Søren Georg Jensen

Søren Georg Jensen (1917 - 1982) was the fifth of Georg Jensen’s six children, and his third son. Like his older brother Jorgen, he trained to become a silversmith. He was apprenticed at the Georg Jensen Silversmithy from 1931 through 1936, achieving the rank of journeyman. Later on, he received training as a sculptor, principally at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Sculpture, Copenhagen, from 1941 to 1945. His sculpture was first exhibited in 1944, at Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition, Charlottenborg, Denmark. In 1949, after a year of study in Paris, he returned to the Georg Jensen Silversmithy. He became the firm’s first artistic director in 1962, taking over from his uncle, Harold Nielsen. Jensen held the position until 1974. 

During his career, Jensen received considerable recognition for his designs for silver objects as well as for his sculpture. In fact, his reputation as a sculptor was greater than his reputation as a designer. He thus achieved what had been his father’s greatest ambition. 

Jensen’s sculpture is abstract, substantial, and arresting. Often made of granite, the pieces are characterised by chunky forms, multifaceted, sharp-edged surfaces that throw interesting shadows and effective use of negative space. It is no surprise that he brought a finely tuned sense of form to his design work for the Jensen Silversmithy, along with a keen understanding of the interrelationship of craftsmanship and artistic vision.

Jensen deserves credit for his many innovative designs for the Jensen Siversmithy and for the guidance he provided, in his capacity as artistic director, to a number of bright new designers who joined the firm during his tenure - whose designs changed the look of Jensen silver, and Scandinavian design, in dramatic new ways. 

Søren Georg Jensen’s sculpture and silver designs have been exhibited internationally. His many awards include a gold medal at the Milan Triennale (1960), the Eckersberg Medal (1966), and the Thorvaldsen Medal (1974). 

Excerpt from “Georg Jensen Holloware, The Silver Fund Collection”.