Not currently on display at the V&A

Cream Jug

1960 (designed), 1969 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Magnus Stephensen (1903-1984) graduated from the Kunstakademiets Arkitektskole (Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture) in 1931 and set up his own design studio. In his early career he designed apartment buildings, schools and waterworks. Later he designed smaller objects to be used in the home. He designed silver serving pieces for the Kay Bojesen Silversmithy (1932 - 52), ceramic pots and dishes for Royal Copenhagen (1950s) and silver ("Fregat/Argo" pattern) and stainless flatware ("Tuja" pattern) and hollowware pieces for Georg Jensen (1950 onwards).


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Stainless steel with stained black wood
Brief description
Stainless steel with black wood handle, designed by Magnus Stephensen in 1960 and made by Georg Jensen Silversmiths Ltd.
Physical description
Cream jug in the form of a short, plain steel cylinder with a small lip set on one side. A handle, formed by a round rod of black stained wood attached to a steel shaft, joins the body of the jug at right angles to the lip.
Dimensions
  • Height: 4.75cm
  • Diameter: 8cm
  • Width: 15.25cm
The width of the jug includes the handle.
Marks and inscriptions
'GEORG JENSEN STAINLESS / MADE IN DENMARK / 34'
Object history
Part of a service with Circ.576-1969 and Circ.577-1969.
Historical context
MAGNUS STEPHENSEN (1903 - 1984)
Magnus Stephensen graduated from the Kunstakademiets Arkitektskole (Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture) in 1931 and set up his own design studio. In his early career he designed apartment buildings, schools and waterworks. Later he designed smaller objects to be used in the home. He designed silver serving pieces for the Kay Bojesen Silversmithy (1932 - 52), ceramic pots and dishes for Royal Copenhagen (1950s) and silver ("Fregat/Argo" pattern) and stainless flatware ("Tuja" pattern) and hollowware pieces for Georg Jensen (1950 onwards). (Kay Bojesen was one of Georg Jensen's first apprentices and became an important Danish silversmith and designer who believed in functionalist design. Stephensen's work reflected Bojesen's influence.)

Stephensen's hollowware designs for Jensen are characterised by subtle lines and plain, unornamented forms. Many of the pieces draw on traditional Japanese design. In fact, Stephensen wrote a book called "Brugsting Fra Japan" ("Useful Things from Japan").

Stephensen's work was included in many important exhibitions around the world and he received many prizes. He was awarded the Eckersberg medal (1948) and several medals at the Milan Triennale.

From GEORG JENSEN HOLLOWWARE, THE SILVERFUND COLLECTION, David A. Taylor & Jason W. Laskey, 2003
Summary
Magnus Stephensen (1903-1984) graduated from the Kunstakademiets Arkitektskole (Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture) in 1931 and set up his own design studio. In his early career he designed apartment buildings, schools and waterworks. Later he designed smaller objects to be used in the home. He designed silver serving pieces for the Kay Bojesen Silversmithy (1932 - 52), ceramic pots and dishes for Royal Copenhagen (1950s) and silver ("Fregat/Argo" pattern) and stainless flatware ("Tuja" pattern) and hollowware pieces for Georg Jensen (1950 onwards).
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
CIRC.578-1969

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Record createdNovember 27, 2007
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