Ditzel earrings
AM Royal Copenhagen Sterling ceramic heart
AM Large Marguerite enamel daisy brooch
AM EJ double boomerang ear clips
AM KVA Sterling 'bark' sunburst earrings (clips)
AM KVA Sterling abstract 'bark' ring
AM KVA Sterling abstract 'bark' brooch
AM Marguerite blue enamel daisy cufflinks
AM Marguerite enamel daisy earrings - clips
Georg Jensen AM Marguerite enamel daisy earrings - screws
AM Large Marguerite enamel daisy brooch
Anton Michelsen Engel Holly brooch/pin
AM Karen Strand Persian Palm brooch
Rare AM EJ modernist earrings, clips
AM Royal Copenhagen cufflinks 3, black & white
AM Royal Copenhagen Cufflinks 2, white
AM Eigil Jensen modernist brooch
AM Sterling modernist cuff bangle
AM Medium Marguerite enamel daisy brooch
AM Royal Copenhagen pendant and chain
AM Engel stylised Leaf Brooch
AM Gertrud Engel Earrings
A. Michelsen Bullrush brooch
AM G Engel Grass brooch & earrings
K V Andersen craggy ring
