David-Andersen Four Seasons brooch Autumn, Norway c1960s

Code: J430

Dimensions:

Autumn brooch from David-Andersen's Four Seasons series in yellow, orange and caramel-brown enamel on silver-gilt. This series was designed for the David-Andersen company in 1959 by artist Thorbjørn Lie-Jørensen and depicts an abstract landscape in each of the four seasons. 

The brooch is in excellent vintage condition with no losses or chips to the enamel. The back is stamped David-Andersen Norway Sterling 925S.

David Andersen (1843-1901) was the founder of Norway’s best-known jewellers the 19th century. In 1876, Andersen opened his own workshop in Christiania (now Oslo). The company became internationally famous for its enamel jewellery in the first half of the 20th Century and went on to export most of its production. Willy Winnaess was an early designer of the enamelled jewellery, often inspired by nature.

In the 1950s the David-Andersen company began working with innovative designers of modernist silver jewellery. These very popular and stylish pieces are marked with the initials of the designer, preceded by INV (inventor). These include Bjørn Sigurd Østern, Harry Sørby, Marianne Berg, Unn Tangerud, Ben David-Andersen and Uni David Andersen, the fourth generation of David-Andersen who established her own workshop in 1959 while continuing to design for the family company.

The David-Andersen company is still family-owned and producing high-quality silver items, often with enamel work.

Thorbjørn Lie-Jørensen (1900-1961) was an artist who specialised in painting room interiors and seaside landscapes in strong colours. From 1927 to 1939 he worked as a silversmith and enameller for David-Andersen before becoming a freelance designer.