Niels Erik From - Bracelet Silver

Beautiful and exceptionally designed silver bracelet from the famous Danish jeweler and silversmith N.E. From.
The bracelet was made in the 1970s and has a look reminiscent of a handcuff, with a clasp formed by a ball on a small chain. The diameter of the closed bracelet is about 5 cm. The bracelet weighs a little over 64.5 grams and is made of 925 sterling silver.
The bracelet is pristine with only minimal signs of wear that are typical for a piece of jewelry of this considerable age.
Danish jeweler and silversmith Niels Erik From (N.E. From) was born in 1908 and opened his first studio in 1931, when he was only twenty-three years old.
In the following forty years, Niels Erik From grew into one of the great figures of Danish design and created many pieces, including floral motifs, often set with semi-precious stones. These pieces were inspired by the Skønvirke style. This was a Scandinavian development that was part of Danish Art Nouveau and the Arts and Crafts movement. This movement typically drew inspiration from nature, with designs featuring flowers and floral motifs, but also depicted natural beings such as fish.
From's oeuvre generally displays one of two distinct styles. In the early years of production he made graceful, thin pieces with leaves and flowers. From the 1950s onward, From’s work took on a very different look. The jewelry no longer featured romantic, detailed designs from nature. The later pieces have modernist, clean lines with geometric and abstract forms. Occasionally the modern designs show nature as an inspiration with abstract blossom and leaf shapes. Overall they follow the 1950s trend: a sober, minimalist design.
From’s production was very diverse and he exported his work worldwide in the 1960s and 70s. The metalwork is smooth and elegant and often reveals hard-to-see details such as oxidation, carved metal and etching, as well as the handling of translucent and caramel-colored amber. From’s pins and brooches testify to exceptional skill resulting in a unique attention to detail and a very effortless fluidity. One of his characteristic styles are the oxidized, bell-shaped silver discs that form part of the floral motif.
In the 1970s, From’s jewelry evolved into more modernist, sculptural pieces. These sculptural pieces became some of N.E. From’s most recognizable and distinctive styles. From was also a skilled businessman and continued producing a number of his earlier, highly popular Skønvirke-style jewelry alongside the modern pieces.
Although From opened his first shop as early as 1931 and sold part of his work there, the N.E. From brand did not appear until 1944, when it was first registered in the town of Nakskov in southern Denmark. Over the years, the company has used several brands.
Smaller items may simply be marked WITH FROM. Other pieces bear N.E.FROM, STERLING, DENMARK, 925S inside an oval, and finally the N.E. From brand is often shown in italics on many items.
In 1960, From’s son-in-law Hilmer Jensen joined the company and took over after his father’s death in 1982. The company, however, lost profitability and closed in 1990. From died in 1982 and the factory closed in 1990 because, under Hilmer Jensen, the business could not flourish. Today, the availability of N.E. From jewelry has become increasingly limited, driving prices up as collectors seek the modern classics and early designs.