‘Beautiful jewellery should tell a story. There must be balance in the composition like a painting and if the design seems effortless, then it becomes something special’

Tell us a bit about yourself!

My name is Torkil Oxe and I was trained initially as an architect.  Art is a very important part of my life so for the past fifteen years I have worked as an artist, illustrator and graphic designer - something I combine with a job where I do interior design and exhibitions for a chain of office hotels. I’ve only ever designed one piece of jewellery before this one!

Why did you want to enter the competition?

I think that the Queen is very talented and, as a human being, she is interesting and original.  I feel that should be celebrated and a design competition like this is an opportunity for me to be part of the Golden Jubilee and contribute towards it in my own way.  It’s been a fun and educational experience.

What was your inspiration for the design?

Like both Georg Jensen and the Queen herself, I found my inspiration in nature. I chose a tree and specifically the rings, lines and cavities you find when you cut through the trunk. I recognise something typically Nordic in my idea and I like the rough and rustic elements of the design.  There are five rings to the tree - one for each decade of her Majesty’s rule - and they radiate out from the centre.  They gave me the opportunity to visualise the notion of time. 

What was the design process?

Having decided on the tree concept, I worked on the radial pattern and added the numbers 1972 and 2022 in gold.  It was important to remain true to the terminology of a tree in a way where all the elements in the final piece look right: a cavity with the shape of a crown, cracks in the shape of an ‘M’ and a ‘II’ and the bark being rough and distinct.  When it was made, it was quite fantastic to finally hold a sample of the silver piece after all the thinking and drawing - suddenly my idea was three dimensional and real!

Who or what influences you the most in your work?

I think that the ornamentation from the Viking Age is extremely beautiful and I am quite fond of primitivist arts from Africa.  In terms of people, I like the painter Jean-Michel Basquiat, the photographer Bill Brandt and some of the Faroese artists.  I love that they are expressive and that their works are honest, graphic and have a sense of humour.

Finally, what does Georg Jensen mean to you?

Georg Jensen is a reputable company with Nordic traditions in an international environment. It stands for style and exclusivity, joy, pride and dedication.