Bernhard Hertz

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Bernhard Hertz (1834–1909) was a Danish goldsmith who started a silver workshop in Copenhagen called Bernhard Hertz Guldvarefabrik. The factory at Store Kongensgade 23 is now protected as a historic building. His company, Bernhard Hertz A/S, was founded in 1858 and later merged into Lund Copenhagen in 1985.

Born into a prosperous Jewish family in Copenhagen, he was the fourth of nine children of Abraham Hertz and Adelaide Meye. His father ran a tannery at Rosenborggade 5, later continued by Bernhard’s son Meyer Hertz as Hertz Garveri & Skotøjsfabrik. His maternal grandfather was Jacob Salomon Meyer. Hertz finished his goldsmith training in 1858. His graduation piece, an arm ring, was bought by King Frederick VII for 300 rigsdaler and given to Countess Danner; the ring is now in the Danish Design Museum.

With the proceeds, he started his own business the same year. He made modern jewelry with flower motifs and replicas of ancient designs, and became a leader in Skønvirke (Art Nouveau). To reach more customers, he produced silver replicas of contemporary jewelry instead of gold and introduced machine power for rolling and frosting. In 1887 he built a multi-storey factory in Store Kongensgade. He died in 1909. The company was acquired by Lund Copenhagen in 1985. The Store Kongensgade factory and the street-front building (designed by C.O. Aagaard in 1850) are listed as protected heritage sites.