TV3 Nightline News

Four decades ago Danish gold and silversmith Jens Hansen set up a Nelson workshop.

Now nine years after his death his sons are continuing the legacy.

"I'd like to think he'd be proud that we're keeping it going," says Halfdan Hansen. "We've got apprentices working for us now so we're keeping it alive for the future."

To celebrate the 40th anniversary a collection of designs - which have not been made or sold since Jens Hansen originally designed them - has been re-launched.

Watch video or read rest of news story here TV3 Nightline News Story

Labels: halfdan hansen, jens hansen, jens hansen halfdan hansen lord of the rings nelson new zealand sbs danish radio, jens hansen halfdan one ring lord of rings nelson new zealand pippa tvnz tv

The Motueka-Golden Bay News November 13, 2008

Renowned local jewellers Jens Hansen Gold
& Silversmith will sponsor an 'Award of
Excellence' for the top NMIT arts student
this year. The award winner for 2008 will
be announced at the opening of the NMIT
student art exhibition at the Suter Art Gallery
on November 14.

For the past 40 years Jens Hansen has been
synonymous with Nelson's creative industry
and NMIT. Creatively Jens was regarded as a
genius. He was an acclaimed painter, sculptor,
and gold and silversmith, bringing. a unique
style of artistry to Nelson's creative core.

Over the past four decades, Jens Hansen has
become recognised the world over for classically
designed jewellery with true spirit and timeless
style, with works celebrated in the Museum of
New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa's permanent
collection and in literature showcasing New
Zealand art and design. As with all that is
excellent, his designs continue to endure over
the years and defy fashion, as seen in the
recently released 40th Anniversary Collection
of legacy jewellery pieces.

Jens Hansen was eternally passionate about
his craft and was keen to ensure its survival,
both as a hobby for some and as a commercial
reality for others. He ran summer art and
metal work classes at NMIT for many years in
the 1970s and 1980s, and with fellow jeweller
Gavin Hitchings helped to establish NMIT's
jewellery classes which remain popular today.

NMIT head of school for arts and media Suzie
Peacock said the institute was honoured that
Jens Hansen was sponsoring the excellence
award.

"We've had along association with the Hansen
family and Jens Hansen is seen as an icon of
quality design in Nelson. It's a brand that
stands for good design, beautiful handcrafting
and the Nelson region. We are very proud to
have their company sponsoring this award."

Here's an excerpt and photo of a nice article about Nelson which featured in today's Dominion Post newspaper. Please click the link to read the full story.

Nelson's world of sustainable arts

The once-wacky art scene in the sun-drenched South Island town of Nelson is not only alive and well, it's getting stronger

ELLEN BROOK - The Dominion Post | Tuesday, 11 November 2008

HOME AND AWAY: Nelson artist Anna Leary and Phillip Thomas in a Wellington Airport artists' studio, built to show off Nelson Arts. The Ring in the foreground is a full size replica of the big Jens Hansen One Ring used in the Lord of the Ring's movies.

Nelson has its fingers in a lot of pies. It wants to be the sustainable city, the solar city, the heritage city and the arts city, says the mayor.

..

The area is becoming known for its woodworking, as well as ceramics and jewellery, including the studio of Jens Hansen jewellers, which helped put Nelson on the map as the place where a certain gold ring that featured in a certain movie was made.

Yes, I know you thought it was forged in the mines of Mordor, but it was actually in a little workshop just by the cathedral.

.....

please click link to read the full story

Labels: halfdan hansen, jens hansen, jens hansen halfdan one ring lord of rings nelson new zealand pippa tvnz tv

Our local Nelson paper did a great article today on the launch of the 40th Anniversary Collection.

Please check it out at http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelsonmail/4750994a19257.html

Photo with a poster of Jens in the background shows Halfdan with one of the rings from the collection, and its original workshop production card.

Labels: halfdan hansen, jens hansen

Jens Hansen Gold & Silversmith was very proud to be co-sponsor of 'The Sitting Room' at the Nelson Arts Festival for the 3rd year running.

The show was a sellout and more than 450 people had a fantastic time dancing to the eclectic musical picks of award winner music journalist Grant Smithies.

Check out these Two Different Reviews From The Nelson mail
http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelsonmail/4746807a27875.html
http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelsonmail/blogs/artofnelson/2008/10/26/just-the-music/

See photos from the night at our sponsorship partner's blog
http://netmaestro.co.nz/blog/mid/103/full/blog/28/the-sitting-room--sellout.aspx

The Sitting Room

Labels: grant smithies, jens hansen, the sitting room