A PAIR OF PENDENT EARRINGS, BY GEORG JENSENOf abstract design, each leaf-shaped surmount suspending a tapering elongated drop, in 925 silver, maker's mark 'Georg Jensen', numbered 128A, length 7.5cmCataloguing: Georg Jensen was born in Copenhagen in 1866. He began his training in goldsmithing at the tender age of just 14, although the young Jensen had always longed to be a sculptor. He had an opportunity to fulfil this dream when in 1884, after completing his apprenticeship, he enrolled at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. However, work as an artist proved unfruitful and after the death of his wife, even after trying his hand at modelling work at a local porcelain factory, Jensen was unable to support his two young sons. As a result, Jensen turned to silversmithing in 1901 and worked with the master, Mogens Ballin. In 1904, Jensen opened his own smithy in Copenhagen. His unique combination of skills and training inspired Jensen to create new and innovative Art Nouveau pieces whose quality and beauty guaranteed the success that would become associated with the name Georg Jensen. By the end of the 1920s, Jensen had new stores in London, New York and Berlin. He left a legacy in design that would become internationally recognised and would guarantee his as a household name for over 100 years to come.