At its Salone popup ice-cream café, Gelateria Danese at this year’s Milan Design Week, Georg Jensen launched the company’s new silver cup-and-spoon set.
At Gelateria Danese, George Jensen was serving artisanal ice cream and coffee in new silverware designed to elevate everyday rituals. No meal feels quite complete without something sweet at the end – especially in summer, when gelato or ice cream becomes a daily ritual. A scooped indulgence often brings back memories of childhood and travel: sitting on the stoop, strolling down a cobbled street, cone in hand. But beyond the nostalgia, there’s something deeper at play. These small pleasures offer a moment of comfort – a brief pause of joy that feels especially welcome when the world feels a little heavy.
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Georg Jensen showed us that silverware isn’t just meant to be displayed in a glass vitrine. At the end of last year, fashion designer Paula Gerbase was appointed creative director of the historic Danish silversmith Georg Jensen, a house founded in 1904. Naturally, one of her first moves was to delve into the archives – and there, she found more than a few surprises.
The Artisans Series, created in close collaboration with the brand’s Copenhagen silversmiths, is a gentle commentary on our culture of convenience. In an age of single-use everything, these handcrafted pieces are a call for permanence – for investing in objects that are meant to endure, age beautifully, and grow more meaningful over time. Georg Jensen is, as ever, in the business of making beautiful things that last.
“Of course, I expected to see beautiful Art Nouveau pieces, which I adore,” said Gerbase. “I expected to find extraordinary mid-century work by some of the most important Scandinavian and Nordic artists of all time. What I didn’t expect was a silver telephone. I didn’t expect silver lipsticks, powder compacts, perfume vials, even a silver flashlight – so many unexpected objects. There were even silver stirrups for horse riding.”
Psychologists have shown that ice cream doesn’t just taste good – it makes us feel good. The cold, creamy texture and rich flavors trigger the brain’s reward system, releasing mood-boosting endorphins. On top of that, the sensory experience combined with nostalgic feelings turns ice cream into more than just a dessert – you have a moment of calm. In times when the world feels overwhelming, a bit of sweetness can provide a comforting break and help us reset.
The Artisans Series reimagines traditionally disposable items as lasting objects, crafted from Georg Jensen’s founding material: silver. From coupes shaped like opposing cones to classic ice cream cups, spoons, and espresso saucers, classic quotidian serve-ware was reimagined in sterling silver at Gelateria Danese.
The aim? To bring silver, in all of its beauty, into everyday life. “Silver is even more beautiful when it’s in use,” says Gerbase. “We’re removing it from the untouchable perception.”
At Gelateria Danese in Milan, traditional affogato was served using coffee from Copenhagen’s cult roaster Prolog, while Italo-Nordic chef Chiara Barla created an array of gelato flavors. Each dish was presented in reimagined silver vessels: coupe bowls shaped like cones, scalloped saucers, tasting spoons, and popsicle sticks. Rather than create something precious and untouchable, the collection invites use.
Silver Cup-and-Spoon Set at Gelateria Danese, Tor Kjolberg reporting
All photographs © Neige Thibault and Peter William Vinther, courtesy of Georg Jensen.