Georg Jensen at Play: reimagining silver through play, nature and community

25 June 2026

Given that today’s world sees design redefining itself by means of participation, community, and experience, play can be considered as a form of culture language. In addition, while it is only a term in our everyday language, play actually serves as the instrument of connection and discovery, two things which are crucial to the modern-day process of design. The theme of play can be found not only in the exhibitions during this year’s design festivals but also in the entire discourse on the 3daysofdesign phenomenon.

It is against this background that Georg Jensen At Play takes place within the frames of 3days of design 2026 as an interactive garden situated in one of the central parts of Copenhagen, in which creativity, nature, and joy meet. The exposition has been created by the Creative Director of Georg Jensen, Paula Gerbase, as an opportunity for visitors to discover what the main material of Danish house was.

More than a product presentation, the project revisits an often-overlooked aspect of Georg Jensen’s legacy: the founder’s lifelong fascination with nature and exploration. Raised in a small community north of Copenhagen, Jensen spent much of his childhood roaming woodlands, collecting natural treasures and engaging with the world through curiosity and play. According to Gerbase, this spirit of discovery has remained embedded in the house’s identity throughout its 121-year history.

For 3daysofdesign, that narrative takes shape as a whimsical outdoor landscape featuring lawns framed by rows of trees, where visitors are encouraged to gather, play, and interact. At its centre is a collection of reimagined field games that bring sterling silver into unexpected territory.

These include a contemporary interpretation of kongespil, the traditional Scandinavian lawn game also known as Viking chess or kubb, as well as a refined version of ring toss. Crafted from walnut wood in Copenhagen, the games are animated by sterling silver characters created by Georg Jensen’s master silversmiths: a seated toad, a resting dragonfly, and a crawling snake, each inspired by creatures the young Jensen encountered in nature.

The playful universe extends to a broader collection of collectible objects and accessories, including a sterling silver Mikado set, animal-topped cocktail sticks, dice, a whistle with a spiral snail-like form, and even a supple silver yo-yo. Together, these pieces propose a different relationship with precious materials-one that privileges interaction over display and experience over formality.

The installation continues Paula Gerbase’s ongoing exploration of how silver can inhabit contemporary life. Following last year’s presentation in Milan, which introduced silver into everyday rituals such as coffee and ice cream breaks, Georg Jensen now turns its attention to moments of leisure, play, and social connection. The objective is not to diminish the value of silver, but rather to expand its relevance by integrating it into the rhythms of daily life.

Exhibited at one of the most important gatherings on the international design circuit, At Play by Georg Jensen embodies an increasing trend in modern day design philosophy, namely that design is evolving from products to experiences and from watching to participation. The exhibition is proof of how heritage design philosophies can be renewed and refreshed through interaction in a city which turns into a stage for design during 3days of design.

Related articles