Georg Jensen Inc. (New York City)
| File:Georg Jensen Inc logo.png Logo used from 1940 to 1968 | |
| Formerly | Georg Jensen Handmade Silver, Inc. |
|---|---|
| Company type | Private |
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1923 in New York City |
| Founder | Frederik Lunning |
| Defunct | 1968 |
| Fate | Buy-out |
Number of locations | 5 stores (1966) |
| Products | |
| Revenue | $8 million (1968) |
| Owner | Lunning family |
Georg Jensen Inc.—initially known as Georg Jensen Handmade Silver, Inc.—operated as a prominent gift and department store specializing in Scandinavian imports. Situated in midtown Manhattan at 667 Fifth Avenue near 53rd Street, it functioned from 1935 until 1968. Founded in 1923 and officially incorporated in 1928, the company served as the exclusive importer and retailer of Georg Jensen A/S merchandise within the United States until its eventual closure.
History
In 1922, Frederik Lunning (1881–1952), a Danish immigrant from Grenaa, Denmark, who had experience as a bookseller and silver merchant, relocated to New York City. There, he launched his inaugural retail outlet on West 57th Street across from Carnegie Hall, primarily offering imported pieces from Georg Jensen A/S. The business was formally incorporated as Georg Jensen Handmade Silver, Inc., on June 6, 1928.[1][2] Lunning secured the role of official importer and distributor for Georg Jensen goods across the U.S. Starting in 1936, the company produced an annual glossy mail-order catalog featuring high-quality photographic images.[3]
With the onset of the Battle of the Atlantic in 1939 halting imports from Europe, Jensen's—then a leading European importer—shifted focus to nurturing North American craftspersons, including European émigrés, to supply their inventory with superior items such as silver jewelry, turned wood objects, art enamel, tiles, ceramics, and lighting fixtures. Due to wartime material limitations, in autumn 1942 Jensen's introduced "The Lunning Collection," a modern furniture line consisting of 21 designs by Jens Risom, manufactured by Jensen's alongside works designed and produced by Otto Christiansen.[4]
Following Frederik Lunning’s death at age 70 in 1952, his son Just Lunning (1910–1965) assumed the presidency of Georg Jensen Inc.[5] He led the enterprise until his unexpected passing in 1965.[6][7] By 1966, the company broadened its operations by opening a dedicated furniture showroom within Manhattan and additional branch locations in Manhasset, Scarsdale, as well as Millburn and Paramus, New Jersey.[8] In 1968, ownership interests held by The Trustees of the Estate of Frederik K. Lunning were sold to a consortium of investors including Rothschild affiliates, investment bankers White Weld & Co., and advertising agency Doyle Dane Bernbach.[9][10]
At the moment of this transaction, the company's annual revenue was estimated at $8 million (approximately $70–75 million when adjusted to 2025 dollars).[11] Ultimately, after a series of successor entities operated under the brand name, bankruptcy was declared in 1978.[12][13] Presently, Georg Jensen products are distributed directly by the manufacturer alongside several authorized retail partners.
Designers and Artists
The annual illustrated mail-order catalogs issued by Georg Jensen Inc starting in 1936 showcase creations from numerous renowned artists. These include Georg Jensen, Jens Risom, enamel specialists H. Edward Winter and Karl Drerup, as well as Dorothy Thorpe. The catalogs also feature ceramics by Carol Janeway, silversmiths such as Madeleine Turner, Jo Pol, and LaPaglia, along with woodturning works by Otto Christiansen among others.
Bibliography
- Drucker, Janet. Georg Jensen, A Tradition of Splendid Silver. Schiffer Publications, Atglen, PA, 2001. Chapter: A New Market: Georg Jensen Silver in the United States.
- Moro, Ginger. "Behind the Scenes at Georg Jensen USA: The War Years." Silver Magazine, November 1996, pp. 28–34.
- Jenssen, Victoria. The Art of Carol Janeway: A Tile & Ceramics Career with Georg Jensen Inc. and Ossip Zadkine in 1940s Manhattan. Friesen Press, 2022. Chapter 3: Georg Jensen Inc, Frederik Lunning, and Carol Janeway.
- Drucker, Janet, and Nancy Schiffer. Jensen Silver: The American Designs. Schiffer Publishing, Atglen, PA, 2008. Pages 7–11. Chapter: Georg Jensen, Copenhagen, Denmark, and Georg Jensen Inc USA.
- Taylor, David A., editor. Georg Jensen Jewelry. Yale University Press for the Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts, 2005.
References
- ↑ Susan Weber Soros (2005). "Building an International Reputation: The Georg Jensen Phenomenon in the United States, 1915-1973". In Taylor, David A. (ed.). Georg Jensen Jewelry. New Haven: Yale University Press for Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts.
- ↑ Moller, Svend Erik (September 1967). "Fireogtredive Lunning prestagere". Mobilia. 146 (Special Edition: Scandinavian Design Stores).
- ↑ "Georg Jensen Inc Catalog: 1939-40". www.jensensilver.com.
- ↑ "Example in Expansion". Interiors: 40–43, 63–64. October 1942.
- ↑ TIMES, Special to THE NEW YORK (1952-09-01). "FREDERIK LUNNING, 70, HEADED JENSEN FIRM". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
- ↑ "Just Lunning Dies; Led Georg Jensen". New York Times. August 12, 1965.
- ↑ "!JUST LUNNING DIES i LED GEORG JENSEI; Succeeded Father in '52 as Head of Scandinavian Shop". The New York Times. 1965-08-12. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
- ↑ "Jensen Enlarging its Fifth Ave. Store". New York Times. February 22, 1968.
- ↑ "Seilon Will Buy Jensen Chain". New York Times. September 7, 1968.
- ↑ "The Mystery Designers For Georg Jensen USA - JCK". 1996-06-01. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
- ↑ Reckert, Clare M. (1968-10-04). "Investor Bloc Buys Georg Jensen, Inc.; INVESTORS BUYING GEORG JENSEN, INC". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
- ↑ "Georg Jensen Files for Reorganization". New York Times. July 19, 1978.
- ↑ Barmash, Isadore (1978-06-10). "Georg Jensen in Trouble? Owner Denies It; Suppliers Still Wary On Outlook". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-08.