Jette Frölich is a renowned Danish designer, famous for her delicate and elegant Christmas decorations. Her story is such a lovely blend of creativity, tradition, and a little bit of luck. It all started back in the 1960s when Jette was just a young mother, living in Denmark, and making these beautiful little paper cuttings as a hobby. At the time, she wasn’t thinking about becoming a famous designer or anything, just making the kind of decorations that entertained the kids and kept them out of mischief.
But her paper cuts weren’t just your average DIY holiday crafts—they were elegant, intricate, and delicate, like something out of a fairytale. People started to notice, and word spread. Fast forward to 1976, and this famous Danish design store, Illums Bolighus (which is the place for Danish interior design), asked her to decorate their Christmas display. Imagine that! You go from making little paper snowflakes for your kids to decorating an entire store that's a hub for design lovers.
And, unsurprisingly, people fell in love with her style. Her decorations were a hit because they were so different—delicate and minimal, but also beautiful. She took inspiration from nature, so there were lots of motifs like snowflakes, birds, and branches, all crafted from silver, gold, or just paper. Her designs were so unique that even Georg Jensen, the famous Danish silversmith, noticed her. She started collaborating with the brand, and her Christmas decorations went from being a local sensation to something you could find in homes all over Denmark and then further afield. This cemented her reputation as the "Queen of Christmas decorations" in Denmark.
What makes Jette Frölich’s story even more inspiring is her commitment to sustainability and timeless design. Even in the early days of her career, she believed in creating decorations that could be cherished for years rather than following trends that would be quickly discarded. Her work remains a cherished part of Danish Christmas celebrations, symbolising not just the holiday season but also the enduring appeal of well-made, meaningful design.
Her decorations are still sold internationally, and to this day, many Danish families consider her designs a vital part of their Christmas traditions.
We are so lucky to have several of her designs in our shop. Some of these are hard to find, but are, as this story shares, unique and beautiful!