"Jens Quistgaard, a celebrated Danish industrial designer whose clean-lined and immensely popular pieces for the Dansk brand of tableware helped define the Scandinavian Modern style for postwar Americans, died on Jan. 4 at his home in Vordingborg, Denmark. He was 88."
He was a prolific designer who really set a standard with his work for Dansk. I recently scored a huge lot of amazing Teak wood items that are up at auction this week, which inspired this post... but first lets take a look at some of the other things he is known for:
Kobenstyle Enamelware
Here are a couple pieces of Kobenstyle enamelware I've sold in the past:
Yellow Coffee Pot & Pitcher Set
Yellow Casserole Cooking Pot
And look at what is up on eBay right now:
Aqua Casserole Cooking Pot - according to the seller, the rarest color!
Yellow Nesting Bowls
Flamestone
Here's a drool-worthy set:
Dansk Designs IHQ Flameware Coffee Service
Glassware
I love the simple style of the glassware I've seen, in great colors!
Green Glass Vase
Here's a cool ad showing a nice variety of glass:
Teak Wood
Ok, let's get to the Teak pieces that I was lucky enough to find! I bought them from a sweet woman who had them since she got married in the 50's... she was selling them to help raise college money for her granddaughter - isn't that nice? I wanted to keep them really, really, *really* badly - but practicality won out, as always.
Meat Serving Platter
Serving Tray or Platter - I actually got two of these!
Fjord Flatware - I got over 50 pieces of this amazing flatware, which I split up into place settings, except for my favorites, the iced tea spoons:
Awesome, huh? I love all of it! Click here to check out the rest - I have some trivets, coasters, napkin rings... a really unbelievable score!
In doing my research the most interesting thing I found is that the Teak pepper mills seem to be the most sought after - don't ask me why, but there is even a book about them for collectors:
They are cool, and there's several different shapes and styles... here's a couple that are up right now:
Dansk Teak Peugeot Pepper Mill
Dansk Teak Pepper Mill with Original Box
Oh wait! One other thing before I go -
Candle Holders
I also got a really cool cast iron candle holder and 2 boxes of the candles that were made especially for the Quistgaard holders:
There are several styles of these, this one I really love:
Cast Iron Candelabra Style Candle Holder
He actually designed a ton of candle holders - silver, teak, glass, cast iron - and if you are looking to add some Danish modern flair to your vintage decor, they are an affordable way to go!
Looking this post over I think it may be one of the longest ones I've ever done... it's ok, if anyone deserves it, it's Jens Quistgaard!
NICE blog entry! I love his stuff, and have a set of DANSK Thistle flatware that I inherited from my Great Aunt that I use daily! THANKS for all of the background info!
ReplyDeleteSmart looking DANSK items! I like the streamline effect. Its clean, chic and colorful. Great items with which to decorate a kitchen for those who like "Modernism".
ReplyDeleteI feel like I've seen some of the teak pieces before, but certainly not any of the intriguing enamelware.
ReplyDeleteI bet now I've read about this, suddenly these sorts of items will be drawing my attention when I go antiquing.
Always nice to learn about new things.
Great Dansk post! I saw that coffee service at a garage sale this summer for $30 -- it's so nice. I had no idea that pepper mill book existed. Sweet!
ReplyDeleteI used to have one of the glass vases that you show on your site. Does anyone have an idea of where I could find one?
ReplyDeleteDavene
thanks for posting HISTORY tid-bits of vintage pieces... I work at a Retro shop in Salt Lake City... luv having resources like this to educate myself on items we have...
ReplyDelete