Jewellery, Watches and Objects of Vertu

A Danish silver and amber bracelet by Niels Erik From, circa 1950, designed as a series of seven circular plaques, each set with a circular amber cabochon enclosed by flowerheads and leaves with bead detailing, closed-back settings throughout, signed ‘N.E.FROM’, stamped ‘STERLING / DENMARK’ and ‘925S’, length 19.5cm, width 26mm. £100-£150

Niels Erik From (1908-1986) was born in Denmark and trained as a silversmith, opening a shop in 1931 from which he sold some of his jewellery designs. In 1944 the N E From smithy was first registered in Nakskov. There are two distinctive periods of design within From’s production. In the 1940s, we see floral pieces with sinewy foliage details, and this style characterised his early years of production. By the 1960s, we see the introduction of bolder modernist designs. The designs are similar to many Georg Jensen pieces of this period. In 1960, From’s son-in-law, Hilmer Jensen, had joined the management team and after Niels Erik’s death in 1986, Jensen took over the running of the firm. The company was wound up a few years later.