A Danish Silver Table Lamp
Mogens Ballin and Hans Peter Hertz, Copenhagen, Circa 1910
with lightly spot-hammered surface, the cylindrical body with stepped neck chased at angles with stylized leaves and applied with arched vines, wired for electricity
marked on base
Height of silver 8 inches

Mogens Ballin (1871-1914) was born into an affluent Jewish family in Copenhagen, and began his artistic career as a painter. At the age of 18 he moved to Paris and became acquainted with Impressionism through Gaugin and his friends. He was later baptised as a Catholic after a stay at a monastery in Italy. Inspired by the ideals of Ruskin and Morris, he returned to Copenhagen and opened metalsmithing workshop focusing on affordable metals including silver, tin and pewter. From 1901 to 1904 Georg Jensen worked for Ballin's workshop- first as a journeyman and then as foreman. Jensen's distinct style is thought to have been greatly shaped by his time at the Ballin workshop.