It's giveaway time again!

Yes, it's giveaway time at Mid2Mod again, and like last time, I'm running a blog giveaway in conjunction with a giveaway my SIL is doing on Facebook.

I'm offering four pairs of small silver Dansk candleholders designed to hold 1/4-inch tapers. Included are the onion style by Jens Quistgaard, doves and leaves by Gunnar Cyrén and stars, whose designer I do not know. (I estimate the value of these eight candleholders to be approximately $120, based on the average price of the same items currently for sale on eBay and Etsy.)

Dansk candleholders

The rules of the blog giveaway are simple. All you have to do is be a public Google follower (which means you must show up in the Google Followers box as a site member, not follow some other way) AND leave a comment on this post. It's important to do both.

If you're already a Google follower and comment regularly, I'll know who you are, so just say hi. If you don't comment much, remind me that you're already a member, and I'll look you up to verify. (Occasionally, the name attached to your comment is different from the one in the Followers box. If that's the case, tell me, because if I can't find you, I can't count you.)

I'll announce the lucky winner on Saturday, August 4 here on my blog. If you win, you'll email me your address, and I'll ship your prize right out to you. (And, yes, I'll ship internationally!)

It's easy to be a site member. In the Google Followers box to the right of this post, click on Join this site. Once you have set up a Google account, click Follow publicly, and you're done.

As a bonus, when you enter my blog giveaway, you'll automatically be entered in our Facebook giveaway, receiving an extra entry if you're already participating in that contest. You won't believe what my SIL is giving away this time!

Vintage Knoll Cyclone table by Isamu Noguchi

Yes, that's right. He's giving away a genuine vintage 36" diameter Noguchi Cyclone table, which is sale priced at $1100 in the store. These sell new today for $1898.

To enter for a chance to win this iconic table, go to our Facebook page and follow the rules for that contest. And remember you get an extra entry if you join my site (or are already a member) AND comment on this post.

Kobenstyle is finally back!

After an absence of more than 20 years, Dansk is producing its iconic modernist Kobenstyle cookware again, and it's being made available exclusively at Crate and Barrel at first. At a later date, it may be carried by other retailers.

Designed for Dansk by Jens Quistgaard in 1956, the line of enameled steel oven-to-table cookware has remained extremely popular with collectors. Originally manufactured in Denmark, in 1966 Dansk changed to a French manufacturer. The early Danish pieces have the "four ducks" logo and are generally preferred by collectors. (Trivia: Dansk was started by the American entrepreneurs Ted and Martha Nierenberg and has always been an American company, despite its somewhat misleading name. It is owned today by the Lenox Corporation.)

The original line included a casserole in two sizes with uniquely sculptural lids and handles, a baking pan, paella pan, stockpot, frying pan, pitcher, coffee pot, butter warmer and a fondue pot. Over the years, Kobenstyle was produced in black, white, yellow, red, blue, turquoise, kelly green, hunter green, brown and almond, usually with a white interior.

The new line was originally expected to be produced in red, blue and white, as reported back in March on sites such as Apartment Therapy and Altruism in the Morning. However, some last-minute production changes must have taken place, because Crate and Barrel is offering it in red, black and white. The line includes a 4-quart casserole for $99.95 (suggested $143), a 6-quart casserole for $119.95 (suggested $172), a 16"Wx10"Dx2.33"H rectangular baker for $99.95 (suggested $143) and a 16-ounce butter warmer for $39.95 (suggested $58.)

crateandbarrel.com

crateandbarrel.com

crateandbarrel.com

The littles are growing

I posted in August about starting a collection of small silverplate Dansk candleholders for 1/4" tapers. At the time, I only had the onion style by Jens Quistgaard and the leaf style by Gunnar Cyrén.

Since then, I have added doves, also by Gunnar Cyrén, and stars. I haven't found out yet when the stars were produced or who designed them. They're the largest of the group, measuring 3" across. If you know anything about them, I'd appreciate the information.

The littles

Lately I've developed a fascination with small Dansk candleholders, the ones that hold the 1/4" tiny tapers. So far I have four of the onion-shapes, all of which are marked "Dansk Designs Denmark" and were designed by Jens Quistgaard in 1957. These candleholders are surprisingly heavy for their size and have an interesting chamfered base that allows them to sit straight or at a tilt. Interestingly, one set is slightly smaller than the other, and I haven't found any information to explain when the change in size took place. The larger is about 2 1/2" tall, and the smaller is approximately 2 1/4" tall.  I also have two leaf-shapes that are 2 1/4" long. They are designed by Gunnar Cyrén, who worked for Dansk from 1970-1976.

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My Dansk onions (by Jens Quistgaard, Denmark, 1957)
and leaf candleholders (Gunnar Cyrén, Japan, 1970s)

I've found another style of the small Dansk candleholders...a bird design also by Gunnar Cyrén.  I think they would look good in a grouping with the onion and leaf designs. To buy or not to buy...another tough decision.

Dansk bird candleholders (by Gunnar Cyrén, Japan, c. 1970s)
ebay.com

Best of both worlds

I have tremendous admiration for Kosta Boda glass designer Bertil Vallien. I also love Dansk candleholders, so when I found that Vallien designed the silver plated spiral candleholder we just got for the store, I was delighted.

He's been retained by Kosta Boda since 1963, so I'm still trying to find out when and under what circumstances Jens Quistgaard got him to design for Dansk. The piece we have is 5" tall and 4.5" wide and holds twelve of the 15" tall tiny tapers that are .25" in diameter. Once the candles are in place, it has quite a presence. Some other sellers have taken beautiful shots of it from very interesting angles that I just have to share too.

Our Dansk candleholder

ebay.com

circlethesquare at etsy.com

thegroove at etsy.com

Add caption

Vallien (1938- ), one of Europe's most respected artists in glass, is known for his sculpted boat forms, as well as for his figurative faces or heads with masks. Sometimes the faces are contained within another modernist form, "suggesting a trapped soul," according to a biography. He also makes beautiful, functional vases and bowls.

The Reader, cast and cut glass
schantzgalleries.com

Apology, cast and cut glass
schantzgalleries.com

Vallien altarpiece at Brännkyrka church south of Stockholm
sverigesradio.se

Vases and bowls
worthpoint.com

Crazy for candleholders

Perhaps the candle craze of the 90s has run its course, but I think Danish Modern candleholders have a classic beauty that never goes out of style. My favorites are teak and walnut.

modernspecific at etsy.com

modernfindings.com

svpply.com

kibby71's photostream at flickr.com

I also love chrome, pewter, stainless  and black cast iron. I'm not picky.

1stopretroshop.com

antiquehelper.com

kaboodle.com

candlepower.nl

modish.net

My favorite tapers are the tiny 1/4" diameter ones, but they're fairly hard to find.  I've recently found them in a great selection of colors in 6", 12", 15" and 18" heights at Crafted Candles.

newportmodern.com

Jens Quistgaard

Jens Quistgaard

Jens Quistgaard (1919-2008) was the son of sculptor Harald Quistgaard. The elder Quistgaard trained his son as a sculptor at an early age. At the same time, the young Jens learned to be a draftsman, joiner, smith and potter, all of which he mastered. His first museum showing was at age 15. He later apprenticed with silversmith Georg Jensen. He started his artistic career as a portrait painter, but he also created in metals and ceramics at that time.

During the 1940s, Quistgaard designed flatware, glassware, cookware and furniture. He also created graphic designs and did some architectural work. During World War II, he was part of the Danish Resistance.

In 1954 he started Dansk Designs Ltd. with American entrepreneur Ted Nierenberg and was the chief designer for the company for the next 30 years. During this period, he created flatware, cookware, pitchers, bowls, carving boards, ice buckets, candleholders, trays and tableware.

Though not as well-known as many designers of the time, Quistgaard's pieces could be found in millions of homes around the world from the 1950s through the 1980s, and he played an important role in introducing Danish Modern design to the public. During his career, he produced over 2000 designs.

From jensquistgaard.com

Tiny taper candleholder
scandinavianmod.com

Chafing dish
treadwaygallery.com

Rare Woods ice bucket
artnet.com

Nesting tables
surflicka.com

Kobenstyle fondue pot
cityissue.com

Leather, teak and chrome lounge chair
uuiuu.com

Fjord flatware
designandfun.com

Teak desk
treadwaygallery.com

Tiny taper candleholder
scandinavianmod.com

Teak pepper mills
dwell.com

Congo ice bucket
1stdibs.com

Enamel pitchers
...so the fondue pot won't look so out of place
spinariodesign.com

Pronunciation Guide

Small-apalooza

The last few days we've made a haul on smalls. Usually it's the big acquisitions that are the most dramatic (and we've made some of those this week too), but I can get just as excited about glass, ceramics, wood and metal items. Some of the things we've found are simply classic. Others are a little on the kitschy side, and I'll show you those tomorrow. Either way, we have some great things that will provide perfect touches for mid-century homes.

McCoy vase

Teco maybe?

Blenko decanter by Winslow Anderson

19" ice bucket by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk

Bitossi vase, probably imported by Raymor or Rosenthal Netter

Frankoma planter

Fiesta disk vase

Another McCoy vase

Large fluted art glass vase