An unbelievably talented artist and qualified goldsmith, Svend Nielsen was father to Jens, Soren (Solvsmed), Per and Lise (Aagaard). Svend was happily married to Inga Nielsen who was always engaged in textiles, printing and other handicrafts - they made quite a pair!

Svend Nielsen opened his goldsmith store at Kultorvet in Copenhagen in 1945. During his long life he moved his workshop and store only once when he took over better facilities at Klareboderne, just 100 metres down the road! From there he ran a successful business for more than fifty years. He was one of the first goldsmiths in Denmark to learn the new American technique called centrifugal casting. This new technique revolutionised the goldsmith trade and was the foundation for the Trollbeads concept.

Svend Nielsen 1917-2007

Here Svend talks a little about those early days -

“I started in an apprenticeship with eight others from 1932 to 1937. Charms for bracelets was something totally new…they came from the newspapers to write about it! We made small buckets rakes and spades to hang from the bracelet - in gold.

Whatever we made had to be sold!!! They didn't want us to be too artistic! But it was okay to create “something different”, “something new”. That was sort of okay.

I was placed next to the assistant who made chains and strings - we got along well - we used about 5/6 of all the gold used in the workshop. We made everything in metal sheet and wire. After a year the assistant stopped and it was my luck that I had acquired the necessary skills.

After finishing my apprenticeship I only stayed for a short while - and after serving in the navy I went to Rome with my friend Carl. In the fall I started with a Goldsmith. We worked a lot in white gold and platinum. But not in the summer - then Inga and I biked to Paris and Switzerland.

Then the Germans attacked Poland - redrafted for the security force - sent home - back to white gold and brilliants - then, the 9th of April I applied for a position with Person and Østerberg - old colleagues - it was an easy time for me, they didn't pay attention to my coming and going.

In 1945 I started on my own on Kultorvet and later in Klareboderne”.

Trollbeads Rooster (retired) designed by Svend Nielsen

Svend designed many Trollbeads charm beads for the collection. The cockerel, hen and chick are motifs often used in Svend's designs and products. Have a look here and tell us which is your favourite in a comment below…

Tags: original Trollbeads design, silver trollbeads

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