Jens Quistgaard Furniture
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.
1950s Vintage Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Teak
1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Teak
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Suede, Oak
1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Glass, Teak
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Wood
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Wenge
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Teak
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Brass
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Teak
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Teak
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Brass, Steel
20th Century Thai Scandinavian Modern Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Teak
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Pottery
1960s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Brass
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Teak
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Teak
Mid-20th Century Thai Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Teak
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Teak
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Teak
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Metal, Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century Chinese Mid-Century Modern Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Metal, Silver Plate
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Metal
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Teak, Glass
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Teak
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Iron
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Teak
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Teak
Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Modern Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Teak
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Teak
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Teak
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Teak
Mid-20th Century Thai Scandinavian Modern Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Teak
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Rosewood
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Pottery
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Teak, Lacquer
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Aluminum
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Iron
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Brass, Iron
Late 20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century Danish Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Iron
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Teak
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Teak
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Teak
Late 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Metal
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Teak
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Teak
1960s Danish Vintage Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Silver Plate
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Teak
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Metal
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Brass, Iron
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Ceramic, Rosewood
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Teak
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Iron
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Rosewood
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Plastic, Teak
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Teak
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Jens Quistgaard Furniture
Teak