The feeling, when you know that you could just be dealing with something truly special, is very exciting. Especially since in today’s increasingly sophisticated retail world, not many can claim to be unique. Well, we seem to have almost unknowingly stumbled across exactly such a gem – no pun intended – something rare and exquisite.
We’re certainly not the first to discover Gråsilver, but it would appear that in the wake of the select few that have, those who can boast to be “in the know”, we find ourselves in the presence of a unique concept which is gathering momentum at a very steady pace in a receptive and appreciative marketplace. The signs are unmistakeable, an evolution, a quick natural progression – a delightful process that is surging into discrete splendour and recognition, in that cool, restrained, Nordic way, and deservedly so.
Gråsilver isn’t in fact a Scandinavian company; it came to be about 3 years ago when its founder, Jacquie Gray, realised that her passion for modernist Scandinavian vintage jewellery had materialised over a period of 10 years into a very substantial collection of rare and unique pieces by some of the great, celebrated Scandinavian designers such as George Jensen, Torun Bülow-Hübe and Bjorn Weckstrom, to name but a few of Gray’s favourites. Since its launch, the company has enjoyed an encouraging and rewarding response from its customers male and female, who not only delight in the carefully selected, timelessly elegant vintage pieces, but seem to develop very quickly a need to come back for more. The words “cult” and “following” spring to mind – in fact maybe we shouldn’t be shouting this from the rooftops at all but rather keep it under our hats for ourselves. Seems awfully unfair however, and in any case, from the fantastic response at this year’s Midcentury Modern show (Gråsilver were overrun with demand) not to mention the huge interest in the collection at the Scandinavian Show (the only London event incorporating the best of Scandinavian design, travel, lifestyle, fashion and food), the wheel is very much in motion and seems unlikely to stop.
Fittingly Gråsilver stockists are as exclusive as you’d imagine, available at the Tom Dixon shop in London on Ladbroke Grove and at White BiRD in Paris. Very clever positioning, I feel, for these investment pieces. If you prefer to do your browsing and purchasing online, the site is beautiful and easy to navigate, providing a stunning and effective backdrop to the incredible and ever-changing collection of one-off items that are mostly from the 60’s and 70’s and very hard to come by. Now before you rush off and lose yourself in all that luxurious modernist purity, let me give you a few tips on how to get the most out of Gråsilver. First think of the passion from which it was born, it will no doubt make it easier to understand the story behind this unique concept. Secondly give yourself time, do not proceed with haste, it’s far too interesting a story. Then get yourself ready to travel through time; enter the website. Try if you can, not to look at the collection on your first port of call. Instead click on the ‘Designers’ link and take a moment to visit each of their profiles, they will give you a taster of what is to come and make your appreciation of the collection more complete.
Lastly, and you’re almost ready to shop now, click on the ‘About Us’ link and view the Georg Jensen Highlight video, it’s a must-see, providing a fascinating peek into the world, life and artistry of this influential Danish company and silversmith, this master, who together with his group of artists, namely the George Jensen craftsmen, created some of the most exquisite modernist silver jewellery you’ll ever have the pleasure of seeing. That’s where it all began and this is where Gråsilver picks up the torch, giving us a wonderful and truly unique opportunity to become bearers of these wearable pieces of art. Ok. Now shop.
