What is the history of Dansk?

The history of Dansk began with the American couple Ted and Martha Nierenberg. They founded the business in 1954, initially working out of the garage of their Great Neck, Long Island, home. From there, they marketed their serveware, tables, decorative objects and other products largely in the United States. 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. Later, Quistgaard spent years learning from local artisans how to produce wood, metal, ceramic and glass models. His career path solidified during his apprenticeship as a silversmith with the legendary Danish silver firm Georg Jensen.

The Nierenbergs discovered the sculptor and designer on their honeymoon, which they'd spent in 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.

Explore a large selection of Dansk designs on 1stDibs.