Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
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
Tilt Candleholders By Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk Designs
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Tilt Candleholders By Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk Designs
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver Plate
$200 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Quistgaard for Dansk Black Iron
Brass Swivel Candelabra, 1960s
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Danish Modern Jens Harald Quistgaard for Dansk Black Iron Swivel 7 Arm Candle Holder. Featuring a enameled black cast iron tree form with adjustable an...
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass, Iron
Danish Modern Rare Pair of Iron Dansk Candle Holders by Quistgaard
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Diego, CA
Pair of iron candle holders designed by Quistgaard in cast iron take the tappered long candles comes with its original box very nice set and rare to find a pair.
Category
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Iron
Jens Quistgaard Silver Plate Crown Candle Centerpiece by Dansk
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Miami, FL
Original Jens Quistgaard silver plate crown candle centerpiece by Dansk.
Comes in the original box.
Shows a warm aged patina which can be polished to perfection.
Dimension centerpiec...
Category
Late 20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver Plate
Pair of Silver Plate Coil Snake Candle Holders by Bertil Vallien for Dansk
By Dansk, Bertil Vallien
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Condition: Original Vintage Condition
Materials: Silver Plate
Category
1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver Plate
Sculptural Silver Plated Coiled Candleholder by Bertil Vallien for Dansk
By Dansk, Bertil Vallien
Located in San Diego, CA
Nice sculptural silver plated coiled candleholder by Bertil Vallien for Dansk, circa 1970s. The piece has a capacity for 12 long taper candles with a diameter of 1/4". The candlehold...
Category
20th Century French Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver Plate
$120 Sale Price
20% Off
Rare Vintage Danish Modern Jens Quistgaard JHQ 8 Light Iron TRIVET Candelabra
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Rare Vintage Danish Modern Jens Quistgaard JHQ 8 Light Iron TRIVET Candelabra
Rare Vintage Danish Modern Jens Quistgaard JHQ 8 Light Cast Iron Square Grid Candle Holder Candelabra ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Iron
Sculptural Silver Plated Coiled Candle Holder by Bertil Vallien for Dansk Design
By Bertil Vallien, Dansk
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Dansk Designs France Silver-Plated Spiral Tapered Candlesticks, Candle Holder.
Sculptural silver plated coiled candleholder by Bertil Vallien for Dansk, circa 1970s.
The piece has a ...
Category
Late 20th Century French Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver Plate
Sculptural Silver Plated Coiled Candle Holder by Bertil Vallien for Dansk
By Dansk, Bertil Vallien
Located in San Diego, CA
Nice sculptural silver plated coiled candleholder by Bertil Vallien for Dansk, circa 1970s. The piece has a capacity for 12 long taper candles with a diameter of 1/4". The candle hol...
Category
20th Century French Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver Plate
Pair of Candleholders Birds Design by Gunnar Cyren For Dansk Silverplate
By Gunnar Cyren, Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful, elegant pair of silver-plated love birds designed by Gunnar Cyren for Dansk circa 1980's it takes a thin tapered candle 1/4" diameter.
Category
Late 20th Century Japanese Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver Plate
$180 Sale Price / set
20% Off
MCM Iron Candle Holder by Gunnar Cyren Lysestager for Dansk
By Gunnar Cyren, Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage MCM six candle iron holder by Gunnar Cyren Lysestager for Dansk, circa 1960s. This is a rare form has a great patina and measures 4"D x 5"H and holds .125"D tapered candles....
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Iron
Jens Quistgaard Cast Iron Candleholder for Dansk
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in New York, NY
Two-piece cast iron candleholder or vessel designed by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk, circa 1960s. A sculptural and scarce form from Quistgaard's ce...
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Iron
$455 Sale Price
30% Off
Gunnar Cyren White Porcelain Polar Bear Coin Bank for Dansk
By Dansk, Gunnar Cyren
Located in Miami, FL
White porcelain polar bear coin bank designed by Gunnar Cyren for Dansk.
Category
Late 20th Century Japanese Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
$90 Sale Price
25% Off
Palisander
Rosewood Box / Humidor by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk Rare Woods
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
A very hard-to-find concave square lidded container, box or humidor designed by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk, circa 1960s. The box is made of palisander or rosewood (same family of wood...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Palisander, Rosewood
Early Danish Modern "S" Candleholders by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Diego, CA
Rare set of three early cast iron "S" candleholders by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk, circa 1960s. Nice black patina with polished brass accents. All stamped "Denmark". #313
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass, Iron
$375 Sale Price / set
21% Off
Daish Modern solid Teak Dansk Butcher Block Candle Holder by Quistgaard
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful rare design solid teak butcher block large candle holder with brass insert designed by Quistgaard circa 1980's.
Category
20th Century Malaysian Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
MCM Iron Candle Holder in Box by Dansk Designs with Candles
By Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
MCM Iron candle holder in original box by Dansk Designs of Denmark, circa 1950s. The piece holds twelve narrow candles and is in good vintage condition; it measures 4.75"D x 1.25"H....
Category
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Iron
Midcentury Catch All Watch or Key Holder by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
Catch all by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk. Great for a watch holder or keys. Solid teak with early Dansk mark, Denmark, 1950s.
Category
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Teak
Jens Quistgaard for Dansk MCM Teak set of 6 Graduated Sizes - Candle Holders
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in St. Louis, MO
Nice set of six sold teak wood & brass Jens Quistgaard for Dansk mid-century modern graduated in size candle holders or candlesticks. In fine original condition, one owner set, show...
Category
1970s Thai Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Postmodern Dansk Space Age Serving Tray
Cutting Board By Gunnar Cyren
By Gunnar Cyren, Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful rare serving platter designed by Gunnar Cyren for dansk circa 1980's great design with removable cutting board in the middle made of solid birch wood grea striking red color.
Category
20th Century Thai Space Age Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Plastic, Birch
Jens Harald Quistgaard Dansk Teak Salad Bowl and 4 Serving Bowls 1960
s
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A lovely Danish Teak Salad Bowl with 4 serving bowls. A very clean and popular design - all functional and stylish in Danish Design by Jens Quistgaard
Four bowls measure 7" in dia...
Category
20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Teak
1960s A. F. Rasmussen Orange Candle Holder Dansk Denmark
By A. F. Rasmussen, Dansk
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Dansk Hand Painted Wood Candle Holder by A. F. Rasmussen Denmark 1960s
Wood painted Orange original Metal Base.
Stamped with makers label underneath...
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
Jens Quistgaard for Dansk IHQ Candleholders, 1960
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Los Angeles, CA
sculptural pair of cast iron “Flower” candleholders by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk IHQ, 12 candle pods per item, stamped
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Iron
Jens Quistgaard for Dansk Iron
Brass Candlesticks
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Denton, TX
Jens Quistgaard For Dansk Iron & Brass Danish modern Candlesticks.
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Iron, Brass
Set of Nine Candle Holders by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk Designs
By Dansk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Set of nine candle holders by Jens Harald Quistgaard for Dansk Designs, Denmark.
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
$3,368 Sale Price / set
24% Off
Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Danish Teak Ice Bucket by Jen
s Quistgaard
By Dansk
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Sculptural teak ice bucket with a plastic liner by Jen's Quistgaard for Dansk. In excellent vintage condition with minimal wear. Can be parcel posted.
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Plastic, Teak
Set of 2 NOS, 1960s Candleholder Jens Harald Quistgaard, Dansk Designs, Denmark
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article:
Set of two candleholder elements new old stock.
Producer:
Dansk Designs
Design:
Jens Harald Quistgaard
Decade:
1960s
Original Danish cand...
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Iron
Set of Nine Candle Holders by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk Design
By Dansk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Set of nine silver-plated 'saucer' candle holders. The set can work in both, causal and formal settings. Designed by Jens Quistgaard and produced by Dansk Designs Copenhagen.
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
Original Candleholder by Jens Harald Quistgaard for Dansk Designs, Denmark 1970s
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article:
Candleholder element
Producer:
Dansk Designs
Design:
Jens Harald Quistgaard
Decade:
1970s
Description:
Original Danish candle holder designed by Jens Harald Quistgaard and produced by Dansk Designs in the 1970s in Denmark. It is made of cast iron and features eight holders for candles. This item remains in a very nice vintage condition without damage.
It is marked underneath the base with the producer (Dansk Designs + Denmark) and designer print...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
Sculptural Silver Plated Coiled Candleholders by Bertil Vallien for Dansk, Pair
By Bertil Vallien, Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
Nice pair of sculptural silver plated coiled candleholders by Bertil Vallien for Dansk, circa 1970s. Each candleholder has a capacity for 12 long taper candles with a diameter of 1/4...
Category
20th Century French Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver Plate
$240 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Matching Pair of Silver Plate Snake Candle Holders by Bertil Vallien for Dansk
By Dansk, Bertil Vallien
Located in San Diego, CA
Nice pair of sculptural silver-plate coil candle holders designed by Bertil Vallien for Dansk Denmark. Circa 1970s. Each has a capacity for 12 long taper c...
Category
20th Century French Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver Plate
$180 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Decorative Set of Two Modern Glazed Scandinavian Vessels
By Dansk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Decorative set of two modern glazed Scandinavian vessels. The tall pottery vase marked "Kragten," the lidded ceramic jar marked DANSK DESIGN DENMARK...
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Pottery
Decorative Set of Two Modern Glazed Scandinavian Vessels
By Dansk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Decorative set of two modern glazed Scandinavian vessels. The tall pottery vase marked "Kragten," the lidded ceramic jar marked DANSK DESIGN DENMARK.
M...
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Pottery
Vintage Dansk Jens Quistgaard Teak Wood Brass Candleholder
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Charleston, SC
Vintage Dansk International Designs Teak Wood & Brass Candle Holder By Jens Quistgaard
Midcentury Danish modern teak and brass candleholder by Dansk. Mi...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Decorative Set of Two Modern Glazed Scandinavian Vessels
By Dansk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Decorative set of two modern glazed Scandinavian vessels. The tall pottery vase marked "Kragten," the lidded ceramic jar marked DANSK DESIGN DENMARK.
Tall vase: 12 in. tall x 4 in...
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Pottery
Dansk Modernist White Porcelain Rhinoceros Bank
By Dansk
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Dansk Rhinoceros white Porcelain ceramic Coin bank.
Sleek Dansk white Porcelain Rhinoceros Bank, Scandinavian style, Modernist.
Unique addition t...
Category
Late 20th Century Japanese Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Sculptural Silver Plated Candle Holder by Jens Harald Quistgaard for Dansk
By Dansk
Located in Charleston, SC
Dansk silver plated Wave candle centerpiece. Gunnar Cyren designed candle holder makes a statement on any table. Holds total of 12 thin .25 inch wide taper candles. Slight discolorat...
Category
1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
Teak Salad Bowl by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Vintage staved teak large salad bowl design by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk. Stamped "Dansk International Design LTD Thailand JHQ".
Designer: Jens ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Teak
$215 / item
Teak Serving Bowl by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Vintage staved teak serving bowl designed by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk. Stamped "Dansk International Design LTD Thailand JHQ".
Designer: Jens Qu...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Teak
Vintage Danish Cast Iron Adjustable Candlestick by Jens Quistgaard, Denmark 1960
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Geneva, CH
vintage cast iron adjustable candlestick made in Denmark by Jens Quistgaard produced by Dansk ca. 1960
H 48 x D 20 cm
Signed under the base
Category
1960s Danish Vintage Dansk Designs Decorative Objects
Materials
Iron
Dansk Designs decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.
Dansk Designs decorative objects are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Dansk Designs decorative objects, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original decorative objects 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 decorative objects by Nils Thorsson, Per Lutken for Holmegaard, and Torben Orskov. Prices for Dansk Designs decorative objects can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $39 and can go as high as $5,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $300.
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Dansk Designs Barware
Dansk Designs Tableware
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Dansk Designs Butcher Blocks
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