Georg Jensen 'Parallel' Pattern Flatware Service, Copenhagen, Denmark, c. 1950

Designed by Oscar Gundlach-Pedersen, 'Parallel' was first introduced in 1931. (1) It is an Art Deco design of striking horizontal steps which decorate the tops of the front and back of the handles. As with some serving pieces in this line, decorative shoulders are incorporated into some designs. The forms of the pieces are beautifully proportioned and exhibit elegant charm.

This lovely service consists of:

12 dinner knives
12 dinner forks
12 dessert forks
13 teaspoons
12 dessert spoons
12 butter knives
1 large cake server
1 large serving spoon
1 serving spoon
1 pastry server
1 sugar or jam spoon

Oscar Gundlach-Pedersen (1886-1960) was trained as an architect at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and was a 'designer of many prominent buildings in Denmark...' and 'manager of the Georg Jensen Silversmithy from 1927 until 1931.' (2)

This lovely service is mostly marked 'Georg Jensen' within a beaded, oval circle and 'STERLING/ DENMARK.' 

The dinner knives, with original, stainless steel blades marked 'GEORG JENSEN/ DENMARK,' measure just shy of 9 inches long, while the cake server is 9.75 inches long. The total weight of the set, minus the knives, is an impressive 100.4 troy ounces. The service is in excellent condition and has never been monogrammed. Two knives have a couple minor dings to their handle ends.

Footnotes:

1. Janet Drucker, Georg Jensen 20th Century Designs, 2nd edition,(Atglen: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., 1997, 2001) p.285.
2. Erik Lassen, Georg Jensen Silversmithy, 77 Artists, 75 Years, (Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C., 1980), object 41.