NANNA DITZEL (1923 – 2005)

Born in Copenhagen in 1923, Nanna Ditzel is one of Denmark’s most accomplished designers and was the first woman to design for Georg Jensen. She was born in Copenhagen and attended the Danish School of Arts, Crafts and Design and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, graduating in 1946. She also met her first husband, Jorgen Ditzel at school and they began working and exhibiting together in 1944. She was trained in cabinet making; he in upholstery and they shared a design aesthetic based on creating comfortable, livable and simple environments.

In 1954, they began to create designs for Georg Jensen. The relationship between the couple and the Silversmithy began when Nanna decided to start designing jewellery as something she could do at home while her children slept. Jorgen died in 1961 but Ditzel kept their studio going and continued to work in a variety of media, designing among others, wooden furniture and silver jewellery.

Nanna Ditzel created many designs for Georg Jensen, mostly jewellery although she also created some holloware.