[AD] Midsummer with the Bernadotte Collection by Georg Jensen
[This post is part of a paid partnership with Georg Jensen. Products were loaned for the purpose of this post.]
Of all the designs that span the Georg Jensen tableware collection, my favourite has to be the Bernadotte. With its clean, elegant lines and minimalist aesthetic, you'd be forgiven for assuming that this collection was new. It was, in fact, designed in 1931 by Swedish Prince Sigvard Bernadotte and has over time become a Scandinavian classic.His journey in design began at the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts in 1929. Nicknamed 'The Design Prince', Bernadotte would make a name for himself as a pioneer of industrial design at a time when the style was beginning to move away from the ornate.During a visit to the 1930 Stockholm Exhibition, he was introduced to the work of architect Gunnar Asplund whose move towards stripped-back functionality within architecture would lay the foundations for Modernism and minimalism. Favouring practicality over opulence, functionalist architecture would centre around modular structures with a focus on the raw building materials, flat roofing and lots of glass. Driven by the idea of building for a better world, the functionalist movement would put the user at the centre of the experience, doing away with unnecessary beautification.Inspired by these ideals, Bernadotte would go on to form an alliance with Georg Jensen. Continuing on from the brand's traditional Art Nouveau style, his new era of functionalism would direct Georg Jensen towards more modern interpretations of silverware.
I shot the collection the day the weather broke, after almost a solid week of torrential rain. In June! With midsummer almost upon us, I felt a little Nordic inspired celebration was in order. Sitting on top of the Serving Plate is a ridiculously moist orange, almond and ricotta cake I baked the night before. It's a no flour sponge which makes it a perfect summer accompaniment for a light afternoon tea. And with a freshly brewed Thermo of coffee, I watched the afternoon sunlight play with the ripples in the steel.The vase is a real statement piece in its own right but I chose to create a free-form display of wild and garden flowers to show off its sculptural appeal. All the hard work I've put into our white garden is slowing revealing itself as the summer rolls on and I wanted to document some of the blooms I'm most proud of. The white 'Royal Wedding' poppy, cut from my garden along with the white astrantia I thought was a fitting connection to Bernadotte's royal heritage. Other wild additions picked from the meadow behind our house include barely open bramble flowers, geum seed heads, Queen Anne's Lace and grasses.Simple and free.
Serving Plate, £160 | Large Vase, £120 | Sugar Bowl and Spoon, £75 | Thermos, £195 | Creamer / Milk Jug, £65 | Luncheon Fork, £180 | Small Teaspoon, £100.
Photography & Styling © Tiffany Grant-Riley
Would you like to win a Bernadotte coffee and tea set? Georg Jensen is hosting a competition:"Enjoy tea time in style with our classic Bernadotte designs in refined stainless steel. We’re giving away our large Bernadotte thermo as well as the new Bernadotte creamer and sugar bowl to a lucky winner – and that could be you. Simply sign up to receive our Georg Jensen newsletters to enter. The competition will run until 15 July 2019 and the winner will be contacted via email.*"https://www.georgjensen.com/global/bernadotte-competition* Please note - be sure to check 'NO THANKS' when clicking the link above to be redirected to the competition page. Terms and conditions apply. Good luck!