Henning Koppel is one of Denmark's most prominent designers, known for his unique and timeless design. His work spans a range of disciplines, from silversmithing to industrial design, and his influence has been significant in both Danish and international design.
Henning Koppel is one of Denmark's most prominent designers, known for his unique and timeless design. His work spans a range of disciplines, from silversmithing to industrial design, and his influence has been significant in both Danish and international design.
Henning Koppel 1918 – 1981
Henning Koppel was born in 1918 in Copenhagen, Denmark. After studying at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and furthering his education in Paris, he began his career in art and design. Although he originally trained as a sculptor, he soon became known for his outstanding ability to combine artistic expression with practical function.
Due to his Jewish background, Koppel was forced to seek refuge in Sweden during World War II, where he lived in Stockholm between 1943 and 1944. During this time, he attracted significant attention for his work as a jewelry designer for Svenskt Tenn. Koppel's career took off when he returned to Denmark and began his collaboration with Georg Jensen in 1946.
His designs for Georg Jensen quickly became popular and included a variety of products, from jewelry to cutlery and wall clocks. Koppel's ability to create organic, flowing forms that were both aesthetically pleasing and practical placed him in a category of his own in the design world. The classic Henning Koppel clock from Georg Jensen, designed in 1978, has in recent years been updated in several new variants.
Koppel's timeless design and legacy within functionalism
His cutlery set, such as "New York," combines simplicity with refined aesthetics and has become the standard for timeless design. This collection was designed in 1963 as a tribute to a world exhibition in New York City and was groundbreaking thanks to its clean lines where the shape of the cutlery forms the model itself. "New York" represents Koppel's vision of functionalism, where the goal was to create everyday objects that are both elegant and practical.
Koppel received several awards for his work, including the Lunning Prize and several gold medals at the Milan Triennale. Despite his life ending relatively early, in 1981, his influence in the design world has continued to grow. His works are represented in museums and private collections worldwide, and his legacy lives on through the many items that are still produced and used today. Through his collaboration with Georg Jensen and his own unique creations, he has left an indelible mark on both Danish and international design.
