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.
Rare Solid Mahogany Quistgaard Flatware/Desk top Box with Removable Shelves
By Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Diego, CA
A very unusual and very rare piece designed by Quistgaard in solid mahogany with removable shelves, stamped Denmark IHQ. Never seen one like it. with beveled edge sides. can be used ...
Mahogany
$679Sale Price|25% Off
H 0.08 in W 7.88 in D 1.78 in
Rare 70s Horseshoe Letter Opener in Brass & Chrome By Gucci With Original Box
By Gucci
Located in Roma, IT
I offer you for sale an item from times gone by, which today is no longer extremely useful on our desks, unless, as in this case, the beauty and glamor of the object make us forget i...
Brass, Chrome
Hermès Paris Mahogany Stationery / Correspondence Box, 1988
By Hermès
Located in London, GB
Hermès Paris Mahogany Stationery / Correspondence Box, 1988 This refined Hermès correspondence box exemplifies the Maison’s dedication to craftsmanship, discretion, and timeless lu...
Brass
Il Bauletto Jewelry Box in Briar and Mahogany
By Agresti
Located in New York, NY
Jewelry box in briar and mahogany, matte finish, ultra suede lining. 24-karat gold plated brass accessories. With removable tray and necklace bar.
Suede, Mahogany
Ribbed Solid Brass Planter or Desk Container
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A wonderful small ribbed container, great for a house plant, orchid or violet also could be used a desk or work station for a variety of things, including paperclips, rubber bands or stamps a beautiful little addition to many areas of your home. Makes a great bedside plant for a guest room...
Brass
$8,160 / item
H 18.51 in W 13.59 in D 17.92 in
Polished Briarwood and Mahogany Jewel Box with Gold-Plated Hardware
By Agresti
Located in New York, NY
Jewelry chest in polished briarwood and mahogany, ultrasuede lining, 24-karat gold plated brass accessories. With necklace bars, lockable doors and five drawers. Adjustable mirror on...
Wood
$1,771Sale Price|29% Off
H 7 in W 18 in D 10 in
English Regency Mahogany Travelling Lap Desk Box with Secret Compartment
Located in Savannah, GA
Large size English Regency mahogany travelling sloped lap desk/ box with original brass corner mounts, hinges, pin, top mount and retractable handles. Features include a side drawer,...
Brass
Polished Black Jewel Box in Maple and Mahogany
By Agresti
Located in New York, NY
Jewelry chest in polished black bird’s-eye maple and mahogany, ultra suede lining, 24-karat gold-plated brass accessories. With necklace bars, lockable doors and five drawers. Adjust...
Maple
Danish Oak Desk Office Organizer with Shelves
By Pedersen & Hansen
Located in New York, NY
A Danish modern, Scandinavian Modern, Mid-Century Modern style, blonde oak wood desk, office, library, etc., organizer with book space and paper/mail/letter tray holder shelf areas, by Pedersen & Hansen, circa late-20th century, Denmark. Three (3) horizontal and three (3) vertical storage...
Oak
Teak Desk Top Tambourine Door Storage Box
By Peter Hvidt, Dansk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Teak Desk Top Storage Cabinet circa 1970 Manufacturer Stamp on the Back Teak with Tambour Sliding Doors. Interior Divider is Missing
Teak
$2,039 / item
H 5.52 in W 3.15 in D 1.58 in
Rare Pierre Forssell for Skultuna Solid Brass Candlesticks, 1960s, Sweden
By Skultuna, Pierre Forssell
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
Stunning, modernist brass candlesticks designed by Pierre Forssell for Skultuna, Sweden. Stamped with makers mark. Five available. Price i...
Brass
Campaign Roll Top Desk on Stand
Located in Palm Beach, FL
A 19th century diminutive, antique, mahogany campaign roll top desk on stand with brass plaque, brass lined case, string inlay, intriguing pop up hidden compartments, brass recessed ...
Mahogany
$1,500
H 3.94 in W 2.76 in D 1.58 in
Vintage Cartier Desk Magnifier with Original Box, France, circa 1980
By Cartier
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Vintage Cartier Desk Magnifier with Original Box, France, circa 1980 Elegant vintage Cartier desk magnifier, France, circa 1980, presented in its original Cartier box. This refined...
Glass
Danish Modern Teak "Catch All" by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Diego, CA
Danish modern teak "catch all" by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk, circa 1960s. The piece is in great vintage condition and measures 11"W x 9.25"D x 1.75"H; it has three divided compartmen...
Teak