The edge of perfection For almost two decades, Danish industrial designer Jens Ansø has dedicated himself to the design and manufacture of handmade folding knives. Now, inspired by his love for Danish design, he has launched NJORD, a series of custom-made kitchen knives, combining the noble art of Japanese craft with timeless Danish design. By Signe Hansen | Photos: ANSØ of Denmark
Launched in August 2019, NJORD is inspired by the desire not just to create the perfect kitchen knife, but to embody a philosophy upon which Ansø has built his life and his business, ANSØ of Denmark. “I believe that you shouldn’t make something unless it is both necessary and useful,” he says. “But if it’s both necessary and useful, you shouldn’t hesitate to make it beautiful.” Based on this philosophy, Ansø has dedicated himself full-time to the craft of knife making ever since graduat14 | Issue 131 | December 2019
ing as an industrial designer in 2001. Wholeheartedly embracing the Danish design tradition of simplicity, detail and an emphasis on function rather than shape, his elegant and functional handmade folding knives have become renowned world-wide, but especially popular with knife connoisseurs in the US. The popularity of the ANSØ of Denmark brand has also allowed its maker to design knives for some of the world’s leading knife producers in the US, Germany, and Italy. Having thus completed three series of kitchen knives
for different brands, Ansø finally decided to make his own.
Danish design and Japanese craft When, about two years ago, Ansø first decided to create his own kitchen knife range, there was never a doubt in his mind that he wanted Japanese blades for his work. He wanted each knife to pay tribute to the proud tradition of rugged sharpness, traced back to the infamous samurai swords. In his research, he found a small family-owned business with more