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.
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
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
$1,998Sale Price|60% 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
$2,437Sale Price|25% Off
H 28 in W 63 in D 29 in
Superb Mid Century Danish Modern Rosewood Floating Desk by Dyrlund
By Dyrlund
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Superb Mid Century Danish Modern Rosewood Floating Desk by Dyrlund. All dark rosewood desk with 3 drawers on the left and 1 large drawer on the right for files etc. The front side of...
Birch, Rosewood
Danish Modern Peter Løvig Nielsen Flip-Top Teak Desk
By Peter Løvig Nielsen, Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
This flip-top partner desk by Peter Løvig Nielsen for Dansk in Denmark has been immaculately restored. It has a gorgeous deep hue, old-growth quarter-sawn teak with beautiful flecks ...
Teak
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
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
$2,520Sale Price|55% Off
H 28.25 in W 41.25 in D 17.75 in
Danish Modern Teak 4-Drawer Sideboard by Peter Lovig Nielsen Mid Century
By Lovig Dansk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A coveted and exceptionally well-built design by Peter Lovig Nielsen for Dansk Designs. The cabinet has a door on the lefthand side and behind this door is a single adjustable shelf ...
Teak
Kai Kristiansen for Feldballes Mobelfabrik Rosewood Sideboard
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Norwalk, CT
A beautifully crafted Danish Modern sideboard, produced in Denmark during the 1960s and veneered in richly figured rosewood with striking natural grain throughout. The clean, archite...
Rosewood
Mid-Century Rosewood Sideboard
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Fabulous Mid-Century rosewood sideboard. With five small drawers and six separate shelf spaces, this makes a very functional piece of storage. There are a few scratches and a little ...
Rosewood
Danish Executive Desk in Rio Rosewood, Mid-Century Modern, c1950s
Located in San Francisco, CA
Danish executive desk in richly grained Rio rosewood, made in the 1950s or 1960s. The front includes a central drawer and two cupboards with interior pull-out trays, all key-operated...
Rosewood
Mid-Century Danish Modern Teak Secretary Desk
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Beautiful mid-century Danish modern teak secretary desk featuring sleek Scandinavian lines, elevated styling, and versatile storage. This compact piece includes two spacious lower dr...
Teak
Vintage Jens Risom Four Drawer Walnut Sideboard
By Jens Risom
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A refined example of mid-century modern design by acclaimed designer Jens Risom, this walnut sideboard dates to the 1960s–1970s and reflects his signature balance of Scandinavian sim...
Walnut
Jens Quistgaard 'Flip-Top' Desk for Peter Løvig Nielsen
By Jens Quistgaard, Peter Løvig Nielsen
Located in Waalwijk, NL
'Flip-top' desk by Jens Quistgaard for Peter Løvig Nielsen, oak, Denmark, 1960s. This secretary shelf and writing table has a storage element that ...
Oak
Walnut Danish Flip-Top Desk by Peter Lovig Nielsen, 1960s
By Lovig Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
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 Lovig Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
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
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 31.7 in W 78.75 in D 19.89 in
Danish Design Credenza/Sideboard by Jens H. Quistgaard for Peter Lovig Nielsen
By Peter Løvig Nielsen, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Magnificent Danish Modern design credenza / sideboard in teak Designed by Jens H. Quistgaard for Peter Lovig Nielsen in 1965. High end Danish design , the sideboard has 2 tambour doo...
Teak
Sold
H 57.75 in W 78.88 in D 19.75 in
Danish Modern Tambour Door Credenza Cabinet Hutch Jens H. Quistgaard for Lovig
By Jens Quistgaard, Peter Løvig Nielsen
Located in Wayne, NJ
Danish modern Tambour door credenza cabinet buffet with Hutch Jens H. Quistgaard for Lovig. It features 4 adjustable drawers and a shelf on either side. The hutch has 1 shelf. The cr...
Wood