Jens Quistgaard “Relief” Design – (and variations) Kronjyden Nissen

The dinnerware design “Relief” by Jens Quistgaard for Kronjyden Nissen Denmark has become a classic and coveted design since its introduction in 1959. It was designed at the beginning of a long and productive relationship between Quistgaard and Kronjyden Nissen and resulted in a series of outstanding designs.

“Relief” is a matt glazed stoneware, in a wheat or ochre colour featuring a stylised wheat-sheaf repeat pattern. Handles of some of the teapots, sugar bowls etc. feature rattan wrapped brass handles – very popular at the time.

The green inners you can see on some pieces like the bowls and plates was a later addition – possibly introduced because of the noise matt glazed stoneware makes against cutlery.

Several of the vessel designs have a white satin glaze interior as well.

I’ve also seen photographs of this design in dark brown and a green – but these seem to be very rare variations – the were perhaps made for trials or test samples.

There are a number of backstamps to these series, and some foil labels – but the variations you will see most commonly are probably the ones below. Some of the very early releases of this design have no backstamp at all.