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It’s my 37th birthday tomorrow (I’m not sure how that happened – I was 21 and I blinked!), and after all the stresses and strangeness of the past few months, I want nothing more than a relaxed afternoon in the garden with close family and friends. But keeping things laid-back and low-key doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate in style, as my latest collaboration with iconic Danish brand Georg Jensen demonstrates.
Georg Jensen has lots of beautiful tableware, but my favourite pieces – and some of the most timeless – form part of the ‘Bernadotte’ collection. It was created back in the 1930s but you’d never guess – in fact it’s just as appealing and relevant today as it was when it was first launched.
The man behind the collection, Sigvard Bernadotte, was the second son of King Gustav VI Adolf of Sweden but chose a career in design over royal life (he subsequently lost his titles after marrying a commoner). He graduated from the Swedish Royal Academy of Fine Arts in 1929 and in 1930 visited the Stockholm Exhibition, where he was introduced to the work of architect Gunnar Asplund. Asplund was part of the emerging Functionalist movement, which saw unnecessary opulence stripped away in favour of practicality, and his user-centred approach would have a lasting influence on Bernadotte’s own designs.
Bernadotte’s association with Georg Jensen began in the same year and his sleek, geometric pieces were a significant departure from the flowery Art Nouveau motifs that had characterised its products until then. Their balance of form and function proved an instant hit and also marked the start of a broader transformation for the company, whose aesthetic came to be defined by a pared-back elegance that’s still evident to this day.
The original pieces were made of silver but in 2002 Georg Jensen reissued them in stainless steel, creating a more affordable and easier-to-care-for collection without losing the essence of Bernadotte’s designs. It was updated and extended again in 2019 and now encompasses jugs, cutlery, salt and pepper shakers, serving dishes and plates, cake stands, egg cups, a bottle opener and a tea strainer, alongside more decorative vases and candleholders. Their characteristic grooves and fluting echo the Art Deco style that was so popular in the 1930s, but their striking simplicity means they haven’t dated at all.
I decided to honour the collection’s Swedish roots with an alfresco pre-birthday fika (coffee, cake and a catch-up). I used a variety of bowls in different sizes, together with the 0.8L thermo jug, which keeps liquid hot (or cold) for up to six hours – perfect if you want to linger for the whole afternoon! I also added the milk jug, which was the very first piece Bernadotte designed for Georg Jensen and which features a sweeping curve as its spout. The medium vase made the perfect finishing touch, and I loved the contrast between its clean lines and the slightly wild look of the grasses and flowers spilling from the top.
Bernadotte’s attention to detail and focus on ergonomics mean every piece is a delight to use, but what I love most about the collection is its versatility. It works just as well for day-to-day meals and drinks as it does for celebrations like this, and it’s not the kind of thing you’ll hide away to gather dust in a cupboard. It looks wonderful left out on display when not in use, and I thought the mirror-polished steel and textured surfaces stood out beautifully against the matt ceramics on my dining-room shelves.
So, if you want tableware that will make everyday moments feel that little bit more special – and last for decades to come – then the ‘Bernadotte’ collection is definitely worth the investment. Prices range from £14 to £245, and you can see the full range here.
And an interesting bit of trivia to end on: Sigvard Bernadotte’s great-nephew Carl Philip is one half of Bernadotte & Kylberg, the duo who created the ‘Helix’ collection launched by Georg Jensen last year. A love of good design must run in the genes!
All photography by Abi Dare
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