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.
$76Sale Price / item|43% Off
Amazing Cast Iron Candleholder by Jens Quistgaard For Paro
By Jens Quistgaard
Located in Søborg, DK
Amazing Danish cast iron candleholder by Jens H. Quistgaard for Pato. Comes with a box of 12 hand dipped tappers candles NOS new old stock in t...
Iron
$156Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Danish Chrome 12 Candle Holder Candleholder by Jen H. Quistgaard
By Jens Quistgaard
Located in Søborg, DK
A beautiful vintage Danish chrome 12 candleholder designed by Jens Quistgaard. Included are 2 boxes of 12 original vintage taper candles? Quistgaard lth...
Chrome
$60Sale Price / item|20% Off
Vintage Danish Brass Candleholder by Jen H. Quistgaard
By Jens Quistgaard
Located in Søborg, DK
Vintage Danish brass candleholder designed by Jens Quistgaard. Holds 5 taper candles. Included is one box of 12 original vintage taper candles Meas...
Brass
$1,200 / set
Brass Candlesticks by Jens Quistgaard
By Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Francisco, CA
Candlesticks made of brass and stamped accordingly. Priced per pair and two pairs are available.
Brass
Wrought Iron Pineapple Candleholder by JHQ
By Jens Quistgaard
Located in Lejre, DK
JHQ - Dansk designs pineapple candelabra in darkened black metal, holds nine candles. Designed by Jens Harald Quistgaard in 1960s. Great original condition.
Metal
Italian Vintage Chrome Lamp, 1960s
Located in Paris, FR
A 20th century Italian vintage tubular chrome table or desk lamp circa 1960s. We are an exhibition space and an online destination established by Jonathan Amar Studio. All our piec...
Chrome
Danish Designer, Table Lamp, Brass, Denmark, 1930s
Located in High Point, NC
An adjustable brass table lamp designed and produced in Denmark, 1930s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 19” H x 6.25” W x 12” D Dimensions variable based on position of light. Bulb Spe...
Brass
Pair of French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Candlesticks
By Thomire & Cie.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine pair of French Empire gilt bronze candlesticks. With intricate raised decoration in the form of geometric and foliate patterns. The middle of each candlestick is fluted and ...
Bronze
Danish Designer, Table Lamp, Brass, Denmark, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A brass table lamp designed and produced in Denmark, c. 1950s. Dimensions of Lamp (inches): 13.0"H x 6.25"W x 6.25"D Dimensions of Shade (inches): 6.0" Top Diameter x 10.0" Bottom ...
Brass
Double Branched Silver Candlestick
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Double branched silver candlestick Dimensions: 15.5” H x 10.5” W x 5.5” D Base diameter 5.5”.
Silver
Mid-Century Danish Brass Bankers Desk Lamp by E. S. Horn, 1950s
By E. S. Horn
Located in Esbjerg, DK
This midcentury danish bankers table light features two lightsources. Its made entirely out of brass and has a multi-adjustable gooseneck that allows you to direct the light in any d...
Brass
Pallade Lamp for Artemide by Studio Tetrarch
By Artemide
Located in Antwerp, BE
Pallade lamp for Artemide by Studio Tetrarch (Adelaide Bonati, Silvio Bonatti, Enrico De Munari, and Carla Federspiel) designed in 1968. The Pallade could...
Metal
$1,600Sale Price / item|36% Off
H 19 in Dm 19 in
Monumental 1910s Vintage Industrial Holophane Warehouse Pendant Light Cast Iron
By Holophane
Located in Hyattsville, MD
This listing is for lamps identical to the lamp fixtures shown on the right side in the last three images showing a pair. You are buying lamps identical to the one on the right. It is still very large at 19 inches in diameter, as stated in this listing. These are vintage Industrial City Yards Water Division Pendant Lamps, from Rockford Ill. Several available. Great for Kitchen Island Pendants...
Iron
$3,495 / set
H 32 in Dm 20 in
Mid-Century French Large Scale Copper / Cast Iron & Brass Lanterns - Pair
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a pair of rustic French three light copper lanterns. The wiring is new. They have three interior lights. The previous owner removed the glass panels, so I can add this featur...
Brass, Copper, Iron
Finnish 1930's wrought iron floor lamp
By Antti Hakkarainen, Taidetakomo Hakkarainen
Located in Turku, Varsinais-Suomi
Elevate your living space with this exquisite Finnish 1930's wrought iron floor lamp, attributed to the renowned Taidetakomo Hakkarainen. Its green faded color offers a touch of vint...
Wrought Iron
Pair of Antique Continental Porcelain and Bronze Candlesticks
Located in Tarzana, CA
Pair of antique continental porcelain and bronze candlesticks. circa 1890. Height 9" width: 9". Height measured without the lighting fixture.
Antique Wrought Iron Scroll Floor Lamp
Located in San Francisco, CA
A beautiful, French, handwrought iron floor lamp with Renaissance Revival influences; textural, hammered accents, and leaf details on the stem, circa late 1930s. Measures: 67.75" hei...
Aluminum, Wrought Iron
Sold
H 4.34 in Dm 2.76 in
Pair of Solid Brass Candle Holders by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk Designs 1963
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Utrecht, NL
Beautiful set of timeless vintage solid brass candlesticks by Danish designer, sculptor Jens Harald Quistgaard (1919-2008) for Dansk Design, 1963. Very nice heavy quality. Candle h...
Brass
Pair of Solid Brass Candle Holders by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Utrecht, NL
Pair of beautiful heavy solid brass candlesticks designed by Jens Harald Quistgaard in 1963 for Dansk Designs. Candle holders are fully polished and come in exquisite condition. Si...
Brass
Midcentury Candleholder by Erik Höglund, 1960s
By Jens Quistgaard
Located in Lejre, DK
Candelabra in darkened black metal and glass. Designed by Erik Höglund in 1960s. Great original condition.
Metal
Pair of Brass Candle Holders by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Utrecht, NL
Pair of heavy solid brass candlesticks designed by Jens Harald Quistgaard in 1963 for Dansk Designs. Candle holders are polished and come in exquisite condition. Signed Dansk Desig...
Brass
Vintage Danish Brass Candle Holder by Jens H. Quistgaard
By Jens Quistgaard
Located in Søborg, DK
Vintage Danish brass candleholder designed by Jens Quistgaard. Holds 7 taper candles. Included is one box of 12 original vintage taper candles Measure...
Brass
Jens Quistgaard, Pair of Candleholders
By Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Francisco, CA
A pair of iron candleholders by Jens Quistgaard, stamped DANSK DESIGNS. DENMARK. IHQ
Iron
Pair of Brass Candle Holders by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk
By Jens Quistgaard
Located in Utrecht, NL
Pair of heavy solid brass candlesticks designed by Jens Harald Quistgaard in 1963 for Dansk Designs. Candle holders come unpolished and show what we consider a lovely patine but If d...
Brass
Brass Candle Holders or Vases by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk
By Jens Quistgaard
Located in Utrecht, NL
A pair of brass tall and elegant candlesticks by Jens Harald Quistgaard that can simply be turned into a vase. Candle holders come in excellent condition with normal patina to the ...
Brass