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.
Jens Quistgaard for Peter Løvig Nielsen Tambour Door Teak Credenza 1973 'Signed'
By Jens Quistgaard, Peter Løvig Nielsen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This is one stunning tambour door teak Danish Mid-Century Modern credenza with glass door hutch by Jens Quistgaard for Peter Løvig Nielsen...
Glass, Teak
Teak Tambour Door Credenza by Jens Quistgard for Lovig Dansk
By Lovig Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A stunning example of Danish modern design, this vintage teak credenza by Jens Quistgaard for Lovig Dansk features beautifully crafted tambour doors that glide smoothly behind the ca...
Wood, Teak
Jens Quistgaard for Peter Lovig Rosewood Sideboard
By Lovig Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Dallas, TX
Gorgeous Jens Quistgaard for Peter Lovig rosewood sideboard with tambour fronted doors, opening to a central bank of drawers, flanked on either side by ...
Rosewood
J H Quistgaard for Lovig Mid Century Danish Rosewood Desk
By Lovig Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Franklin Park, IL
J H Quistgaard for Lovig Mid Century Danish Rosewood Desk This desk measures: 63.25 wide x 31.25 deep x 33.25 high, with a chair clearance of 27 inches The height to the work surfac...
Chrome
Mid Century Rosewood Desk Probber c 1950/60's
By Harvey Probber
Located in New York, NY
Chic, architectural design desk, designed by Harvey Probber, circa 1950/60's. The desk features a vibrant rosewood top, sides, and drawer fronts, with contrasting graphic black trim ...
Rosewood
$9,095
H 65 in W 96.5 in D 19.75 in
Johannes Andersen for Uldum Danish Teak Tambour Door Credenza with Hutch
By Johannes Andersen, Uldum Møbelfabrik
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Johannes Andersen for Uldum Mid Century Danish Teak Tambour Door Credenza with Hutch The credenza measures: 96.5 wide x 19.75 deep x 33 inches high The hutch measures: 70.75 wide x ...
Glass, Teak
Mid century Danish Modern Dansk Lovig Teak Tambour Door Long Credenza
By Dansk, Peter Løvig Nielsen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This beautiful mid century Peter Løvig Nielsen teak long credenza with Tambour doors which open smoothly. This is a long beautiful credenza is made in Denmark by Dansk in 1969. Amazi...
Aluminum
$8,810
H 26.38 in W 70.08 in D 17.72 in
Torbjørn Afdal for Bruksbo – Rare Rosewood Sideboard, Norway, 1960s
By Torbjørn Afdal, Bruksbo
Located in Staffanstorp, SE
Exquisite Craftsmanship in Santos Rosewood – Finished on All Sides A rare and exceptionally refined sideboard designed by Torbjørn Afdal for Bruksbo, Norway, in the 1960s. Crafted i...
Rosewood
$2,997Sale Price|40% Off
H 28 in W 65.5 in D 23.5 in
Mid Century Danish Modern Arne Vodder Teak Drop Leaf Desk for H.Sigh Denmark
By Arne Vodder
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid century Danish modern Arne Vodder teak drop leaf desk for H.Sigh Denmark. Beautiful Teak desk with 3 drawer and 1 removable extension leaf on the right side. Desk top slides lef...
Teak
Mid century danish modern teak desk with 3 drawers
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid century danish modern teak desk with 3 drawers And lower brace. This danish desk has (2) upper drawers and (1) lower deep file drawer. The top has a beautiful teak wood grain wit...
Oak, Teak
Danish Rosewood Desk by Arne Vodder 1960.
By Arne Vodder, Sibast
Located in JOINVILLE-LE-PONT, FR
Superb Scandinavian Desk. 2 x 2 drawers on the front (with keys). Very beautiful workmanship. Elegant and sober design. The boxes are connected to the furniture structure by magni...
Brass
Peter Lovig Danish Modern Teak Sliding Top Desk
By Lovig Dansk
Located in Esperance, NY
For sale is this very nice Danish Modern Teak desk with a sliding top. The desk was made by Peter Lovig
Teak
Danish Mid - Century Writing Desk in Walnut
Located in Houston, TX
The wide tabletop is presenting a fine walnut wood. Right beneath the top there is wide shelf. Three drawers are attached on either side. Each of the drawers has “bow” shaped handle....
Walnut
Vintage 1970s Danish Peter Lovig Mid Century Modern Desk in White Oak
By Peter Løvig Nielsen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
The iconic Løvig teak flip top desk designed by Peter Løvig Nielsen, 1960s, Denmark. It’s versatile in that the back shelf can flip down on its brass hinges to create a larger work s...
Oak
Vintage mid century modern exquisite Danish teak wood desk
Located in Phoenix, AZ
1960s Danish teak wood desk. Excellent mid century modern floating style with sculptural legs and handles. Features three drawers on the right and a filing drawer on the left. There ...
Teak
Rosewood Tambour Door Credenza by Dyrlund
By Dyrlund
Located in Denton, TX
Rare Danish modern rosewood tambour door credenza with center dovetailed drawer section and adjustable shelf on each side.
Mahogany, Oak, Rosewood
Walnut Danish Flip-Top Desk by Peter Lovig Nielsen, 1960s
By Jens Quistgaard, Lovig Dansk
Located in Hamburg, PA
A beautiful expandable Danish Modern walnut desk with a flip-top design by Jens Quistgaard for Peter Lovig Nielsen. This desk can be used either flipped down for expansive space or f...
Walnut
Lovig Dansk Teak Sideboard
By Lovig Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in New Windsor, NY
Massive Danish Modern teak sideboard for Lovig Dansk, Denmark. This wonderful cabinet features a floating two sliding glass door top with one adjustable shelf, two sliding tambour doors with two adjustable interior shelves, five adjustable height finger joined drawers with the top two drawers having green felted bottoms, aluminum inlaid door handles, and a finished back so it can be used in an open floor plan. Composed of nicely figured tight grain teak veneers. The sideboard comes in three separate pieces: the glass door china cabinet top...
Aluminum, Nickel
Danish Mid Century Credenza Hutch Jens Quihstgaard Peter Lovig
By Jens Quistgaard, Lovig Dansk
Located in Baltimore, MD
Remarkable, teak, stunning tambour door, two-piece hutch credenza made by Lovig in Denmark and designed by the renowned Jens Quistgaard (April 23, 1919 – January 4, 2008) most famous for his iconic designs for Dansk Designs (Kobenstyle cookware, tableware, teak ice buckets and much more.) This Danish Modern teak credenza /hutch is beautifully embellished with bands of teak running perpendicular to the main surface. Precisely crafted in exceptional warm amber patina wood grain, with a fully finished back and interior. The finished back side makes this credenza ideal for placement in an open floor plan, making it a great focal point. The Hutch top is removable and lifts off the lower cabinet. Upper portion features convenient sliding glass doors with one interior shelf. Lower portion of the unit features sliding tambour doors with detailed aluminum pulls that open to reveal two long adjustable shelves on one side, in the center a bank of five adjustable-height drawers, the top two of which are felt-lined for silverware, and on the other side one long adjustable shelf. Doors disappear from sight when opened sliding seamlessly into the frame. This credenza sits atop four original elegantly tapered solid legs giving it the very sought after “floating” look. Manufacturer stamp (lovig dansk designs 1969 made in Denmark) is on the underside. The wood grain is naturally highlighted in a teak pattern throughout, with a rich tone on front, back and interior. The glass-fronted hutch can be used as shown, or separately on the floor as a low book...
Teak
Sold
H 34 in W 63.75 in D 28.75 in
Rosewood Danish Flip-Top Desk by Jens Quistgaard for Peter Lovig Nielsen, 1969
By Jens Quistgaard, Lovig Dansk
Located in Hamburg, PA
A beautiful expandable Danish Modern rosewood partners desk with a flip-top design by Jens Quistgaard for Peter Lovig Nielsen. ...
Rosewood
Jens Quistgaard for Peter Løvig Nielsen Teak Flip-top Desk
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard, Peter Løvig Nielsen
Located in Miami, FL
Jens Quistgaard for Peter Løvig Nielsen teak flip-top desk Offered for sale is an iconic Danish modern teak desk by Jens Qui...
Teak
Danish Teak Credenza by Lovig, 1960s
By Lovig Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Hamburg, PA
A handsome teak credenza designed by Jens Quistgaard for Peter Lovig. This teak sideboard has two tambour doors that reveal five shelves and five drawers for ample storage. The cabin...
Aluminum
Jens Quistgaard for Peter Lovig Teak Sideboard
By Jens Quistgaard
Located in Oakland, CA
Teak credenza designed by Jens Quistgaard for Peter Lovig, Denmark, c.1960. The sideboard is crafted of teak with a book-matched tambour door front, which opens to reveal a series of...
Teak
Jens Quistgaard Credenza for Peter Lovig Nielsen, Denmark
By Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Francisco, CA
Jens Quistgaard design teak credenza for Peter Lovig Nielsen furniture, Denmark. Simple clean lines with tambor doors and a fitted adjustable interior. Newly refinished and ready to ...
Teak
Jens Quistgaard for Peter Lovig Walnut Sideboard
By Jens Quistgaard
Located in Oakland, CA
Walnut credenza designed by Jens Quistgaard for Peter Lovig, Denmark, circa 1960. Credenza crafted of walnut, features a book-matched tambour door ...
Walnut
Teak Sideboard by Jens H. Quistgaard, Denmark, circa 1960s
By Peter Løvig Nielsen, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Westport, CT
A completely restored teak credenza or sideboard designed by Jens H. Quistgaard, produced by Lovig, Denmark, 1960s. Simple and elegant in its design. Tambour doors with dovetail con...
Teak
Sold
H 34 in W 64 in D 28.75 in
Danish Modern Flip-Top Teak Desk by Jens Quistgaard for Peter Løvig Nielsen
By Jens Quistgaard, Peter Løvig Nielsen
Located in Miami, FL
Offered for sale is an iconic Danish modern teak desk by Jens Quistgaard of Dansk for Peter Løvig Nielsen. The desk offers a very practical hinged gallery to top that flips down to e...
Teak
Sold
H 34 in W 64 in D 28.75 in
Danish Modern Flip-Top Teak Desk by Jens Quistgaard for Peter Løvig Nielsen
By Jens Quistgaard, Peter Løvig Nielsen
Located in Miami, FL
Offered for sale is an iconic Danish modern teak desk by Jens Quistgaard of Dansk for Peter Løvig Nielsen. The desk offers a very practical hinged gallery to top that flips down to e...
Teak