A boxed sterling silver and stainless steel carving set. This exceptionally high quality, and very rare set is perhaps the finest way to carve up a family dinner, or serve up for a dinner party, from arguably the finest name in silver home goods, Georg Jensen. The set is comprised of a traditional carving fork, knife with the addition of the exceptionally rare and all sterling silver, double pronged meat fork, that Jensen cataloged as a "Spit" fork. This particular piece is very seldom seen.
Both the fork and knife are stamped on base of the handles with the post 1945 oval beaded edge 'George Jensen' mark, along with the desirable and very rare additional designer's signature "Sigvard", for Sigvard Bernadotte. The Spit fork displays the "Sigvard" signature one side, and the Jensen makers mark, along with "Sterling Denmark", on the reverse.
Bernadotte was the son of Gustav Adolf VI, king of Sweden and brother of Ingrid, queen mother of Denmark. As a young man he wanted to become an actor but his father and grandfather didn't approve so he studied art history at Sweden's Uppsala University. He attended the School of Decorative Arts in Stockholm and became committed to designing practical, useful objects that were stylish and beautiful not beautiful ornamental things with no purpose.
There was a movement originating from Scandinavia at this time, and it was during the Stockholm Exhibition in 1930 that 'Functionalism' was formerly introduced. Gregory Paulssen was a major component behind the event and his love of Bauhaus was prominent. The objective at this event was to create architecture and other design that was very affordable and available to ordinary people to which Functionalism, (and soon after, Scandinavian Design) serves very well. The Danish took extremely well to Functionalism, as they had already started during previous movements to eschew ornamentation and focus on usability.
It was after this exhibition, at the age of twenty three, he began to design for the Georg Jensen Silversmithy. His designs were a departure from what was thought of as the "Jensen style". Highly functional with smooth straight surfaces, his designs embraced the movement and had the most minimal decoration in the form of grooves, studs or perhaps a few lines. He introduced clear cut disciplined forms common in modern Swedish taste to the Danish Silver tradition. His elegant and distinguished designs show a preference for geometrical figures, spheres, cylinders and funnels enhanced with engraved lines, profiles and soldered parallel fluting. With this set being a prime example of his approach.
After leaving the Georg Jensen Silversmithy, Bernadotte created industrial designs and in 1950 he formed a partnership with the architect Acton Bjorn, Bernadotte & Bjorn Industridesign. The firm designed many different products ranging from calculators to office refrigerators. In 1964, an offshoot of the firm, Bernadotte Design, with Sigvaard Bernadotte at its head, was created and it became the largest design consulting firm in Northern Europe.
Bernadotte experimented in all areas of design, including designing sets for Hollywood movies.
Bernadotte was a major figure in the field of Scandinavian industrial design and a leader in the Society of Swedish Industrial Designers and the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design. Many of his designs for Jensen are still being reproduced today, and offered in their current catalog. Testament to his pronto modernist design approach.
This stunningly designed pattern carving set was introduced by Jensen into their catalog in 1939. This example is presented in its original fitted Jensen box, with the back of the silk having "Georg Jensen New York" inked into it, highlighting that this piece was made for export to the American market. The blade of the knife and large, long, pronged meat fork are both stainless steel, from Sheffield, England. Often regarded as the home of the finest steel making works. Many high end companies that needed to integrate steel into their products, being it cutlery, pocket knives or alike, turned to Sheffield manufacturers for their high quality metal and superior make.
The set has been used, but is still in superb condition throughout. It is as much a functional piece, as it is a piece of silver art. Illustrating Bernadotte's desire to make highly functional pieces that are elegant in appearance without being fussy. Made in Denmark, circa 1940's.
