Although not the most famous of Danish designers, Jens Harald Quistgaard (JHQ) should be credited with bringing Danish design into the most American homes. Quistgaard's legacy runs deep within the design world. In a historical context, he is now known as Denmark's first industrial designer. There were many fine designers before him, but he was able to successfully apply his craft to mass produced goods in ways that had not been done previously; through innovation and close collaboration with manufacturers.
JHQ was born in 1919 and trained as a sculptor and craftsman in childhood. His talents were significant and he went on to apply his vision to an unprecedented array of products in wood, glass, metal, and ceramics. Although his career was put on hold by World War II, he co-founded Dansk with the American Ted Nierenberg in 1954 and went on to design such classics as Fjord flatware, the staved teak line of table ware, Kobenstyle cookware, and many other very successful lines.
Quistgaard passed away on January 4, 2008 at his home in Denmark. The New York Times featured an excellent obituary summarizing his long and productive life, during which he won numerous design awards and was featured in museums around the world, including New York's Museum of Modern Art and the Louvre.
