In addition to having invented an alloy that drastically reduced the foundry production costs associated with making bronze, copper and brass, Danish designer and silversmith Just Andersen created sculptural furnishings, accessories and decor that are widely coveted and collectible today. Disko, an alloy made of lead, tin and antimony, shares characteristics with brass, and many of Andersen’s antique candle holders, vases and vessels and other decorative objects — produced in Art Nouveau, Scandinavian neoclassical and Art Deco styles — contain this material.
Growing up in Greenland, Andersen was originally a sculptor and painter. He moved to Copenhagen and attended the Royal Academy of Art and the School of Danish Crafts. At the latter, he studied under Jens Møller Jensen.
Andersen trained in silversmithing in Copenhagen with Mogens Ballin and with the revered Danish silver firm Peter Hertz. Working in Ballin’s workshop after it had changed hands when the founder’s wife fell ill during the early 1900s, Andersen sharpened and refined his skills. He completed unfinished projects of Ballin’s when he passed away in 1914, sometimes partnering with Jean Rene Gauguin in order to do so. Andersen opened Just Andersen Pewter in 1918, where he produced objects in silver and gold but also in pewter, bronze and his alloy, disko, which he named after Greenland’s Disko Bay.
Andersen created designs for Georg Jensen, Peter Hertz, A. Michelsen and other manufacturers. He opened showrooms in several cities including Berlin and Los Angeles. Andersen’s work is held in the collections of museums all over the world.
Find antique Just Andersen decorative objects, lighting and ceramics on 1stDibs.
1920s Art Deco table lamp in disco metal by sculptor Just Andersen, Copenhagen
By Just Andersen
Located in København K, 84
This pristine condition and distinguished 1920s Art Deco table lamp by Danish sculptor and silversmith Just Andersen is a masterful example of his sculptural approach to functional o...
Metal
Just Andersen table lamp in tin with vintage lamps shade of raw silk. 1930s
By Just Andersen
Located in København K, 84
The Just Andersen Art Deco table lamp, model 2610, including lamp shade exemplifies the sophisticated design sensibilities of the 1930s. Crafted in Denmark, this lamp features a cast...
Pewter
Elegant 1920s danish art deco table lamp in nickel and porcelain socket.
Located in København K, 84
A Danish Art Deco table lamp from the 1920s, composed of nickel-plated metal paired with a porcelain socket, reflecting the decade’s fascination with refined industrial materials. Th...
Nickel
Rare Original 1920s danish table lamp in iridescent glass, perforated lamp shade
Located in København K, 84
This original 1920s Danish Art Deco table lamp embodies the luxurious and modern spirit of the period, blending craftsmanship with innovative design elements. The lamp’s iridescent g...
Nickel
1920s Scandinavian Table Lamp, Flamed Birch & Black Stain, Art Deco
Located in København K, 84
This rare Scandinavian table lamp from the 1920s reflects the refined elegance of the Art Deco period, where geometric clarity and rich material contrasts became central to decorativ...
Birch
1920s French art deco table lamp, faux-marbling in green yellow and red brown.
Located in København K, 84
This striking French Art Deco table lamp from the 1920s embodies the period’s fascination with material illusion, geometric clarity, and refined surface treatment. The spherical base...
Paint
Danish Art Deco Just Andersen Table Lamp in Disco Metal with Shade, 1930s
By Just Andersen
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
Danish Art Deco table lamp from Just Andersen (1884-1943) made in the 1930s. It is in a very good vintage condition with a beautiful colorplay in the surface. Signed with monogram...
Metal
Art Deco Table Lamp by Just Andersen, Denmark, 1920s.
By SVM Handarbete 1, GAB Guldsmedsaktiebolaget, Akta Brons, Just Andersen
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful art deco desk lamp designed by Just Andersen in 1920s and produced by his own company in Denmark. Made from Disko metal (an alloy of different metals invented by Just And...
Metal
Danish Art Deco Just Andersen Table Lamp of Disco Metal with New Shade, 1930s
By Just Andersen
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
Danish Art Deco table lamp from Just Andersen (1884-1943) made in the 1930s. It is in very good vintage condition showing a beautiful color at the surface. Signed with monogram fo...
Metal
Art Deco Table Lamp in Olive Green Wood, Jean Besnard Style, 1920s
By Jean Besnard
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Small spherical antique wooden table light in the style of Jean Besnard. Beautifully lacquered in earthy olive green, brown and golden colors in animalistic speckled pattern. Wooden ...
Wood
Large Round Table Lamp by Just Andersen, 1930s, Denmark
By Just Andersen
Located in Værløse, DK
Round Table Lamp designed by Just Andersen in 1934. An elegant and rare piece for an exquisite home. * A round metal lamp with vertical lines and a beige fabric shade * Designer: ...
Metal
Just Andersen Table Lamp, 1920s, Denmark
By Just Andersen
Located in Værløse, DK
A table lamp by Just Andersen in great vintage condition. It is part of Just Andersens early work and true testament to his contribution to the Danish art deco movement in the 1920s....
Metal
