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 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
$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
Danish Modern Rosewood 4-Drawer 2-Door Sideboard Credenza
Located in Kensington, MD
Refined lines and proportions are the defining feature of this incredible credenza in rosewood. Four graduated drawers on the left. Two doors opening to cabinet storage on the right....
Rosewood
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
Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Style Rosewood Sideboard
Located in Astoria, NY
Scandinavian Modern Style Rosewood Sideboard, with white laminate top above two door cabinet with two shelves on the right, lift top divided drawer and open shelf on the left. 35" H...
Laminate, Rosewood
Henry Rosengren Hansen sideboard rosewood Denmark 1960
By Henry Rosengren Hansen, Brande Møbelindustri
Located in Etten-Leur, NL
Beautiful sideboard, designed by Henry Rosengren Hansen and produced by Brande Møbelindustri in Denmark in the 1960s. It is a refined example of high-quality Danish modern design. C...
Rosewood
Osvaldo Borsani Rosewood Sideboard
Located in Zhongzheng Dist., TW
Osvaldo Borsani features elongated, low-slung proportions paired with clean lines, perfectly embodying the understated and practical design language of the Mid-Century Modern era. Th...
Oak, Rosewood
Demountable Rosewood Sideboard, 1960s
Located in Montelabbate, PU
Demountable rosewood sideboard, 1960s Packaging with bubble wrap and cardboard boxes is included. If the wooden packaging is needed (crates or boxes) for US and International Shippi...
Rosewood
Peter Hvidt Tambour Sideboard
By Soborg Mobler, Peter Hvidt
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
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
Sideboard in Rosewood, 1970s
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Sideboard in rosewood opening with a door and standing on four black metal legs. Danish work realized in the 1970. Dimensions : H 73 x W 65 x...
Rosewood
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 Arne Vodder Rosewood "7738" Sideboard for Skovby
By Skovby Møbelfabrik A/S 1, Arne Vodder
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
Lovig Dansk Teak Sideboard
By Jens Quistgaard, Lovig Dansk
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 Jens Quistgaard, Peter Løvig Nielsen
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 Jens Quistgaard, Peter Løvig Nielsen
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 Jens Quistgaard, Løvig Design
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 Peter Løvig Nielsen, Jens Quistgaard
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...