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Dansk Designs More Dining and Entertaining

American

Ironically, Dansk Designs, the tableware company practically synonymous with Danish design (“Dansk,” in fact, translates to “Danish”), was the brainchild of an American couple, Ted and Martha Nierenberg. 

The Nierenbergs, who founded the business in 1954, initially worked out of the garage of their Great Neck, Long Island, home and marketed their serveware, tables, decorative objects and other products largely in the United States. But they had a secret weapon: Jens Quistgaard.

After demonstrating artistic talent at a young age, the Copenhagen native was gifted a forge and anvil so that he could work in his mother’s kitchen. Quistgaard 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.

The Nierenbergs discovered the sculptor and designer on their honeymoon, which they’d spent traveling through Europe searching for top-quality goods that might form the basis of a business. 

After they hired Quistgaard and launched Dansk, their products swiftly came to epitomize the best of accessible Scandinavian design for mid-century American consumers, who fell for the firm’s staved-teak salad bowls, colorful casseroles and stainless-steel flatware, all of which managed to look handmade despite being mass-produced.  

The long-distance relationship flourished for 30 years, during which millions of Quistgaard pieces were manufactured in the company's factories.

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’s work married function with striking, sophisticated form. He utilized exceptional materials in the creation of his coveted cookware, barware and serving pieces, opting for warm teak and exotic woods and reintroducing steel as a go-to option for kitchen wares.

Quistgaard’s postwar-era Scandinavian modernist work 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. 

Find vintage Dansk Designs furniture and decorative objects on 1stDibs.

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Creator: Dansk Designs
Mid-Century Danish Modern Teak Coaster Set by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
Mid-Century Danish Modern teak coaster set by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk. Includes four coasters in the original box. Each coaster is stamped, Danmark. Solid teak. Denmark, 1950s.
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs More Dining and Entertaining

Materials

Teak

Mid-Century Danish Modern Teak Coaster Set by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Diego, CA
Mid-Century Danish Modern teak coaster set by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk. Includes four coasters in the original box. Each coaster is stamped, JHQ Denmark. Solid teak. Denmark, 1950s.
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs More Dining and Entertaining

Materials

Teak

Midcentury Danish Teak Ice Bucket by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk, Jens Harald Quistgaard
Located in Detroit, MI
This vintage mid-century Danish modern large teak ice bucket was designed by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk circa 1950. This iconic piece features classic Scandinavian modern design wi...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs More Dining and Entertaining

Materials

Teak

1960s Scandinavian Modern Jens Quistgaard for Dansk Designs Teak Ice Bucket
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Topeka, KS
Handsome Scandinavian Modern staved teak ice bucket designed by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk Designs. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that this is vintage and not new so will have ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs More Dining and Entertaining

Materials

Plastic, Teak

Set of Twelve MCM "Tjorn" Nickelplated Napkin Rings by Dansk
By Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
Set of twelve MCM "Tjorn" nickelplated napkin rings by Dansk, circa 1980s. The rings have a oblong circular design and measure 2"W x 2.75"D x .25" H; they are in very good vintage co...
Category

Late 20th Century Chinese Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs More Dining and Entertaining

Materials

Nickel

Jens Quistgaard Salt and Pepper Shakers for Dansk
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of salt and pepper shakers by Jens Harald Quistgaard for Dansk, Denmark, circa 1960s. The Minimalist shakers feature a tapered cylindrical form in brushed stainless steel. To di...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs More Dining and Entertaining

Materials

Stainless Steel

Mid-Century Modern Danish Designed Teak Tray by Jens Quistgaard Made by Dansk
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in London, GB
A Mid-Century Modern (Scandinavian Modern) Danish teak tray designed by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk of the USA. A Teak tray designed by the highly regarded and very collected Jens H...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs More Dining and Entertaining

Materials

Teak

Monumental Dansk Staved Teak Bucket Style Ice Bucket by Jens Quistgaard
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Topeka, KS
Handsome and iconic staved teak ice bucket by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk. This is the monumental 19.25-inch-tall example. It is in outstanding vintage condition, circa 1950s-1960s. ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs More Dining and Entertaining

Materials

Plastic, Teak

Danish Modern Teak Salt & Pepper Grinder Combo by Quistgaard for Dansk Designs
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Miami, FL
Great Mid-Century Modern teak peppermill / salt shaker combo by Jens Harald Quistgaard for Dansk Designs. Ground pepper comes out of the bottom when to...
Category

1970s Thai Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs More Dining and Entertaining

Materials

Teak

Jens Quistgaard for Dansk Teak Tray Midcentury, 1960s
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in New York, NY
Midcentury 1960s signed Jens Quistgaard Dansk teak tray. Cheese or charcuterie. Board.
Category

Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs More Dining and Entertaining

Materials

Teak

Set of Sixteen Dansk French JHQ Water Glasses Gustav Goblets
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Ferndale, MI
Large set totalling 16 Dansk JHQ Qistgaard "Gustav" water goblets. Acid etched Dansk JHQ France.
Category

1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs More Dining and Entertaining

Materials

Glass

Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Silverplate Spiral Candleholders by B. Vallien
By Dansk, Bertil Vallien
Located in Miami, FL
Created by Swedish Designer Bertil Vallien for Dansk Designs in the 1970s a pair of Heavy Silverplate Space Age Modern Spiral Swirl candleholders. Made in Japan holders for 12 long tapered candles, the type that were popular in 50s and 60s are still in use specially in Scandinavia. This pair of candle holders would be an elegant and modern addition to any dinner table or room. Stamped on bottom: DANSK DESIGNS JAPAN...
Category

1970s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs More Dining and Entertaining

Materials

Silver Plate

Vivianna Torun Teak Cheeseboard with Knife for Dansk
By Dansk, Vivianna Torun Bülow-Hübe
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Gorgeous circular teak cheeseboard with knife designed by master jeweler and silversmith Vivianna Torun Bulow-Hube for Dansk. An impressive serving piece for cheese and charcuterie, ...
Category

20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs More Dining and Entertaining

Materials

Teak

JHQ Dansk Denmark Modernist Acrylic Salad Servers
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Ferndale, MI
Pair of Jens Quistgaard acrylic plastic salad servers. Marked Dansk Designs Denmark.
Category

Late 20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs More Dining and Entertaining

Large Teak Ice Bucket by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk Design
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Little Burstead, Essex
A very nice larger version of this classic ice bucket in staved solid teak by Jens Quistgaard in very nice original condition, with it's original black liner.
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs More Dining and Entertaining

Materials

Teak

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Handmade Set of 2 Napkin Rings in White Carrara Marble
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Vintage Set of 12 Linen Cocktail Napkins by Leacock in a Nautical Flag Pattern
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Sculptural Teak Danish Modern Ice Bucket by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk
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Previously Available Items
Mid-Century Danish Modern Teak Coaster Set by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
Mid-Century Danish Modern teak coaster set by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk. Concave design with beveled edges make for a lot of design packed into a coaster. Includes 8 coasters in t...
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Teak

Jens Quistgaard for Dansk Fjord Flatware Teak IHQ Germany 1950, for 6, 38 Pieces
By Jens Quistgaard, Raadvad, Dansk
Located in Aarhus C, DK
Set of 38 pieces from the "Fjord" series designed by Jens Harald Quistgaard in the 1950s. Manufactured in Germany for Dansk Designs International. Made ca. 1950s or 1960s. The set...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs More Dining and Entertaining

Materials

Steel

Collection of Rare Pepper Mills by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
Collection of five teak pepper mills by Jens Quistgaard. All mills were produced by Dansk in Denmark. circa 1960s.
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Rare Woods Wenge Ice Bucket Jens Quistgaard Dansk Denmark
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Rochester, NY
Wenge ice bucket designed by Jens Quistgaard "Rare Woods Line" for Dansk, Denmark in beautifully aged original surface color patina. Circa 1960. Look at all pictures and read conditi...
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Dansk IHQ Teak Serving Centerpiece Tray
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Located in Cincinnati, OH
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Mid-20th Century Thai Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs More Dining and Entertaining

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Dansk IHQ Teak Serving Centerpiece Tray
Dansk IHQ Teak Serving Centerpiece Tray
H 1.88 in W 18 in D 14.13 in
Mid-Century Danish Modern Teak Coaster Set by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
Mid-Century Danish Modern teak coaster set by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk. Includes four coasters in the original box. Solid teak. Denmark, 1950s.
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Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs More Dining and Entertaining

Materials

Teak

Collection of Rare Pepper Mills by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
Collection of five teak pepper mills by Jens Quistgaard. Early metal grinding mechanisms produced by Peugeot. All mills were produced by Dansk in Denmark. Circa 1960s.
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs More Dining and Entertaining

Materials

Cane, Teak

Collection of Rare Pepper Mills by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
Collection of five teak pepper mills by Jens Quistgaard. Early metal grinding mechanisms produced by Peugeot. The mills were produced by Dansk in Denmark and one in Thailand (round o...
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1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs More Dining and Entertaining

Materials

Cane, Teak

Teak Danish Modern Breakfast Tray by Dansk
By Dansk
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A mid-century Dansk teak collapsible tray that is perfect for breakfast in bed, working on your laptop in bed, dinner on the couch, or reading in your favorite chair. Handles are rem...
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Mid-20th Century Dansk Designs More Dining and Entertaining

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Dansk Teak Salt Pepper Mill by Jens Quistgaard
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Dansk teak salt pepper mill by Jens Quistgaard.
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Dansk Teak Salt Pepper Mill by Jens Quistgaard
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Dansk teak salt pepper mill by Jens Quistgaard.
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1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs More Dining and Entertaining

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Teak

Jens Quistgaard Danish Modern Two Woods Bamboo Teak Ice Bucket Dansk Designs
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Miami, FL
Seldom seen bamboo and teak ice bucket by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk from the Two Woods Series from early 1960s. The Two Woods ice buckets were made with the finest materials and an e...
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1960s European Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs More Dining and Entertaining

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Dansk Designs more dining and entertaining for sale on 1stDibs.

Dansk Designs more dining and entertaining are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Dansk Designs more dining and entertaining, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original more dining and entertaining by Dansk Designs were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider more dining and entertaining by Stelton, Digsmed, and Raadvad. Prices for Dansk Designs more dining and entertaining can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $175 and can go as high as $1,200, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $448.

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