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 Lovig Rosewood Sideboard
By Jens Quistgaard, Lovig Dansk
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
$3,200
H 54.5 in W 79 in D 20 in
Jens Quistgaard for Peter Løvig Nielsen Tambour Door Teak Credenza 1973 'Signed'
By Peter Løvig Nielsen, Jens Quistgaard
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
$9,109
H 26.38 in W 70.08 in D 17.72 in
Torbjørn Afdal for Bruksbo – Rare Rosewood Sideboard, Norway, 1960s
By Bruksbo, Torbjørn Afdal
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
$9,717
H 31.5 in W 102.37 in D 19.69 in
Rare and large rosewood sideboard by Ib kofod-Larsen for Brande Møbelfabrik.
By Ib Kofod-Larsen
Located in København K, DK
Large low rosewood sideboard designed by Ib Kofod-Larsen in the early 1960s and manufactured by Brande Møbelfabrik, Denmark. Free standing model with veneered back.
Rosewood
$5,600
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
Peter Hvidt Tambour Sideboard
By Peter Hvidt, Soborg Mobler
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Danish modern tambour credenza, designed by Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen for Søborg. Cabinet features carved handles and signature finger-joint cabinet details. Tambour door...
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
Italian Rosewood Sideboard, 1960s
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Probably a single model for this rare sideboard. Made of rosewood.
Walnut
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
Mid-Century Arne Vodder Rosewood "7738" Sideboard for Skovby
By Arne Vodder, Skovby Møbelfabrik A/S 1
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Bring home impeccable mid-century Danish Modern furniture design with this truly exquisite sideboard. Designed by the world-renowned Arne Vodder for Denmark's Skovby Møbelfabrik A/S,...
Wood, Hardwood, Rosewood
$1,950
H 16.75 in W 46.25 in D 14 in
Kai Kristiansen Danish Modern Rosewood Sideboard Table for Askel Kjersgaard #393
By Kai Kristiansen, Aksel Kjersgaard, Illums Bolighus
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Handsome rosewood sideboard or table, model #393, designed by Kai Kristiansen and manufactured in Denmark by high-quality furniture maker, Askel Kjersgaard...
Rosewood
Danish sideboard, rosewood, 1960s.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Highboard, Denmark, 1960s The furniture has six external drawers, three at the bottom, three at the top. The whole thing is veneered with beautifully grained rosewood Classic Danis...
Rosewood
$11,532
H 34.26 in W 65.36 in D 18.9 in
Peter Hvidt & Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen sideboard for Søborg Mobler
By Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen, Peter Hvidt
Located in Breda, NB
Peter Hvidt & Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen sideboard for Søborg Mobler. What a great find, this rare tambour cabinet with 5 drawers. Exceptionally designed with solid wooden legs and very ...
Wood
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 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 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
Jens Quistgaard Danish Server or Credenza for Lovig
By Jens Quistgaard
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A well crafted teakwood sever or credenza with four upper drawers for storage and two lower sliding door with storage and adjustable shelves. On one side are four smaller pull out dr...
Sold
H 31.75 in W 78.75 in D 19.75 in
1960s Jens Quistgaard Tambour Door Credenza for Lovig Dansk Designs
By Lovig Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Miami, FL
In beautiful warm and figured teak, this credenza or sideboard is a Jens Quistgaard design for Peter Løvig Nielsen's Lovig Danish Designs. Featurin...
Peter Løvig Nielsen Tambour Front Credenza by Jens Quistgaard
By Peter Løvig Nielsen, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Astoria, NY
A Danish credenza sideboard, designed by Jens Quistgaard for Peter Løvig Nielsen, including two long tambour doors, the interior with five drawers (green felt lining to the top two),...
Danish Modern Tambour Door Credenza by Jens H. Quistgaard
By Løvig Design, Jens Quistgaard
Located in North Hollywood, CA
This amazing credenza was designed by Jens H. Quistgaard and manufactured by Lovig Design. Features two tambour door that open to three sections. The middle sections has five adjusta...
Teak
Jens Quistgaard Tambour Door Credenza for Peter Løvig
By Jens Quistgaard, Peter Løvig Nielsen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This fine teak sideboard with seamless sliding tambour doors was designed by Jens Quistgaard for Peter Løvig Nielsen. Makes for an elegant addition to any household with its varied c...
Jens Quistgaard for Løvig Danish Rosewood Credenza
By Jens Quistgaard
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A rich and dark Brazilian rosewood tambor door credenza with five center internal pull-out drawers and storage on each side with a total of three adjustable shelves. Retains the manu...