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.
Mutenye Cheese Board by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
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.
Wood
Slatted Rosewood Tray by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk Designs
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...
Rosewood
Lacquered Serving Tray by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk Designs
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A turquoise lacquered wood tray with broad, indented handles.
Wood
Teak Serving Spoons by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk Designs
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A pair of hand carved teak serving spoons with curved elongated handles.
Teak
Flame Stone Casserole by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk Designs
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A flame stone ceramic casserole pot with a domed lid, matte exterior and cream glazed interior.
Ceramic
Tray Table Attributed to Jens H. Quistgaard for Richard Nissen, 1960s
By Jens Quistgaard, Richard Nissen
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A Scandinavian Modern tray table by Jens Quistgaard in solid teak. The table is finely crafted and has a removable and reversible lathe-turned top that is concave on one side and fla...
Teak
Wine Bottle Rack by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk Designs
By Jens Quistgaard
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A simple and sculptural teak bottle holder for up to ten bottles of wine or spirits.
Teak
$400
H 1.5 in W 11.25 in D 23.5 in
Large Early Stamp Jens Quistgaard for Dansk Staved Teak Serving Tray
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Ferndale, MI
Early Dansk teak tray with duck logo marked JHQ , staved teak, Danmark . Very nice condition.
Teak
Jens H. Quistgaard Teak Serving Tray by Dansk
By Jens Quistgaard
Located in New York, NY
A divided teak wood tray with an end-grain teak cutting surface and a recessed section, designed by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk. Branded "Dansk Designs Denmark IHQ...
Wood, Teak
$2,500 / set
H 7.88 in W 1.5 in D 0.5 in
Odin Pattern Stainless Steel Flatware Set by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk, Germany
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Fulton, CA
A 42 piece set of "Odin" stainless steel flatware designed by Jens Quistgaard in Denmark for Dansk. Designed in Denmark, produced in Germany, circa 1960s. Each piece is signed. The s...
Stainless Steel
$1,250 / set
H 9 in Dm 4.5 in
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...
Teak
$1,400 / set
H 1 in W 26.5 in D 13 in
Nest of Three Staved Teak Serving Trays by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Complete 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...
Teak
$1,050Sale Price|30% Off
H 17 in Dm 19.5 in
Side Table or Fruit Bowl Attributed to Jens Harald Quistgaard for DUX of Sweden
By Dux of Sweden, Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Diego, CA
Side table / fruit bowl attributed to Jens Harald Quistgaard dor DUX of Sweden, circa 1960s. The table has a removable concaved top that can be used as a try and is in very good vint...
Teak
Danish Modern Jens Quistgaard Rare Rosewood & Silver Plate Peppermill by Dansk
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
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...
Silver Plate, Brass
Jens Quistgaard for Dansk Aqua "Festivaal" Cutting Board Serving Tray
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
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.
Teak, Lacquer
$375 / set
H 0.5 in W 8.75 in D 3 in
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...
Stainless Steel
Jens Quistgaard "Rare Woods" Rosewood Serving Tray for Dansk
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Materials: Palisander Rosewood ________________________________________ Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing history back to life, and we take this ...
Palisander, Rosewood
$2,850
H 21.63 in W 20.13 in D 21 in
1960s Walnut Campaign Tray Table by Kipp Stewart & Stewart McDougall for Drexel
By Kipp Stewart & Stewart MacDougall, Drexel
Located in St. Louis, MO
Mid-Century Modern walnut campaign style folding X form tray, side or end table with removable tray. Designed by Stewart MacDougall and Kipp Stewart for Drexel Furniture Company, Dec...
Canvas, Walnut
$275
H 6 in Dm 14.75 in
LG. Dansk Flamestone Casserole Paella Dish w/ Cover by Jens Quistgaard Denmark
By Dansk
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A two piece large casserole or paella serving dish made of Flamestone pottery which is good for low heat and can be used on the table for serving with proper padding so it would not ...
Pottery
$719Sale Price|20% Off
H 0.91 in W 21.86 in D 11.23 in
1950s Danish Modern Design Teak Wood Serving Tray by Jens Quistgaard Dansk MCM
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
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.
Wood, Teak
$220Sale Price|20% Off
H 0.38 in W 9.63 in D 7.38 in
Jens Quistgaard Bamboo & Teak Tray for Dansk, Denmark, 1960's
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Jens Quistgaard Bamboo & Teak Tray for Dansk, Denmark, 1960's.
Bamboo, Teak
$2,000Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 17 in Dm 19.5 in
Pair of Teak Tray Side Tables Attributed to Jens Quistgaard for DUX of Sweden
By Dux of Sweden, Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous pair of staved teak tray side tables attributed to Jens Harald Quistgaard for DUX of Sweden, circa 1960s. The tables have a removable concaved top that can be used as a tray...
Teak
Sold
H 2.25 in Dm 1.5 in
1960s Danish Pair of Cast Bronze Candleholders by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A pair of petite cast bronze candleholders with weighted and chamfered bottoms. Each stamped "DANSK DESIGNS DENMARK JHQ".
Bronze
1950s Danish Teak Platter and Bowl by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A teak platter with recessed middle and rail feet and accompanying staved teak bowl.
Teak
Rosewood Box by Jens Quisgaard
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A masterfully executed concave square container designed by Jens H. Quistgaard in actively grained and solid rosewood, the recessed lid having a raised, tubular grip. Made by Dansk D...
Rosewood
Dansk Peugeot Frères Pepper Mill
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An elegant and simple teak pepper mill of an uneven hourglass shape; with Peugeot Frères steel grinder. Also stamped "Danmark" on bottom signifying pre-import era.
Steel
Teak Serving Spoons by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A pair of hand-carved teak serving spoons with curved elongated handles.
Teak
Serving Board and Knife by Jens Quistgaard
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An elegant and finely crafted cutting board with knife - the knife nests snugly inside the circular cutting/serving board.
Steel
Covered Pot by Jens Quistgaard
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A beautiful, graphic and finely crafted enameled steel lidded large cook pot from Jens Quistgaard's seminal Kobenstyle line.
Steel
Staved Teak Bowl by Jens Quistgaard
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An elegant, finely crafted and richly grained staved solid teak bowl with an oval opening.
Teak
Teak Serving Tray by Jens Quistgaard
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An oblong, wood railed serving tray with upturned ends and cut out handles made from staved planks.
Teak
Rosewood Serving Tray by Jens Quistgaard
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A finely crafted, elegant and uncommon railed serving tray of oblong form with upturned ends and cut out handles made from staved planks of rosewood.
Rosewood
Prototype Tray by Jens Quistgaard
By Jens Quistgaard
Located in Sagaponack, NY
Possibly a unique prototype, this oblong railed tray with upturned ends beautifully crafted of warm-toned solid teak is half the size of the later staved production version produced ...
Teak
Coasters by Jens Quistgaard
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A group of finely crafted hexagonal teak coasters inlaid with split bamboo arranged in a sunburst pattern.
Teak, Bamboo
Cutting Board by Jens Quistgaard
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A beautifully crafted and thoughtfully designed cutting board in solid teak having an innovative fitted cheese slicer.
Steel
Ice Bucket Covered in a Vibrant Green Lacquer by Jens Quistgaard
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An uncommon, sculptural and finely crafted lidded ice bucket covered in a vibrant green lacquer.
Modernist Candleholders
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A finely rendered pair of sculptural low bronze candleholders having a warm patina.
Bronze