Superb Nanna Ditzel Georg Jensen Modernist Sterling Viking Axe Bangle Circa 1950s

Measurements: Inner Circumference: 6.75"R (17.15cm)

Markings: Georg Jensen Stamp - Sterling - Denmark - 107 - NJD Mark

Weight: 102.6g

Viking Axe Bangle cuff designed by Nanna and Jørgen Ditzel for Georg Jensen. It has recently been serviced and polished by a professional jeweler and looks stunning with little to no wear.

This bracelet is categorized as one of the most iconic modern designs from the 20th century. Created in Denmark by Nanna and Jørgen Ditzel for the Georg Jensen company back in the 1954. Is a beautiful sleek piece with plain curved surfaces crafted in sterling silver with high polished finish. It is broad hollow cuff expanding towards the center, fitted with invisible hinge at the back and with a discrete push-button opening at the front as a lock. 

Nanna Ditzel, Copenhagen, Denmark. (Oct 6, 1923 - June 17, 2005)

Was a Danish designer graduated from the furniture department of the School of Arts and Crafts in Copenhagen. Has been studying under prof. Kaare Klint at the Royal Academy of Copenhagen. Nanna Ditzel is working with experimental and industrial design furniture, textiles, silver, faience and glass. Has experimented with the use of split-level living for indoors and outdoors. The ideas have been carried through in playgrounds, children libraries and showrooms. Freelance designer, she has a design office and showrooms in London. Nanna Ditzel started independent design office in 1946 together with Jorgen Ditzel. They co-operation lasted until the death of Jorge Ditzel in 1961.

Nanna Ditzel created many designs for Georg Jensen, mostly jewelry although she also created some hollowware. The relationship between the couple and the Silversmith began when Nanna decided to start designing jewelry as something she could do at home while her children slept. Soon after, a jewelry competition sponsored by A. Michelsen arose, and her designs had won first prize. Later on, in 1954, Finn Juhl, who was developing the 50th anniversary exhibition, passed the design work off for the exhibition to the Ditzels. Five pieces of jewelry were created for this exhibit, which were very well received. Further jewelry designs were created, and many of these pieces would go on to win various awards and prizes. In 1968, Nanna Ditzel remarried to Kurt Heide and relocated to London where they continued to work in the realm of design, establishing their own company Nanna Ditzel Productions Ltd. In 1986, her second husband passed away, and she moved back to Denmark, continuing her work. In recent years, Ditzel has focused mainly on furniture design, such as the Trinidad chair in 1993, however this design has also led to the further refinement for her jewelry pieces such as the bracelet #389 in 1994.

Ditzel has won many major awards during her long career and has had her work exhibited all over the world. She received the silver and gold medals at the Milan Tirennale (1954 and 1960), the Lunning Prize (with Jorgen Ditzel in 1954) and a gold medal at the International Furniture Design Competition in 1990, and the Thorvald Bindesboll Medal in 1999. She has also taken on the title of Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog, Honorable Royal Designer ( 1996). From Georg Jensen Hollowware, The Silverfund Collection, David A. Taylor & Jason W. Laskey, 2003.

Literature: David A. Taylor (ed), 'Georg Jensen Jewelry', New York 2005, Fig. 4-16, Pp. 90, described as an 'Axe' bracelet, designed c. 1954.

Collections: The British Museum Of Art, London United Kingdom, Museum Of Modern Art MOMA, New York City, NY.