Dansk Designs Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
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.
1
201
1
to
22
188
14
202
202
202
107
85
4
1
200
1
1
145
24
19
49
13
2
2
161
148
136
35
20
169
155
153
21
14
127
626
462
441
433
Creator: Dansk Designs
Staved Teak Chip and Dip Tray by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Diego, CA
Staved teak chip and dip tray by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk, circa 1970s. The tray has a removable glass dip bowl.
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Teak, Glass
Divided Bowl in Teak by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Diego, CA
Unique divided bowl in teak by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk, circa 1970s. The bowl is quite functional with five different walled sections and is in excellen...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Teak
Mutenye Cheese Board by Jens Quistgaard
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An uncommon, well-scaled and finely crafted circular mutenye serving board having an end grain cutting surface and a sculptural recessed well.
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Wood
Danish Modern Teak Capped Carafe by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Diego, CA
Danish modern teak capped carafe by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk, circa 1970s.
Category
Mid-20th Century Thai Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Teak
JHQ Dansk Denmark Teak Salad Servers
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Ferndale, MI
Pair of Jens Quistgaard Danish teak salad servers. Part of a recently acquired large collection.
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Teak
Scandinavian Modern Teak ‘Congo’ Ice Bucket by Jens Quistgaard
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in London, GB
A fine example of a Scandinavian Modern teak ice bucket designed by Jens Quistgaard, a master of the sculptural paired back and simplistic form. This teak ice bucket has had its wood...
Category
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Teak
Rosewood, Palisander Tall, Ice Bucket by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk, Stamped
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great ice buacket designed, by Quistgaard, made for Dansk.
Category
1960s Danish Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Rosewood
Quistgaar Jhq Dansk Denmark Wenge Ice Bucket
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Ferndale, MI
Excellent overall condition age crack to body.
Category
Early 20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Wenge
Jens Quistgaard Bullseye Cube Ice Bucket with Tongs
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Awesome Jens Quistgaard cube ice bucket with original tongs for Dansk. Solid teak construction with carved circle details on all sides. Top features a raised bullseye design for the ...
Category
20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Teak
Danish Modern Staved Teak Bowl by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice Danish modern staved teak bowl by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk, circa 1970s. The bowl is 11.5" in diameter and 4.5" high and in very good condition.
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Teak
Jens Quistgaard for Dansk Rare Woods Palisander Bow Tie Shaped Tray Rosewood
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Chicago, IL
Tripart rosewood tray in the form of an elongated bow tie, designed by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk. The bow tie shape is repeated on the tray as little inlaid pieces running perpendicu...
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Palisander
Large Teak Ice Bucket by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk Design
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Little Burstead, Essex
A very nice larger version of this classic ice bucket in staved solid teak by Jens Quistgaard in very nice original condition, with it's original black liner.
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Teak
1950s Lacquered Serving Tray by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A turquoise lacquered wood tray with broad, indented handles.
Category
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Wood
Danish Modern Solid Teak Cheese and Crackers Tray by Dansk Quistgaard
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Diego, CA
Great design on this solid teak rare tray designed by Quistgaard for Dansk, butcher block great condition. Early production made in Denmark.
Category
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Teak
Danish Staved Teak Banded Ice Bucket by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk IHQ
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Diego, CA
Very nice, freshly oiled, lidded, staved teak ice bucket by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk, circa 1960s. The piece is in excellent condition and retains its original black plastic ice liner...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Teak
Danish Modern Teak Butcher Block Small Tray by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful solid small teak tray for cheese with edge for placing the crackers, nice condition early production made in Denmark.
Category
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Teak
Jens Quistgaard for Dansk Aqua "Festivaal" Cutting Board Serving Tray
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Brightly lacquered, Danish modern, oval serving tray with a raised teak cutting surface by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk with early Dansk mark.
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Teak, Lacquer
Mid-Century Staved Teak Bowl by Jens Quistgaard
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice staved teak bowl by renowned Dansk designer Jens Harald Quistgaard. Made in Denmark. #35
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Teak
Slatted Rosewood Tray by Jens Quistgaard
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A beautifully constructed Brazilian rosewood serving tray, comprised of ten radius backed slats with fingered tenons mortised through the oval formed sid...
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Rosewood
Mid-Century Staved Teak Bowl by Jens Quistgaard
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice, symmetric, staved teak bowl by renowned Mid-Century designer Jens Harald Quistgaard. Made in Denmark.
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Teak
Rare Copper Pan and Stand by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
A rare copper cooking pot by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk. Complete with rare ceramic inner pot, removable teak handle and teak stand. Signed on the ceramic and stand. Made in Denmark, ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Copper
1960s Danish Modern Jens Quistgaard Teak Peppermill with Salt by Dansk
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in St. Louis, MO
A 1960s Danish Modern Jens Quistgaard Salt & peppermill made of teak, with two cylinder compartments. Stamped Dansk Designs Ltd Denmark JHQ. Nice ...
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Teak
1954 Dansk Designs Flatware 4 Salad Forks Teak & Stainless Jens Quistgaard
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Dansk made in Germany Cutlery
Dansk IHQ Germany set of 4 salad forks teak & stainless Fjord Flatware 1954
Made in Teak Wood and Stainless Steel Design...
Category
1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Stainless Steel
Congo Ice Bucket by Jens Harald Quistgaard, Denmark, 1960's
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Barcelona, ES
Congo ice bucket designed by Jens Harald Quistgaard for Dansk Designs, Denmark, 1960's. Teak wood and orange plastic interior for the ice cubes. A cla...
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Plastic, Wood, Teak
1970s Dansk Designs Jens Quistgaard Modern Ice Bucket in Teakwood
By Dansk
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Ice Bucket
Dansk staved teak wood ice bucket Mid-Century Modern.
Design Jens Quistgaard
Dansk International Malaysia.
Features matching lid and...
Category
1970s Malaysian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Plastic, Teak
1954 Dansk IHQ Fjord 2 Large Spoons Teak & Stainless Jens Quistgaard Germany
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Two Large Spoons
Dansk IHQ Fjord Designs from Germany by Jens Quistgaard designed in 1954
Maker stamped.
Original unrestored preowned use vintage condition...
Category
1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Stainless Steel
Dansk Designs Blue Enamelware Casserole Pot with Trivet Top IHQ France
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Dansk Designs blue enamelware Kobenstyle casserole pot and cover lid with trivet top IHQ France
Designed by Jens Herald Quistgaard made in France, Kobenstyle Line introduced in 1956...
Category
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Metal, Enamel
Dansk Tapestries Gold Japan Salad Plates, Set of 12
By Dansk
Located in New York, NY
A set of 12 salad plates in the brocade gold pattern from the Dansk Tapestries collection. Made in Japan. This pattern is currently discontinued; prod...
Category
1980s Japanese Minimalist Vintage Dansk Designs Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Gold
Dansk Designs serveware, ceramics, silver and glass for sale on 1stDibs.
Dansk Designs serveware, ceramics, silver and glass are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Dansk Designs serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original serveware, ceramics, silver and glass 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 serveware, ceramics, silver and glass by Royal Copenhagen, Holmegaard, and Herbert Krenchel. Prices for Dansk Designs serveware, ceramics, silver and glass can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $65 and can go as high as $6,800, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $350.
Creators Similar to Dansk Designs
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Dansk Designs Furniture
Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Dansk Designs Tables
Dansk Designs Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Dansk Designs Candle Holders
Dansk Designs Bowls and Baskets
Dansk Designs Desk Accessories
Dansk Designs Vases and Vessels
Dansk Designs Sculptures
Dansk Designs Boxes
Dansk Designs Desks
Dansk Designs Tray Tables