Vintage Dansk Denmark 'Variation V' Serving Spoons and Fork
View Similar Items
Vintage Dansk Denmark 'Variation V' Serving Spoons and Fork
About the Item
- Creator:Dansk (Manufacturer),Jens Quistgaard (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 0.75 in (1.91 cm)Width: 10.75 in (27.31 cm)Depth: 1.75 in (4.45 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 3
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1957
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Brooklyn, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1444217081051
Jens Quistgaard
The postwar-era work of Danish sculptor and designer Jens Harald Quistgaard is still exceedingly popular in living rooms, dining rooms and kitchens in the United States, Europe and Japan, particularly in the homes of mid-century design enthusiasts. Having created serving pieces and barware for Dansk Designs for 30 years, Quistgaard produced striking Scandinavian modernist designs that married function with sophisticated form.
After demonstrating artistic talent at a young age, Quistgaard was gifted a forge and anvil so that he could work in his mother’s kitchen. He built toys, jewelry and hunting knives under his father’s tutelage. Later, he spent years learning from local artisans how to produce wood, metal, ceramic and glass models. Quistgaard’s career path solidified during his apprenticeship as a silversmith with legendary Danish silver firm Georg Jensen.
By 1954, Quistgaard had become known for his designs in Denmark when American entrepreneur and businessman, Ted Nierenberg, discovered his work. The two formed a partnership to mass-produce Quistgaard’s wares in New York while the designer remained in Copenhagen.
The long-distance relationship flourished for three decades, during which millions of Quistgaard pieces were manufactured in the factories of Dansk Designs, Nierenberg’s company. Owing primarily to the partnership between Dansk Designs and Quistgaard, many Americans became familiar with Scandinavian modernism. In the postwar era, American tastemakers sold the citizenry on the “Scandinavian dream,” suggesting that, like us, the inhabitants of the Nordic nations valued home, hearth, family and good craftsmanship and design, as well as democracy.
The designs for Quistgaard’s Købenstyle line and other collections during the mid-1950s were revolutionary, with bowls built like barrels and charming, lightweight monochrome tableware in enameled steel. Quistgaard utilized exceptional materials in the creation of his coveted cookware and serving pieces, opting for warm teak and exotic woods and reintroducing steel as a go-to option for kitchen wares.
Quistgaard’s designs won numerous awards and are held in the collections of museums all over the world. His work can be found in the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Louvre, the Museum of Modern Art and elsewhere.
Find vintage Jens Harald Quistgaard decorative objects, serveware and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Dansk
Ironically, Dansk Designs, the tableware company practically synonymous with Danish design (“Dansk,” in fact, translates to “Danish”), was the brainchild of an American couple, Ted and Martha Nierenberg.
The Nierenbergs, who founded the business in 1954, initially worked out of the garage of their Great Neck, Long Island, home and marketed their serveware, tables, decorative objects and other products largely in the United States. But they had a secret weapon: Jens Quistgaard.
After demonstrating artistic talent at a young age, the Copenhagen native was gifted a forge and anvil so that he could work in his mother’s kitchen. Quistgaard built toys, jewelry and hunting knives under his father’s tutelage. Later, he spent years learning from local artisans how to produce wood, metal, ceramic and glass models. Quistgaard’s career path solidified during his apprenticeship as a silversmith with legendary Danish silver firm Georg Jensen.
The Nierenbergs discovered the sculptor and designer on their honeymoon, which they’d spent traveling through Europe searching for top-quality goods that might form the basis of a business.
After they hired Quistgaard and launched Dansk, their products swiftly came to epitomize the best of accessible Scandinavian design for mid-century American consumers, who fell for the firm’s staved-teak salad bowls, colorful casseroles and stainless-steel flatware, all of which managed to look handmade despite being mass-produced.
The long-distance relationship flourished for 30 years, during which millions of Quistgaard pieces were manufactured in the company's factories.
The designs for Quistgaard’s Købenstyle line and other collections during the mid-1950s were revolutionary, with bowls built like barrels and charming, lightweight monochrome tableware in enameled steel. Quistgaard’s work married function with striking, sophisticated form. He utilized exceptional materials in the creation of his coveted cookware, barware and serving pieces, opting for warm teak and exotic woods and reintroducing steel as a go-to option for kitchen wares.
Quistgaard’s postwar-era Scandinavian modernist work is still exceedingly popular in living rooms, dining rooms and kitchens in the United States, Europe and Japan, particularly in the homes of mid-century design enthusiasts.
Find vintage Dansk Designs furniture and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
- Early Jens Quistgaard for Dansk Flamestone Salt and Pepper ShakersBy Jens QuistgaardLocated in Brooklyn, NYDanish 'Flamestone' earthenware salt and pepper shakers by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk designs, circa 1958-1964. Features the Flamestone signature slate glaze with striated pattern ...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Ceramics
MaterialsPorcelain, Stoneware
- Nest of Three Staved Teak Serving Trays by Jens Quistgaard for DanskBy Dansk, Jens QuistgaardLocated in Brooklyn, NYComplete set of three staved teak serving trays by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk. Designed with a slight size disparity (small, medium, and large) to allow the trays to nest together whe...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware
MaterialsTeak
- Jens Quistgaard for Dansk Denmark Teak "Congo" Ice BucketBy Jens Quistgaard, DanskLocated in Brooklyn, NYDansk 'Congo' ice bucket in staved teak designed by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk. Iconic, sculptural early example with signature orange plastic interior liner. Scuff to exterior and li...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Barware
MaterialsPlastic, Teak
- Danish Modern Jens Quistgaard "Rare Woods" Mutenye Tray for Dansk DesignsBy Dansk, Jens QuistgaardLocated in Brooklyn, NYSculptural mutenye tray with cutting board insert designed by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk Designs Denmark as part of his "Rare Woods Collection" (circa 1960). This example is among the rarest manufactured of the series with under 100...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Serving Pieces
MaterialsWood
- Danish Modern Staved Teak "Congo" Ice Bucket by Jens Quistgaard for DanskBy Dansk, Jens QuistgaardLocated in Brooklyn, NYDansk 'Congo' ice bucket in staved teak designed by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk. Iconic, sculptural early example with signature orange plastic interior liner. One scratch present alo...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Barware
MaterialsPlastic, Teak
- Early Jens Quistgaard for Dansk Flamestone Coffee / Tea SetBy Jens Quistgaard, DanskLocated in Brooklyn, NYDenmark 'Flamestone' coffee or tea pot, creamer, and sugar by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk designs, circa 1958-1964. Features the Flamestone signature slate, almost brown glazed-ear...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Ceramics
MaterialsEarthenware, Porcelain
- 1950s Lacquered Serving Tray by Jens Quistgaard for DanskBy Dansk, Jens QuistgaardLocated in Sagaponack, NYA turquoise lacquered wood tray with broad, indented handles.Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Tableware
MaterialsWood
- Pair of JHQ Dansk Denmark Teak Salad ServersBy Dansk, Jens QuistgaardLocated in Ferndale, MIPair of Jens Quistgaard for Dansk Denmark teak salad servers. Recently purchased with large collection of modernist servers.Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Tableware
MaterialsTeak
- Dansk Designs Denmark JHQ Quistgaard stainless stir spoon olive forkBy Dansk, Jens QuistgaardLocated in Ferndale, MIEarly Dansk production cocktail pieces . Long stir spoon and olive fork . Both marked Dansk Designs Denmark JHQ and copyright "c" . The pair does show signs of minimal use .Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Barware
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Dansk Denmark Quistgaard Design Stainless Steel Salt Pepper ShakersBy Dansk, Jens QuistgaardLocated in Ferndale, MIJens Quistgaard design for Dansk. Salt and pepper shakers in stainless steel.Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Tableware
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Staved Teak Bowl by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk Design, DenmarkBy Dansk, Jens QuistgaardLocated in Hägersten, SELarge bowl designed by Jens Harald Quistgaard. Produced in Denmark by Dansk during the 1950s. Made from solid staved teak. Good vintage condition with signs of usage and patina.Category
Vintage 1950s European Scandinavian Modern Tableware
MaterialsTeak
- Danish Teak Pepper Mill by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk, 1960sBy Dansk, Jens QuistgaardLocated in Southampton, GBTeak pepper mill and salt pot designed by Jens Quistgaard, a Danish sculptor and industrial designer, in the late 1950s for Dansk Designs. This is model 83...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Tableware
MaterialsTeak