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I generally opt for a pared-back look at Christmas, with lots of evergreen foliage and a few simple decorations. But I can never resist adding a bit of sparkle, and Georg Jensen’s annual ‘Christmas Collectibles’ are always my go-to source of festive magic.
Every year since 1984, the Danish silverware and hollowware brand has released a limited-edition Christmas range, always unique and available for a short period only. The idea is that you choose a few pieces each time around and gradually build up a collection of treasured ornaments that you can use again and again; in fact it’s become something of a tradition in Denmark, and its release marks the start of the holiday season for many people. It’s an ethos I very much admire – not only is it more sustainable than buying a new set of decorations every year, but there’s something special about unwrapping long-cherished items each December and reliving all the happy memories attached to them.
This year’s collectibles were designed by Sanne Lund Traberg, who also created 2019’s decorations. Whereas they had strong geometric lines and clear Art Deco influences, the 2020 iterations are softer and more organic in feel. Sanne took inspiration from the flower photography of early 20th-century German artist Karl Blossfeldt and based many of the designs on winter plants growing in her own garden. Made in Denmark and plated in 18kt gold or silver-coloured palladium, the results blend clean, contemporary shapes with intricate details. They also have a subtle Art Nouveau air about them – a fitting nod to the long history of the Georg Jensen company, which was founded by the eponymous silversmith in 1904 and began life producing Art Nouveau jewellery.
One of the most eye-catching pieces from the 2020 selection is the ‘Ice Flower’ mobile, which captures the delicate beauty of one of nature’s most ephemeral spectacles. It can be hung from the Christmas tree or suspended in windows, and I love the way it catches the light as it twirls and dances in the air.
The ice-flower motif is also etched onto the other hanging decorations, which include a heart, a bell and a ball. These smaller ornaments are incredibly versatile and can easily evolve over time, being used in different ways depending on your home and the way you celebrate Christmas each year. I selected one to create a door decoration by attaching it to a wire star along with a sprig of greenery, and tied others to presents – a lovely way to make wrapping extra-special and give friends and family two gifts in one. I can also see them adorning wreaths and garlands, or dangling from sculptural branches arranged in a vase. And they’d look wonderful on the tree, of course!
Other designs this year include ‘table trees’ in a three different sizes, along with a variety of tea-light and candle holders. All feature cut-out flower designs which take their cue from traditional paper decorations, and they cast wonderful shadows over the surrounding surfaces. Here, I’ve paired them with some festive foliage and arranged them on the fireplace in our living room, but they’d look just as beautiful as a centrepiece for Christmas meals, or dotted around windowsills and shelves.
Shop the full 2020 ‘Christmas Collectibles’ range here; prices start at £15. And be quick – once they’re gone, they’re gone…
All photography by Abi Dare
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