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.
$300
H 8.27 in Dm 7.09 in
Jens Harald Quistgaard for Bing & Grøndahl. "Colombia" coffee pot in stoneware.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Jens Harald Quistgaard for Bing & Grøndahl, "Colombia" coffee pot in stoneware. Model number 442. Approx. 1970. First factory quality. Perfect condition. Marked. Dimensions: H 21.0 x...
Stoneware
$159Sale Price|62% Off
H 6.3 in W 4.73 in D 3.94 in
Vintage Scandinavian Thermal Jug by Sigvard Bernadotte for Husqvarna
By Sigvard Bernadotte, Husqvarna
Located in Warszawa, Mazowieckie
This small, thermal jug was designed by Sigvard Bernadotte for the Swedish manufacture Husqvarna Borstfabrik during the 1960s. The thermo jug is made of or...
Plastic
$300
H 8.27 in Dm 7.09 in
Jens Harald Quistgaard for Bing & Grøndahl. "Colombia" coffee pot in stoneware.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Jens Harald Quistgaard for Bing & Grøndahl. "Colombia" coffee pot in stoneware. Model number 442. Approx. 1970. First factory quality. Perfect condition. Marked. Dimensions: H 21.0 x...
Stoneware
Pitcher by Henning Koppel for Torben Ørskov & Co., 1960s
By Torben Orskov, Henning Koppel
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An expressive, uncommon and sculptural pitcher finely executed in vibrant orange plastic.
Plastic
$140Sale Price|65% Off
H 6.7 in W 4.73 in D 3.94 in
Vintage Scandinavian Thermal Jug by Sigvard Bernadotte for Husqvarna
By Husqvarna, Sigvard Bernadotte
Located in Warszawa, Mazowieckie
This small, thermal jug was designed by Sigvard Bernadotte for the Swedish manufacturer Husqvarna Borstfabrik during the 1960s. The thermos is made of whit...
Plastic
Gerard Hofmann. French ceramicist, own workshop. Coffee pot, ca 1960
Located in København, Copenhagen
Gerard Hofmann (1917-1965), French ceramicist, own workshop. Coffee pot in unique ceramics. Earth-toned glaze. Handmade. Circa 1960. In perfect condition. Signed. Dimensions: H 20.0...
Ceramic
$230Sale Price|19% Off
H 11.82 in W 6.3 in D 5.12 in
Vintage Scandinavian TV Kanna Red Thermos by Carl-Arne Breger for Husqvarna
By Carl-arne Breger, Husqvarna
Located in Warszawa, Mazowieckie
This TV-Kanna Signatur thermos was designed in 1962 by Carl-Arne Breger for the Swedish manufacturer Husqvarna Borstfabrik. A thermos is made of orange-red plastic with a black bottom. The handle and lid are made of solid teak. The inlet is designed in such a way that a coffee or tea filter can be attached directly. Carl-Arne Breger was born on August 29, 1923 in Trelleborg. He died on January 15, 2009 in Malmö. He was a Swedish industrial designer who became famous for mainly designing plastic items. He was educated at Konstfack in Stockholm in 1943-1948. In 1953 he was hired as a designer for Stig Lindberg at the Gustavsberg porcelain factory. He designed, among others, the best-selling Gustavsberge model 525 sink and many everyday plastic items, such as a square bucket from which it was easy to pour water. In 1960, he won the Best Plastic Product of the 1950s, and Breger himself received the epithet Mr. Plastic. In 1959 he opened his own company Breger Design in Malmö. There he designed many objects that are design classics today that existed and still exist in many Swedish households. His most famous plastic product is a carved styrene water jug, which is a sought-after collector's item today. The Juice Press duo, designed for Gustavsberg in 1967, is another Breger classic purchased by the Museum of Modern Art. Breger called himself a master of versatility and created functional items. He was very pleased with the Diavox phone for LM Ericsson in 1975. It became Televerket's first standard push button telephone and was exported to many countries. Over the years, almost 3,000 products have left the drawing...
Plastic, Teak
$156Sale Price|20% Off
H 7.5 in W 9 in D 6 in
Rare White Porcelain Coffee Pot by Dansk Designs, Denmark
By Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
Great design on this elegant water pitcher in white porcelain, by dank design excellent condition, no chips or cracks, circa 1960s.
Porcelain
Largardo Tackett Pitchers
By Lagardo Tackett
Located in Chicago, IL
Porcelain Pitchers by Largardo Tackett, Marked on underside.
Ceramic
Mid-century barware thermos / carafes / jug, Italy 1950s
Located in Firenze, IT
Mid-century barware thermos / carafes / jugs Italy 1950s brass, faux tortoiseshell bakelite h 28 cm - 15 × 12.5 cm Conditions: excellent conditions consistent with age and use.
Brass
