ANTON MICHELSEN


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HISTORY AND MARKS
Anton Michelsen (1809-1877), born in Odense, Denmark, established one of the most important Danish jewelry families. In 1830, after completing his education in Odense, he moved to Copenhagen where, during the next eleven years, he worked for various young masters.
Michelsen acted as a journeyman for Jørgen Balthasar Dalhoff from 1834-35 while also taking courses at The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. With assistance from Dalhoff, Michelsen received The Travelling Scholarship of the Reisersen Foundation. He then goes to Berlin and during the late 1830's works in several workshops including Mention & Wagner, a large, contemporary silver and gold works whose primary shop is in Paris. While working for Mention & Wagner, he learned enamelling.
In 1841 Anton Michelsen opened his workshop in Gothersgade in Copenhagen and in 1848 was officially appointed to the Royal Danish Court as "Court Goldsmith and Maker of Orders".
Anton Michelsen died in 1877 and his son Carl Michelsen took over the firm. Carl became court jeweler in 1880 obtaining important commissions from Danish Court.
At the beginning of the 20th century Michelsen specialised and refined the art of enamelwork starting in 1910 the production of the well-known annual Christmas spoons.
In this period Thorvald Bindesboll, Harald Slott-Moller, Georg Thylstrup, Johan Rhode and Svend Hammershoj collaborated with their designs to Michelsen workshop activity.


At least since 1950 Michelsen firm acknowledged its designers by stamping their signatures on each piece. Designers of the mid and late 20th century include Karen Strand, Gertrud Engel, Eigil Jensen, Nanna & Jørgen Ditzel, Knud V Andersen, Else Alfelt and Jens Windfeld Hansen.
For four generations, the company made high quality silver and jewelry having, thanks to the royal court connection, the opportunities to produce spectacular, distinctive silverware. The Michelsen "dynasty" made much of the everyday silverware owned by the Royal family. Several of these items have been given to the Amalienborg Museum.
In 1968 Royal Copenhagen bought A.Michelsen factory and its silver activity was gradually merged with that of Jensen branch. Today only the annual forks and spoons bear the Michelsen name.



STERLING SILVER MARKS
Anton Michelsen mark, 1918
Anton Michelsen mark, 1903 Anton Michelsen mark, 1938
Anton Michelsen mark, designer Kay Fisker Anton Michelsen mark Anton Michelsen mark, Swedish branch, 1959 Anton Michelsen mark, designer Søren Sass Anton Michelsen mark, 1938
Anton Michelsen mark, designer Eigil Jensen Anton Michelsen mark Anton Michelsen mark Anton Michelsen mark, .900 fineness


Anton Michelsen mark, English import mark London 1968
Anton Michelsen mark, designer Paul René Gaugin
Anton Michelsen mark, designer H. Nils
Anton Michelsen mark, designer Eigel Jensen
Anton Michelsen mark



During WWII Michelsen set up a subsidiary in Sweden and for some time after. The maker's mark used for items produced in Sweden was "MIC". This mark is often seen on Gertrud Engel designs of the 1950s, although they were also made in Denmark.
Anton Michelsen: MIC mark Anton Michelsen: MIC mark Anton Michelsen: MIC mark Anton Michelsen: MIC mark Anton Michelsen: MIC mark





Anton Michelsen: silver vase Anton Michelsen: silver Christmas spoons Anton Michelsen: silver bowl Anton Michelsen: 1971 Christmas spoon and fork Anton Michelsen: silver and enamel jewelry



English home page
This is a page of 'The What is? Silver Dictionary' of A Small Collection of Antique Silver and Objects of vertu, a 1500 pages richly illustrated website offering all you need to know about antique silver, sterling silver, silverplate, Sheffield plate, electroplate silver, silverware, flatware, tea services and tea complements, marks and hallmarks, articles, books, auction catalogs, famous silversmiths (Tiffany, Gorham, Jensen, Elkington), history, oddities ...
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