For decades now, the story of art in America has been dominated by New York. It gets the majority of attention, the stories of its schools and movements and masterpieces the stuff of pop culture legend. Chicago, on the other hand... well, people here...

In 1904 Danish silversmith Georg Jensen (1866-1935) founded one of the world's most celebrated design companies. Famous for its signature silver tableware that combines gleaming sculptural forms with lush ornament, Jensen's eponymous firm has stood a...