Dansk, a cookware company that is now owned by Lenox, is especially known for its innovative designs and high quality cookware. Their products are available all over the world and they are considered one of the industry leaders for cookware, tableware, and other home accessories. Here?s more information about this company:

How Dansk International Designs Began

Dansk International Designs got its start when two Americans, Martha and Ted Nierenberg, traveled to Europe in 1954 to find a set of kitchen products that could be sold to markets in the United States. They ended up finding their inspiration while visiting the Museum of Arts and Crafts in Copenhagen. While there, they saw some unique cutlery that was designed by Jens Quistgaard that combined teak and stainless steel. They loved the designs so much, they contacted Quistgaard to convince him to let them manufacture and sell his cutlery. Despite initially insisting that all the pieces needed to be forged by hand, he eventually let them mass-produce his designs. The end result was the Fjord line of flatware, which is still one of Dansk?s bestsellers. After they returned from their trip, they initially established the company in the garage of their home, which was located in Great Neck, New York. Quistgaard was established as the company?s founding designer. By the end of 1954, their company was already attracting attention, as people had already ordered several hundred units of Quistgaard?s designs.

Dansk Expands Its Product Line

Quistgaard continued to design products, and by 1958, he had expanded the product line considerably to offer much more than cutlery. The company sold teak magazine racks, teak stools, stoneware casserole dishes, salt and pepper grinders, and flatware made with split cane handles. While expanding the amount of orders they received, the company also began to get some press. In particular, the New York Times observed that Quistgaard was ?creating a stir? in the market with his unique, innovative designs and high quality products. The Times also said that Dansk was credited as having, ?some of the most popular accessories found in American homes.? They became known as a company that delivered Danish style to the United States. By 1982, Quitsgaard had been creating designs for Dansk for several decades and he is credited for having developed over 2,000 products for the company. In 1985, Dansk was purchased by the Dansk Acquisition Corporation in a deal that was headed by Goldman Sachs. In 1991, the company changed hands again and was acquired by the Brown-Forman Corporation. As part of that deal, Dansk was incorporated under its Lenox subsidiary. In 2009, Lenox was purchased by a group of investors and was renamed as the Lenox Corporation. Through all of these changes, Dansk still develops its high quality designs for the kitchen and the home. In fact, they?re still considered one of the industry?s leaders. View our collection of Dansk dinnerware here.