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.
$269Sale Price|69% Off
Danish Cast Iron Tripod Moon Crater Dish Cabin Candelabra Midcentury Sculpture
By Jens Quistgaard
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Uncommon form. Very matte grey/black, 2-piece, cast iron candelabra or dish with pierced lid. Heavy little table decor. Weighs just over 5.5 lbs.
Iron
Chinese Floral Islamic Style Cloisonné Enamel and Ormolu Vase
Located in London, GB
Chinese floral Islamic style cloisonné enamel and ormolu vase Chinese, early 20th century Dimensions: Height 13cm, diameter 13cm This beautiful bowl...
Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu
Chinese Ormolu and Cloisonné Enamel Vase for the Islamic Market
Located in London, GB
Chinese Ormolu and cloisonné enamel vase for the Islamic Market Chinese, early 20th century Dimensions: Height 18cm, diameter 25cm Crafted in China...
Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu
Cast Iron Foo Dog Sculpture
Located in Asheville, NC
This cast iron piece features a statuary male Chinese guardian Lion (Foo Dog) proudly balancing both hands atop an embroidered ball, representing supremac...
Iron
Chinese Bronze Vessel with Tripod Feet, c. 1750
Located in Chicago, IL
This 18th century bronze vessel with tripod feet was crafted by hand in a traditional Chinese shape known as "ding," that dates back to 1600 BC. Tripod bowls were originally used for making religious offerings to ancestral gods. This ding is mounted on a finely carved hardwood...
Bronze
Japanese Meiji Period Cloisonne Bowl
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Japanese Meiji period cloisonne bowl.
Chinese Plique-a-Jour Bowl
Located in Atlanta, GA
A small Chinese cloisonne enamel bowl made with the technique of Plique-a-jour (means "letting in daylight" in French), a challenging method similar to small scale stained windows...
Copper, Enamel
Middle Eastern Brass Bowl with Arabic Calligraphy Writing
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Large antique 19th century or before brass Middle Eastern Persian Islamic style footed bowl finely and heavily hand-etched and embossed with brass repousse and decorated with calligraphic decoration inscriptions medallions. A large Mamluk style brass bowl, hammered and engraved brass, with slightly rounded base, inverted sides narrowing to rim, the exterior engraved with a large honorific thuluth inscription, alternating with roundels containing blazons. Islamic work from the the 19th century, in the style of Mamluk productions. Handcrafted and embossed with geometric designs and Arabic writing on brass vessel. Great brass decorative collectible Islamic metal...
Brass
$1,050
H 10 in W 13.75 in D 7.4 in
Antique Japanese Cast Iron Tetsubin Tea Pots on Cast Iron Hibachi Stand
Located in Sheridan, CO
Rare antique Tetsubin Japanese Cast Iron Tea Kettle set on Cast Iron hibachi Stand. This unique teapot/kettle is a Tetsubin, which is a teapot in Japa...
Brass, Iron
Chinese Brass Singing Bowl and Mallet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Patinated brass Chinese singing bowl c.1900's. The bowl etched with clouds, wind and mountain scenes, is accompanied by a wooden mallet with brass inlay. Dimensions 7.5" diameter x ...
Brass
Middle Eastern Islamic Brass Bowl with Egyptian Scene
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Middle Eastern Islamic Egyptian metal bowl hand-etched and hammered brass. Early 20th century Egyptian Arabian brass vessel bowl. Engraved and hand-chased repousse with Egyptian arabesque...
Brass
Egyptian Mameluke Brass Bowl, Hand-Hammered, Moorish Style, 1850
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Egyptian hand-etched and repousse Mameluke style brass bowl. Could be used as a jardinière, cache pot for a large orchids composition. Engraved and hand-embossed with Arabic Islami...
Brass
Pair of Early Japanese Plique-a-Jour Bowls from Nagoya
By Ando Jubei
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of small but exquisite Plique-a-jour cloisonné bowls with nearly identical design from Nagoya area in Japan circa 1900-20s. Maker's unknown but possibly by Ando company. The t...
Metal, Enamel