Henning Koppel
Vibrant design
The Danish sculptor and designer Henning Koppel is regarded as one of the most important Danish designers of all time.
Henning Koppel (1918–1981) is best known for his work with silverware, but as a sculptor and designer he also had a wide repertoire embracing many other materials such as porcelain, granite, watercolour, steel and glass. Koppel had an elegant and precise sense of proportion, and a unique ability to create timeless and enduring works whatever the medium.
Koppel experimented with organic and sculptural forms in his design and art, often drawing inspiration from nature. His design language was characterised by minimalistic, elegant lines and functional aesthetics. Early in his career, many of Koppel’s works were characterised by a sculptural look, but this changed, and in the 1970s Koppel’s idiom became more streamlined and formal.
In Koppel’s career in applied art, the vibrant organic look became the focal point of the design process, and he always strived to make his designs more than just a simple utility object. Unlike many of his contemporaries in the Danish Modern movement, Koppel gave more priority to the design idiom than to functionality, and his sweeping lines are recognisable in all his work, from silverware and jewellery to cutlery, furniture and lamps.
Henning Koppel was born in Copenhagen in 1918. He left school at the age of 16, and in 1936 enrolled at the School of Sculpture at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts (now the School of Visual Arts), after which he attended the private art school Académie Ranson in Paris in 1938.
At the young age of 17, Koppel made his debut at Kunstnernes Efterårsudstilling (The Artists’ Autumn Exhibition) at Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art in Copenhagen with a bust showcasing his sculptural skills. Not long after, in 1945, Koppel began a lifelong collaboration with the silversmith Georg Jensen, designing jewellery, corpus silver and cutlery. Then, in 1961, he started working with porcelain at the Bing & Grøndahl porcelain factory.
Henning Koppel’s work has greatly influenced Danish design history, and received recognition both in Denmark and internationally. During his life, he received numerous design awards, including gold medals at several of the Milan Triennials in the 1950s, the Lunning Prize, the ID Prize, the International Design Award, Der Goldene Löffel and the Diamonds International Award.
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