About Niels Erik From (N.E. FROM)

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DANISH DESIGNER NIELS ERIK FROM  - EARLY YEARS

Danish jeweller and silversmith Niels Erik From ( N.E. From) was born in 1908 and opened his first workshop in 1931 when he was still only twenty-three . 

Over the next forty years  Niels Erik went on to become one one of the greats of Danish design, and  created many works including floral-inspired designs often set with semi-precious gemstones. These pieces took inspiration from the Skønvirke style. This was a Scandinavian development that formed part of Denmark’s Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts movement . This movement ususally took inspiration from nature with designs incorporating flowers and floral motifs as well as featuring natural creatures such as fish.

N.E. FROM JEWELLRY STYLES - EARLY FLORAL DESIGNS AND LATER ABSTRACT MODERNIST PIECES

N.E. From’s output generally displays one of two distinct styles. In the early years of production  he produced wiry, thin, foliage and floral pieces .However, beginning in the 1950's the work produced by From (which were often the designs of other designers) had a very different look. No longer does the jewellery feature romantic, detailed designs from nature. The later pieces have modernist, clean lines with geometric and abstract shapes. Occasionally the modern designs show nature as inspiration with abstract blossom and  leaf and blossom shapes. In generally though, they follow the trend of the 1950s of , spare, minimalist design.production .
Below: Vintage brooches by NE FROM
    

DETAILED DESIGN FEATURES OF NE FROM PIECES

From’s production was wide-ranging and he exported his works worldwide during the 1960s and 1970s. The metalwork is supple and lithe and often displays  hard-to-see details of oxidation, carved out metal, and surface etchings as well as the incorporation of translucent and butterscotch amber. From’s pins and brooches display particular skills that achieve unique attention to detail and very simple fluidity . One of his signature styles is  the oxidized cupped silver disks which form part of the floral design.

Below : Vintage bracelets, brooch and earrings and vintage necklace by NE FROM
     

1970'S MODERNIST SCULPTURAL JEWELLERY

In the 1970s, From’s jewellery graduated into more modernist , sculptural pieces that were primarily created by other designers. These sculptural pieces became some of N.E. From’s most recognised and  well-known signature styles. From was also a good business man and continued to manufacture some of his earlier very popular Skønvirke style jewellery alongside the modern pieces.

N.E.FROM JEWELLERY SIGNATURE MARKS

Although  From opened his first shop in 1931 and sold some of his work there, the N.E. From mark  did not appear until 1944 when it was first registered in the city of Nakskov in southern Denmark. Throughout  its history, the company used a number of different signatures.

Smaller items  may simply be marked FROM. Others pieces have N.E.FROM, STERLING, DENMARK, 925S within a square, and finally, many items feature the N.E. From signature in an italic script.

N.E.FROM JEWELLERY PRIZED BY COLLECTORS

In 1960, From’s son-in-law Hilmer Jensen joined the company and took over its management , after his father’s death in 1982. However, the company lost its profitability and closed in 1990. From died in 1982 and the factory closed in 1990 as it failed to flourish under the management of From’s son in law, Hilmer Jensen.These days the availability of N.E. From’s jewellery has become more and more limited and caused prices to rise as collectors look for the modern classics and early designs.

For further examples of beautiful vintage jewellery click here