Not currently on display at the V&A

AJ

Cutlery Set
1958 (designed), 1959 (made)
Artist/Maker
Anton Michelsen (manufacturer)
Arne Jacobsen (designer)
Place of origin
Copenhagen (made)

Arne Jacobsen (1902-1971) was one of Denmark's most influential 20th century architects and designers. Both his buildings and products, like his Swan and Egg Chairs, combine modernist ideals with a Nordic love of craftsmanship. One of his major projects was the design of the SAS (Scandinavian Airlines System) Royal Hotel, built on Hammerichsgade in the centre of Copenhagen between 1956 and 1960. He was not only responsible for the building's architecture but also the design for all its fixtures and fittings, including the furniture, textiles, crockery and this cutlery service, supplied to the hotel restaurant.


Object details

Categories
Eating
Metalwork
Product Design
Tableware & Cutlery
Object type
Cutlery set
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.

  • Knife
  • Fork
  • Spoon
TitleAJ (trade title)
Materials and techniques
Stainless steel, stamped and polished
Stainless Steel
Stamping
Polishing
Brief description
Cutlery service of knife, fork and spoon, stainless steel, Denmark, Copenhagen, made by A. Michelesen, 1959, designed by Arne Jacobsen, 1958.
Physical description
Stainless steel cutlery set comprising of a knife, fork and spoon. The knife, a tapered strip of metal ending in a rounded tip, the blade, the straight upper edge recessed from the handle, the lower cutting edge curved towards the tip. The fork, a flat strip of metal curving upwards at one end with three tines. The spoon, the handle a tapered stem extending to an oval bowl and terminating in a rounded tip.
Dimensions
  • Knife length: 7.75in
  • Fork length: 7.75in
  • Spoon length: 7.75in
Style
Modernist
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
  • A.MICHELSEN / STAINLESS / DENMARK (Stamped on the back of the handles of the fork and spoon)
  • A.MICHELSEN DENMARK (Etched on the blade of the knife.)
Object history
Initially designed by Arne Jacobsen for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen which was built between 1956-60.
Summary
Arne Jacobsen (1902-1971) was one of Denmark's most influential 20th century architects and designers. Both his buildings and products, like his Swan and Egg Chairs, combine modernist ideals with a Nordic love of craftsmanship. One of his major projects was the design of the SAS (Scandinavian Airlines System) Royal Hotel, built on Hammerichsgade in the centre of Copenhagen between 1956 and 1960. He was not only responsible for the building's architecture but also the design for all its fixtures and fittings, including the furniture, textiles, crockery and this cutlery service, supplied to the hotel restaurant.
Collection
Metalwork Collection
Accession number
CIRC.144 to B-1959

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Record createdMay 31, 2005
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O112473/aj-cutlery-set-arne-jacobsen/
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