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Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

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
Jens Quistgaard Teak Peppermill for Dansk, Denmark, 20th Century
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Jens Quistgaard Teak Pepper Mill for Dansk, Denmark, 20th Century.
Category

20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Teak

1960s Dansk Kobenstyle Red 8 Qt Enamel on Steel Stock Pot
By Dansk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A Dansk Kobenstyle enamel on steel stock pot with trivet lid, France, circa 1960s. This large Dansk Kobenstyle pot and lid, designed by Jens Quistgaard, has a bright glossy red exte...
Category

1960s French Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Steel

Jens Quistgaard for Dansk Rare Wenge Wood Serving Tray Made in Denmark
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in New York, NY
Dansk exotic teak and wenge wood round serving tray with beautiful counterbalanced design, by renowned Danish designer, Jens Quistgaard. Engraved hallmark on bottom of tray. Denmark
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Teak, Wenge

Danish Odin Stainless Steel Salad Servers Set by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Stamford, CT
The enduring sensibility of Danish design has proven timeless, with both vintage and contemporary works continuing to captivate collectors worldwide. Dansk embodies this appreciation...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Stainless Steel

1950s Danish Modern Design Teak Wood Serving Tray by Jens Quistgaard Dansk MCM
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
A beautiful vintage 1950s teak tray with clear edges, attributed to famous Danish Designer Jens Quistgaard. A charming and useful object in very good condition.
Category

1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Wood, Teak

Vintage MCM Teak Serving Tray with Rails by Dansk
By Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage MCM teak serving tray with rails by Dansk, circa 1980s. This piece is well crafted in solid teak wood and built in rail styled handles. The piece has pegged detail construct...
Category

Late 20th Century Thai Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Teak

Jens Quistgaard Sculptural Metal Trivet for Dansk, c.1970
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Jens Quistgaard Sculptural Metal Trivet for Dansk, c.1970.
Category

20th Century Taiwanese Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Metal

1960s Danish Modern Jens Quistgaard Double Cube Teak Salt & Peppermill by Dansk
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in St. Louis, MO
A 1960s Danish Modern Jens Quistgaard , Known as the "Double Cube" Salt & Peppermill made of teak Marked Dansk Designs Ltd Denmark JHQ. Nice original condition, could use a cleaing w...
Category

1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Teak

Teak Serving Tray Charcuterie Board by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk, 1960's
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Teak Serving Tray / Charcuterie Board by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk, 1960's with early "3 duck" label on underside "beautiful color and wood grain" "in good vintage condition" "oil...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Teak

Collection of Five Danish Modern Teak Pepper Mills by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
Awesome collection of five Danish Modern teak pepper mills by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk and other Danish manufacturers, circa 1960s. The mills are in very good vintage condition and range in height 5.5" to 9". Signed on the underside. Super cool set ! Please see my other Danish pepper mills...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Teak

Mid-Century Danish Dansk Teak Serving Tray Charcuterie Platter Jens Quistgaard
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a 1965 Dansk staved teak serving tray charcuterie platter Jens Quistgaard. Large checkerboard meat carving cutting board tray serving platter mosaic of staved...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Teak

Collection of Six Danish Modern Teak Pepper Mills by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Diego, CA
Awesome collection of six Danish Modern teak pepper mills by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk and other Danish manufacturers, circa 1960s. The mills are in very good vintage condition and range in height 5.5" to 9". Signed on the underside. Included is a copy of the book "Danish Pepper" by Mark Perlson which chronicles the history of the Danish pepper mill...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Teak

Jens Quistgaard Bamboo & Teak Tray for Dansk, Denmark, 1960's
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Jens Quistgaard Bamboo & Teak Tray for Dansk, Denmark, 1960's.
Category

20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Bamboo, Teak

Jens Quistgaard Teak Peppermill for Dansk, Denmark, 20th Century
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Jens Quistgaard Teak Pepper Mill for Dansk, Denmark, 20th Century.
Category

20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Teak

Dansk Teak "SPHERE" Pepper Mill Peppermill Quistgaard JHQ IHQ Denmark
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Buffalo, NY
Collectible and highly sought-after Jens Harald Quistgaard Dansk teak pepper miil / salt shaker from the 1960's. Model # 855. Made in Denmark. This p...
Category

1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Teak

1960s Dansk Teak Cheese Board + Knife Jens Quistgaard
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1960s Dansk Teak Cheese Board + Knife Jens Quistgaard Dansk Cheese Board + Cutting Knife 8.75 long x 5.25 d x 1 Preowned original vintage Refer to l...
Category

1960s Thai Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Teak

Pair of Danish Modern Blue & White Enamel Bowl by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice pair of Danish modern blue & white enamel bowls by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk, circa 1960s. The bowls are in very good vintage condition with no chips to the enamel and me...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Enamel

60s Large Danish Teak Serving Tray Jens Quistgaard Dansk Designs Ducks Gondola
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1960s Early Danish Teak Wood Serving Tray Jens Quistgaard Dansk Designs stamped 20.25 w x 10 d x 1.5 h Preowned vintage unrestored Refer to images
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Teak

Large Wenge & Butcher Block Cheese Tray by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk Rare Woods
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Diego, CA
Large wenge and butcher block cheese tray by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk Rare Woods collection, circa 1960s. Introduced in 1961, the Rare Woods line represented the finest designs and...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Wenge

1960s Dansk Brass Stainless Cheese Slicer Japan
By Dansk
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1960s Dansk Modernist design Brass Stainless Cheese Slicer Japan 1.25 h x 8.13 long x 2.75 Preowned vintage, refer to images.
Category

1960s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Brass, Stainless Steel

Jens Quistgaard for Dansk Teak Salad Servers, A Pair
By Richard Nissen, Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Round Top, TX
Teak Servers by famed maker Dansk with original stickers. Attributed to the designer Jens Quistgaard, and in the style of Danish designer Richard Nissen, these elegantly formed piece...
Category

Mid-20th Century Thai Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Teak

1960s Dansk Teak Sectioned Serving Dish Jens Quistgaard
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Dansk Serving Dish three sections Jens Quistgaard Staved Teak Malaysia stamped Dansk 8.75 d x 2 h Preowned vintage condition Refer to listed images
Category

1960s Malaysian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Teak

Pair of Solid Teak Salad Server Tongs by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
Pair of solid teak salad servers by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk. Stamped in the handle. Denmark, 1950s
Category

20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Teak

Jens H. Quistgaard “Bow Tie” Palisander Rosewood Tray for Dansk
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
Stylish tray designed by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk in Denmark circa 1960s. Impeccably crafted in palisander rosewood, this sculptural serving tray features a bow tie shape with th...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Rosewood

Dansk Paddle Shaped Teak Cheese Board with Fitted Handle for Serving Knife
By Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
Dansk Paddle Shaped Teak Cheese Board with Fitted Handle for Serving Knife, circa 1970s. The board is in very good vintage condition and measures 15"W x 1.5"D x 12"H. A knife is not ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Thai Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Teak

Vintage MCM Teak Serving Tray with Rails by Dansk
By Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage MCM teak serving tray with rails by Dansk, circa 1980s. This piece is well crafted in solid teak wood and built in rail styled handles. The piece has pegged detail construct...
Category

Late 20th Century Thai Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Teak

Set of Dansk Stainless Flatware
By Dansk
Located in Pasadena, TX
This is a nice set of Dansk flatware. The set consist of (8) teaspoons (8) tablespoons (8) ...
Category

20th Century Danish Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Metal

Pair of Danish Modern Solid Teak Salad Servers Designed by Quistgaard for Dansk
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Diego, CA
Great design on these set of solid teak salad servers designed by Quistgaard for Dansk, great condition stamped.
Category

20th Century Thai Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Teak

Pair of MCM Teak Salad Servers by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
A nice pair of MCM teak salad servers by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk, circa 1970s. The servers are made of solid teak and they measure 13.25" long x 2"...
Category

Mid-20th Century Malaysian Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Teak

Danish Modern Jens Quistgaard "Rare Woods" Mutenye Tray for Dansk Designs
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Sculptural 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

1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Wood

JHQ Dansk Denmark Modernist Acrylic Salad Servers
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Ferndale, MI
Pair of Jens Quistgaard acrylic plastic salad servers. Marked Dansk Designs Denmark.
Category

Late 20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Vivianna Torun Dansk Torun Round Staved Teak Cheese Board W/ Stainless Knife
By Dansk, Vivianna Torun Bülow-Hübe
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Vivianna Torun Dansk Torun Round Staved Teak Cheese Board w/ Stainless Knife. Torun / Thailand. Makers mark to the bottom of the board and the knife. Dimensions on the indivi...
Category

20th Century Thai Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Stainless Steel

Teak Tray by Dansk, United States, c. 1960
By Dansk
Located in New York City, NY
Sleek, timeless serving tray designed by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk. Quistgaard's iconic teak and steel serving pieces are synonymous with Scandinavian design and add a modern, hand-c...
Category

1960s American Vintage Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Teak

1960s Danish Modern Jens Quistgaard "Pawn" Teak Salt & Peppermill by Dansk JHQ
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in St. Louis, MO
A 1960s Danish Modern Jens Quistgaard , Known as the "Pawn" Salt & Peppermill made of teak, in the style of a chess piece. Stamped Dansk Designs Ltd Denmark JHQ. Nice original co...
Category

1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Teak

Jens Quistgaard Teak Peugeot Frères Pepper Mill for Dansk, Denmark, c.1965
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Jens Quistgaard Teak Peugeot Frères Pepper Mill for Dansk, Denmark, c.1965.
Category

20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Teak

Jens Quistgaard Slatted Rosewood Tray for Dansk "Rare Woods" Collection
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Tray designed by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansks Rare Woods collection, c.1960s, Denmark features sculpted Rosewood with dowel handles and slatted wood along the tray. Dansk is one of...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Rosewood

Jens Quistgaard Copper and Brass Lidded Pot for Dansk
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Lidded pot by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk. This piece produced in Denmark in the 1960s, features a copper pot and lid with brass handle details. Dimensions 10" diameter x 4" height. ...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Brass, Copper

Pair of Dansk solid teak salad servers marked JHQ Denmark
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Ferndale, MI
Fine pair of solid teak salad servers . Designed by Jens Harold Quistgaard (JHQ ) for Dansk . Servers Stamped JHQ Denmark .
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Wood, Teak

Rare Dansk Beehive Flamestone 7pc. Cooking Serving Fondue Set / Jens Quistgaard
By Dansk
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A seven piece set of two salt and pepper shakers , two bowls , lid and a two piece base . Because of it's shape it was called the Beehive cooking set similar to a founde set having t...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Pottery

Small Portable Staved Teak Cheese Tray with Knife by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Diego, CA
Small portable staved teak cheese tray with knife by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk, circa 1970's. The set is in very good vintage condition and measures 5"W x 8.5"D x 1"H; the knife hide...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Stainless Steel

Danish Modern Jens Quistgaard Rare Rosewood & Silver Plate Peppermill by Dansk
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in St. Louis, MO
A rare Jens Quistgaard pepper mill of extraordinary design, part of Dansk's "Rare Woods" collection is made of rosewood with a silver plated band. There is a hole in the band to load...
Category

1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Silver Plate, Brass

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, in the style of a chess piece. Stamped Dansk Designs Ltd Denmark JHQ. Nice o...
Category

1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Teak

1970s Danish Modern Jens Quistgaard Teak Peppermill with Salt by Dansk
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in St. Louis, MO
A 1970s Danish Modern Jens Quistgaard Salt & peppermill made of teak, tall form with raised rings. Stamped Dansk Designs Ltd Denmark JHQ. Nice ori...
Category

1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Teak

Jens Quistgaard for Dansk Teak Cheese Cutting Board with Built in Knife, 1960s
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
Teak Cheese Board Mid-Century Modern Dansk IHQ designer Jens Quistgaard teak cheese cutting board with built in knife 1960s Made in Denmark. Beautiful piece that is emblematic of Dan...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Teak

Jens Quistgaard Wenge Tray by Dansk
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Highland, IN
A stunningly beautiful design by Jens Quistgaard from Dansk's "Rare Woods" collection, this sculptural tray is crafted of solid wenge wood.
Category

1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Wenge

Modernist Vivianna Torun for Dansk Silver Plate Tea Sugar Creamer Set
By Dansk, Vivianna Torun Bülow-Hübe
Located in San Diego, CA
Fantastic modernist cream and sugar bowl designed by Vivanna Torun for Dansk Designs. Great sculptural design. Silver plated and hard to find acce...
Category

Mid-20th Century Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Pair of early and rare Dansk Danmark JHQ salad servers
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Ferndale, MI
I have handled and seen a lot of Dansk salad servers . This pair is one of the more scarce designs . Stamped Danmark with the JHQ signature initia...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

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 Serving Pieces

Materials

Teak

Jens Quistgaard for Dansk Low Profile Wenge Wood Serving or Dresser Tray
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Ferndale, MI
From the JHQ Dansk rare wood series. Wenge low serving or dresser top tray.
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Serving Pieces

Materials

Wenge

Dansk Designs serving pieces for sale on 1stDibs.

Dansk Designs serving pieces 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 serving pieces, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original serving pieces 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 serving pieces by Digsmed, Herbert Krenchel, and Stelton. Prices for Dansk Designs serving pieces can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $95 and can go as high as $1,400, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $325.

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