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
$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
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
$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
Art Deco Patinated Cast Iron Lantern, Sweden 1930s
Located in NUEMBRECHT, NRW
This Swedish Art Deco lantern (Bjerkås Armatur, Corona Belysning style) was designed and manufactured in the 1930s to 1940s). The light features a patinated cast iron frame suspende...
Iron
$536Sale Price / set|28% Off
H 9 in Dm 9 in
Set of Two Taisho Period Hand-Cast Iron Orb Lanterns, Japan, Antique
Located in South Burlington, VT
Unusual Opportunity Hard to find set of two (2) matching modernist round orb lanterns. Japan, a set of hand cast round lanterns coming from a New England garden, Taisho period. ...
Iron
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. Measures: Diame...
Plastic
$9,800 / set
H 38 in W 20 in D 20 in
Pair of Large French 1900s Iron Lanterns with Rippled Glass, Rewired for USA
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of large-scale French iron lanterns, circa 1900, featuring beautifully hand-blown glass with a rippled, wavy texture that adds subtle movement and depth to the design. Each lant...
Iron
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
American Cast Iron Cylinder Hanging Glass Lantern, Early 20th Century
Located in Charleston, SC
American cast iron cylinder hanging lantern with twelve interior lights, three paneled glass, suspended by decorative cast chain. Early 20th Century.
Iron
Amazing Pair of 19th Century Venetian Persecution Toleware Lanterns
Located in London, GB
Amazing Venetian toleware lanterns We are proud to offer a fabulous matched pair of 19th century Venetians toleware and wrought iron lanterns in origi...
Wrought Iron, Tin
Wrought Iron Lantern
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This very nice lantern is made of wrought iron. This is a French work. Circa 1950
Wrought Iron
$4,783
H 34.26 in Dm 29.53 in
Scandinavian Modern Iron and Glass Chandelier by Erik Hoglund for Boda Smide
By Erik Höglund, Boda Smide AB
Located in Stockholm, SE
A are, Scandinavian Modern chandelier in wrought steel structure designed by Erik Hoglund (Höglund) and executed by Boda Nova Glassworks / Axel Stromberg Ironworks, Sweden, 1971. I...
Wrought Iron