Gundorph Albertus

Gundorph Albertus (1887 - 1970) was an important figure at the Georg Jensen Silversmithy for over forty years. In 1905 he became a journeyman specializing in the important silversmithing technique of chasing, and from 1908 to 1911 he studied silversmithing in Munich and Paris. In 1911, he returned to Denmark and secured a job as a chaser at the Georg Jemsen Silversmithy. He also found time to study at The Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Sculpture, Copenhagen, from which he graduated in 1915. 

While at Georg Jensen’s, Albertus designed “Cactus” (1930), one of the Silversmithy’s most popular patterns; it is still in production. His flatware design called Mitra (1940), was the company’s first stainless steel cutlery pattern in serial production. Albertus designed numerous objects of holloware, including bowls, cups, cocktail shakers, dishes and trays. 

Albertus stayed with the Jensen Silversmithy and eventually became its assistant director, a position he held from 1926 to 1954. As assistant director he watched over the Silversmithy’s production, ensuring that only pieces that met his exacting standards of craftsmanship were permitted to go out the door. 

Examples of Albertus’s work were widely exhibited, especially in Denmark and France. He received a gold medal at the Paris World Exhibition in 1925 and the Diplome d’honneur at L’Exposition Internationale in Paris in 1937. 

Excerpts from Georg Jensen Holloware, The Silver Fund Collection and The Georg Jensen Society, The Unknown Georg Jensen.