Georg Jensen

bronze and gold, depicting the sun carried by a six-wheeled horse-drawn chariot, mounted on a wooden plinth, together with a glass case

An unusual piece of good overall appearance. The gold covering to the disc is not complete as the catalogue illustration shows, in common with the condition of the original. The reverse of the disc has a conformingly decorative surface without the gold covering. Old marks and scratches overall. Glass case with typical scratches and possibly a later addition. Ready for display.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The 'Solvognen', or Sun Chariot, was discovered buried in Denmark's Trundholm Moor in September 1902. Immediately hailed as a Bronze Age artefact of great importance, it is currently on display in the National Museum, Copenhagen. Believed to have been placed in the ground as an offering to the sun god Sól in about 1400 BC, the Solvognen is remarkable both as an exceedingly early depiction of a spoked-wheel chariot and as an astronomical device: the engraved golden disc probably served as a calendar, and represents an advanced understanding of time.

In the late 1950s, the Danish government commissioned Georg Jensen Silversmithy to precisely recreate the Solvognen, in the original materials, for use by the state as a diplomatic gift. Only seven models are believed to exist, including chariots in the collections of the United Nations, the White House and the Finnish Parliament. The intended recipient of the present example was Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, but deteriorating relations between Denmark and the Soviet Union led to the cancellation of the visit upon which he was to have received the Solvognen. Instead it was retained in the London offices of Georg Jensen.

This lot is accompanied by two cards issued by Georg Jensen, relating the history of the object and dating this example to 1959.