Georg Jensen Sterling Silver Wine Cooler/Bucket 357

A large Georg Jensen Art Nouveau Wine/Champagne cooler, design #357 by Georg Jensen, circa 1925. This remarkable hand-hammered bucket features columns that would have been hand-chased. In fact, more time was likely spent by a hand chaser on this piece than by the silversmith. The extensive hand-chasing dedicated to these pieces elevates them to works of art, becoming jewelry for the home. Designed later in Jensen’s career, this piece illustrates the gradual shift towards Art Deco, especially in the foot design, which includes the same columned foot and large silver ball motif used by Jensen while living in Paris in 1924-1926.

The cooler is made from a heavy gauge of silver, ensuring it can withstand ice and a few bottles. It also boasts two large, ornate handles featuring a leaf and vine design—an aesthetic Jensen used in his #383 candelabra. Each thick, heavy handle is mounted on a pin to allow the handles to swing freely. The bucket itself is adorned with hand-chased floral leaf patterns that encircle the top of the handles. The body of the bucket has a series of hand-hammered columns and a stunning hand-chased rim filled with intricate leaf, floral, and vine decoration, which would have taken a considerable amount of time to create. The round, prominent, heavy base features columns and a bead design, which resembles the work of Jean Després—perhaps an influence during Jensen’s time in Paris.

An additional notable feature of the fabrication is that the handles do not have uniform thickness throughout the ring. This was done for comfort and required much more handcraftsmanship than casting a handle with a consistent thickness.

Specifications:

• Measurements: 10 1/4″ (26 cm) tall. The outside diameter, excluding the handles, is 10″ (25 cm).

• Weight: Very heavy at 3097 grams (109 oz).

• Hallmarks: Georg Jensen hallmarks for 1945-1977, sterling Denmark.