Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
American
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.
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Creator: Dansk Designs
MCM Iron Candle Holder in Box by Dansk Designs with Candles
By Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
MCM Iron candle holder in original box by Dansk Designs of Denmark, circa 1950s. The piece holds twelve narrow candles and is in good vintage condition; it measures 4.75"D x 1.25"H....
Category
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Iron
Mid Century Modern Dansk Silver Plated Candleholders and Mini Sculptures
By Dansk
Located in Bedford Hills, NY
Mid Century Dansk silver plated candle holders and mini figurative sculptures, mixture of France and Japan.
Category
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
Vintage candlesticks by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk - Set of 4
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Vintage candlesticks by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk - set of 4
Mid Century Danish - Decoration
Vintage candle holders by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk in silver metal. Designed by Jens H. ...
Category
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver Plate
Jens Quistgaard "Onion" Candleholders, Set of 12
By Dansk
Located in Dallas, TX
Set of 12 Jens Quistgaard "Onion" candleholders. 1960s
Manufactured of brass by Dansk, Denmark; each bearing the impression: "DANSK/DESIGNS/DENMARK/IHQ."
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
$683 Sale Price / set
29% Off
Pair of Plated Animal Paperweights by Gunnar Cyren for Dansk
By Gunnar Cyren, Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
Pair of plated animal paperweights by Gunnar Cyren for Dansk, circa 1970s. The cat and pig are made of plated zinc and are signed on the underside. Please see my other Gunnar Cyren ...
Category
Late 20th Century Japanese Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Zinc
Mid-Century Danish Brass Candleholders by Jens Quistgaard, 1960s. Set of 2.
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Asaa, DK
Mid-Century Danish Brass Candleholders by Jens Quistgaard, 1960s. Set of 2.
Danish Mid-Century Modern candle holders in solid cast brass designed by Jens Harald Quistgaard for Dansk...
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Mid Century Danish Ceramic Bowl with Brown & Blue Stripes by Dansk
By Dansk
Located in Detroit, MI
This vintage midcentury Danish modern Dansk small decorative ceramic bowl or dish circa 1960 has a lovely shallow profile. The simple modernist design ffeatures organic hand painted ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
$208 Sale Price
20% Off
Tilt Candleholders By Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk Designs
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Tilt Candleholders By Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk Designs
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver Plate
$200 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Jens H. Quistgaard Brass Candlesticks for Dansk Designs, Denmark, 1960s
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Jens H. Quistgaard Brass Candlesticks for Dansk Designs, Denmark, 1960s. Nice original patina. Each signed with makers mark to the bottom.
Category
20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
$680 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Jens Quistgaard Silver and Brass Candlestick Holders by Dansk - A Pair
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of silver and brass plated candlestick holders by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk Japan.
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver, Brass
Brass Candlesticks by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk, Set of 6
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A set of six brass candle sticks by the Danish designer Jens Quistgaard for the renowned manufacturer Dansk. The candlesticks have a rich patina consistent with age and use. Stamp of...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
50s Set of 6 Dansk Cast Iron S Base Taper Candle Holders Jens Quistgaard Denmark
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
50s Set of 6 Dansk Cast Iron S Base Taper Candle Holders Jens Quistgaard Denmark
Danish Candleholders by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk Design, 1950s, Set of...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass, Iron
Sculptural Silver Plated Coiled Candleholders by Bertil Vallien for Dansk, Pair
By Dansk, Bertil Vallien
Located in San Diego, CA
Nice pair of sculptural silver plated coiled candleholders by Bertil Vallien for Dansk, circa 1970s. Each candleholder has a capacity for 12 long taper candles with a diameter of 1/4...
Category
20th Century French Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver Plate
$240 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Jens Harald Quistgaard Dansk Teak Salad Bowl and 4 Serving Bowls 1960's
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A lovely Danish Teak Salad Bowl with 4 serving bowls. A very clean and popular design - all functional and stylish in Danish Design by Jens Quistgaard
Four bowls measure 7" in dia...
Category
20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Teak
MCM Iron Candle Holder by Gunnar Cyren Lysestager for Dansk
By Gunnar Cyren, Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage MCM eight candle iron holder by Gunnar Cyren Lysestager for Dansk, circa 1960s. This is a rare form has a great patina and measures 8.5"D x 5"H and holds .25"D tapered candl...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Iron
1960s Teak Wood Serving Bowl Danish Modern Style Dansk
By Dansk
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Danish Modern Teak Wood Bowl Style Dansk of Denmark
Unmarked
4 h x 10 d
Preowned vintage condition Refer to images.
Category
1960s Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Teak
Jens Quistgaard Cast Iron Candleholder for Dansk
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in New York, NY
Two-piece cast iron candleholder or vessel designed by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk, circa 1960s. A sculptural and scarce form from Quistgaard's ce...
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Iron
$455 Sale Price
30% Off
1960s Dansk International Teak Salad Bowl Malaysia
By Dansk
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Dansk Teak Wood Bowl Malaysia
maker stamp
4.75 h x 10.5
Preowned unrestored vintage
Review all images
Category
1960s Malaysian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood, Teak
Jens Quistgaard Star Shaped Candle Holder Yellow Green Iron, Danish Modern 1960s
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
Danish Mid-Century Modern candle holder designed by Jens Harald Quistgaard for Dansk Internationals Ltd, USA. Made 1960s.
This is rare version with yellow green lacquer. It's made...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Iron
Early Danish Modern "S" Candleholders by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Diego, CA
Rare set of three early cast iron "S" candleholders by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk, circa 1960s. Nice black patina with polished brass accents. All stamped "Denmark". #313
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass, Iron
$375 Sale Price / set
21% Off
Vintage Midentury Brass Candlestick by Jens Quistgaard, Denmark, 1950s
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Stockholm, SE
Pair of elegant brass candlesticks by Jens Quistgaard, in a sleek, tapering form.
Category
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Jens Quistgaard for Dansk Candleholders, 1960
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegant set of five cast iron candleholders by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk, black patina with brass accents, one candleholder stamped.
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass, Iron
Vintage Set of 4 Dansk Mid-Century Candle Holders
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Diego, CA
An array of incredible Scandinavian classic candle holders from Dansk. This set includes a spider candle holder, an Iron and Brass candle holder ...
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Iron
$240 Sale Price / set
39% Off
Set of Nine Candle Holders by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk Design
By Dansk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Set of nine silver-plated 'saucer' candle holders. The set can work in both, causal and formal settings. Designed by Jens Quistgaard and produced by Dansk Designs Copenhagen.
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
$1,950 Sale Price / set
35% Off
Set of Nine Candle Holders by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk Designs
By Dansk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Set of nine candle holders by Jens Harald Quistgaard for Dansk Designs, Denmark.
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
$3,368 Sale Price / set
24% Off
Dansk Jens Quistgaard Danish Modern Tall Teak Candle Holder With Brass Rim
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in West Chester, PA
Vintage sculptural teak candle holder with brass rim designed by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk. 9.5 inches tall
Category
Late 20th Century Thai Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Sculptural Silver Plated Coiled Candle Holder by Bertil Vallien for Dansk Design
By Dansk, Bertil Vallien
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Dansk Designs France Silver-Plated Spiral Tapered Candlesticks, Candle Holder.
Sculptural silver plated coiled candleholder by Bertil Vallien for Dansk, circa 1970s.
The piece has a ...
Category
Late 20th Century French Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver Plate
Vintage 1950s Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk Design Bowl, Made in Denmark
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
Large bowl designed by Jens Harald Quistgaard. Produced in Denmark by Dansk during the 1950s. Made from solid staved teak. Good vintage condition. Aside from its utilitarian duty, th...
Category
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Teak
Set of 2 NOS, 1960s Candleholder Jens Harald Quistgaard, Dansk Designs, Denmark
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article:
Set of two candleholder elements new old stock.
Producer:
Dansk Designs
Design:
Jens Harald Quistgaard
Decade:
1960s
Original Danish cand...
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Iron
Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Danish Teak Ice Bucket by Jen's Quistgaard
By Dansk
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Sculptural teak ice bucket with a plastic liner by Jen's Quistgaard for Dansk. In excellent vintage condition with minimal wear. Can be parcel posted.
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Plastic, Teak
Dansk Design Scalloped Blue Art Glass Vase Bowl by Jens Quistgaard
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Great color, serene and organic in its form. Scalloped bowl-vase is 7.5 diameter by 5.5 in hgt. In excellent vintage condition with no wear. Not signed.
Category
1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Art Glass
Sculptural Silver Plated Candle Holder by Jens Harald Quistgaard for Dansk
By Dansk
Located in Charleston, SC
Dansk silver plated Wave candle centerpiece. Gunnar Cyren designed candle holder makes a statement on any table. Holds total of 12 thin .25 inch wide taper candles. Slight discolorat...
Category
1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
Early Danish Teak Centerpiece Serving Bowl by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in San Jose, CA
Mid century modern decorative staved salad serving bowl designed by Jens Harald Quistgaard for Dansk, Denmark. This unique piece displays quality solid teak craftsmanship and makes f...
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Teak
$740 Sale Price
20% Off
Scandinavian Modern Dansk International Pair of Lead Crystal Glass Candle Holder
By Dansk
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs round Lead Crystal glass candle holders.
Marked underneath Dansk International Designs LTD IH...
Category
Late 20th Century Japanese Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Crystal
Jens Quistgaard for Dansk Teak Waste Basket or Towel Holder
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Jens Quistgaard for Dansk teak basket. Perfect to use for rolled towels, magazines or as a waste basket. Early form, hard to find! Great original condition! Signed to bottom.
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Oak, Teak
Danish Modern Iron Candle Holder Design by Quistgaard for Dansk
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Diego, CA
Great early production multiple candles, candle holder designed by Quistgaard for Dansk stamped in the bottom made in Denmark.
Category
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Iron
$220 Sale Price
20% Off
Decorative Set of Two Modern Glazed Scandinavian Vessels
By Dansk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Decorative set of two modern glazed Scandinavian vessels. The tall pottery vase marked "Kragten," the lidded ceramic jar marked DANSK DESIGN DENMARK.
M...
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Pottery
Vintage Dansk Jens Quistgaard Teak Wood Brass Candleholder
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Charleston, SC
Vintage Dansk International Designs Teak Wood & Brass Candle Holder By Jens Quistgaard
Midcentury Danish modern teak and brass candleholder by Dansk. Mi...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Decorative Set of Two Modern Glazed Scandinavian Vessels
By Dansk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Decorative set of two modern glazed Scandinavian vessels. The tall pottery vase marked "Kragten," the lidded ceramic jar marked DANSK DESIGN DENMARK...
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Pottery
Mid-century Danish Jens Quistgaard Teak Dansk Oval Bowl c.1960
By Dansk
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
A Mid-century Teak oval shaped bowl designed by Jens H. Quistgaard. This piece has the 4 duck markings and "Dansk Designs Denmark JHQ" branded to the bottom
CREATOR Dansk...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Teak
$275 Sale Price
21% Off
Vintage DANSK 16" White Tiny Taper Candles Set of 12 in Box
By Dansk
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Dansk 16" White Color Tiny Taper Candles Set of 12 in Original Box.
These hard to find Dansk tiny taper candles are in great shape.
"DANSK design with light".
Mid Century Dan...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Earthenware
Decorative Set of Two Modern Glazed Scandinavian Vessels
By Dansk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Decorative set of two modern glazed Scandinavian vessels. The tall pottery vase marked "Kragten," the lidded ceramic jar marked DANSK DESIGN DENMARK.
Tall vase: 12 in. tall x 4 in...
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Pottery
Jens Quistgaard pair of cast iron and brass candlesticks for Dansk .Denmark
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great design in this pair of cast iron candlesticks by Jens Quistgaard , by Dansk, marked JHQ plus Denmark .
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Iron
Jens Quistgaard Staved Teak Bowl for Dansk Design, Denmark, 1950s
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Utrecht, NL
Jens H. Quistgaard set out to design beautiful things for everyday use, which is an essentially Scandinavian approach to design in general. Over the course of his prolific and varied design career, Jens Quistgaard created objects that are a meditation on the possibilities of shape for a common household object.
Intriguing and fantastical, the variety of forms the sculptor manifested expand the vocabulary of functional design, calling on an array of familiar references including natural shapes. This solid wood bowl is a beautiful example of this, with an organic shape and an immediately visible level of craftsmanship. This rare model is an early iteration of the teak Viking...
Category
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
Dansk Designs decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.
Dansk Designs decorative objects are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Dansk Designs decorative objects, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original decorative objects by Dansk Designs were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider decorative objects by Nils Thorsson, Per Lutken for Holmegaard, and Torben Orskov. Prices for Dansk Designs decorative objects can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $39 and can go as high as $5,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $300.
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