Dansk Designs Furniture
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.
1960s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Furniture
Porcelain
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Furniture
Iron
20th Century French Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Furniture
Silver Plate
Late 20th Century Japanese Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Furniture
Crystal
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Furniture
Silver Plate
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Furniture
Brass, Iron
Late 20th Century Chinese Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Furniture
Glass
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Furniture
Iron
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Furniture
Iron
20th Century French Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Furniture
Silver Plate
20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Furniture
Iron
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Furniture
Iron
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Furniture
Iron
Dansk Designs furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Creators Similar to Dansk Designs
- What is the history of Dansk?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertJune 6, 2024The history of Dansk began with the American couple Ted and Martha Nierenberg. They founded the business in 1954, initially working out of the garage of their Great Neck, Long Island, home. From there, they marketed their serveware, tables, decorative objects and other products largely in the United States. 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. Later, Quistgaard spent years learning from local artisans how to produce wood, metal, ceramic and glass models. His career path solidified during his apprenticeship as a silversmith with the legendary Danish silver firm Georg Jensen.
The Nierenbergs discovered the sculptor and designer on their honeymoon, which they'd spent in 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.
Explore a large selection of Dansk designs on 1stDibs. - Where is Dansk Købenstyle made?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 27, 2024Where Dansk Købenstyle is made depends on the age of the piece. When the cookware debuted in 1956, Dansk manufactured it in Denmark in facilities run by the company Glud & Marstrand. Forty years later, in 1996, Dansk Designs moved its production to France. On 1stDibs, explore a range of Dansk Designs pieces from some of the world's top dealers.