Silversmith and designer Kay Bojesen became world-famous for creating wooden toys that had a soul and an impish sense of humor. With more than 2000 pieces to his name, he was one of Denmark's most prolific artisans in the 20th century. He is best known for his playful and cheerful monkeys, royal lifeguards and other wooden toys, but his repertoire of products also includes jewelry, cutlery, teapots and silver goblets. Kay Bojesen graduated as a silversmith in 1910 after completing his apprenticeship with silversmith Georg Jensen. As one of the first Danish artisans to do so, he embraced functionalism. He was among the pioneers who organized Den Permanente association – a cooperative of artists that included a shop and exhibition space, which over the decades came to represent the best in Danish and Scandinavian design. The year 1919 became the start of a New Era for Kay Bojesen. His son Otto was born and this life event sparked Kay Bojesen's imagination. In the 1930s, he started to indulge his interest in wood. He created a range of wooden toys that all lived up to his ideal that design should be round, soft and have a good feel to it. His idea was not to create lifelike copies of real animals or to be too sophisticated or focus too much on detail, but instead to create imaginative toys in designs based on a child's world where “lines need to smile”. With this basic philosophy in mind, Kay Bojesen created his beloved wooden toys that appeal to the child within us all. Kay Bojesen retained his childish curiosity till the end and left an important design heritage behind.
Midcentury Serving Tray in Solid Teak by Kay Bojesen, 1950s
By Kay Bojesen
Located in Lejre, DK
Serving tray in solid teak, designed by and made by Kay Bojesen. Great original condition.
Teak
$419Sale Price|48% Off
Vintage Primeminister Stauning Beech Nutcracker Kay Bojesen, 1930s
By Kay Bojesen
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A rare Hand-finished beech nutcracker designed and made by Kay Bojesen during the early to mid 1930s. Great original patina and humorous/cartoon'ish details like the neck rolls, circ...
Beech
Egyptian Serving Tray in Hand Engraved Brass, 1950s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Hand-engraved Egyptian serving tray in brass. Imported as a souvenir to Denmark circa 1950-60. It features ornamented handles, hieroglyphs and pharaoh depictions. Measurements: L: 47...
Brass
$400
H 1.5 in W 11.25 in D 23.5 in
Large Early Stamp Jens Quistgaard for Dansk Staved Teak Serving Tray
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Ferndale, MI
Early Dansk teak tray with duck logo marked JHQ , staved teak, Danmark . Very nice condition.
Teak
Midcentury Teak Serving Tray or Platter
Located in San Diego, CA
Midcentury teak serving tray or platter from Denmark, circa 1960s. The platter is 12" in diameter and .5" high. The piece is in very good...
Teak
1930s Glassware with Copper Overlay
Located in San Diego, CA
Set of three drinking glasses with flowers cutouts in copper overlay, circa 1930s. The glasses have beautiful copper patina on the outside, with a green...
Glass
$1,033
H 1.58 in Dm 15.75 in
Mid-Century Tortoiseshell Lucite and Brass Serving Tray by Guzzini, Italy 1970s
By Guzzini
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful Mid-Century round tray in tortoiseshell effect lucite and brass. This fantastic serving piece was produced in Italy during the 1970s by Guzzini with the clear influence of ...
Metal, Brass
Dansk Teak Serving Tray
By Dansk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful teak serving tray by Dansk, made in Denmark.
Teak
$460
H 3.13 in W 11.38 in D 3.75 in
Gorgeous Brass Lizard Nutcracker Vintage, France, 1960s Mid Century Modern
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic early 1960s french large and heavy nutcracker shaped like an lizard. Nice addition to your room, to use it as is or just for your collection of bronze items. Found at an esta...
Bronze, Brass
Art Deco Decanter & 6 Glasses Set Clear & Black, Vintage German 1930s
By Bimini Glass
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A slightly cheeky Art Deco decanter set with matching set of six glasses in handblown clear glass, in the style of Bimini. The stems designed minimalistic w...
Blown Glass
German White Porcelain Serving or Vanity Tray by Rosenthal
By Rosenthal
Located in New York, NY
A German white porcelain serving (or vanity) tray with hand-painted floral design and gold detail, circa mid to late-20th century, Germany. Tray is oblong/octagonal and can serve cui...
Porcelain
$160
H 1.38 in W 6.75 in D 1.63 in
Bronze Alligator Nutcracker Vintage, Vienna Austria, 1950s Midcentury
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic early 1950s Austrian nutcracker shaped like an alligator. Nice addition to your room or just for your collection of Austrian bronze items. Found at an estate sale in Vienna, ...
Bronze
Exotic wood stepped trivet or serving tray with carved Tiki finial
By Tiki
Located in Ferndale, MI
Three tier serving tray with carved exotic wood Tiki finial handle . Tiers taper largest on bottom getting progressively smaller . Center shaf...
Brass
$234
H 2.76 in W 4.53 in D 3.35 in
Vintage Walnut Nutcracker, Metal Construction, 1980s, Barware Decor
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Wear consistent with age and use. Vintage Walnut Nutcracker Decoration - Casse-noix - Vintage Measures : 11.5cmx8.5cm H:7cm
Metal
Midcentury Serving Tray in Solid Teak by Kay Bojesen, 1950s
By Kay Bojesen
Located in Lejre, DK
Serving tray in solid teak, designed by and made by Kay Bojesen. Great original condition.
Teak
Vintage Kay Bojensen Rosewood Corkscrew Wine Opener, 1950s
By Kay Bojesen
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Very rare wine opener designed by Kay Bojesen and manufactured by USC (United Steel Company) in Copenhagen, Denmark in the early 1950s. Measurements: W: 11...
Stainless Steel
Sculptural Brass Corkscrew by Kay Bojesen for Einar Dragsted, 1920s
By Kay Bojesen
Located in Esbjerg, DK
This vintage corkscrew in brass and steel was designed by Kay Bojesen in the early 1920s and manufactured by E. Dragsted in Copenhagen. The top of th...
Brass
Sold
H 5.52 in Dm 3.15 in
Vintage Danish Monkey Corkscrew in Brass, Kay Bojesen for Einar Dragsted, 1920s
By Kay Bojesen
Located in Esbjerg, DK
This brass and steel corkscrew was designed by Kay Bojesen in the early 1920s and manufactured by Einar Dragsted in Copenhagen. The top of the corkscrew almost resembles a crucified ...
Brass, Steel