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Digging Digsmed's Functional Danish Modern Wooden Circles

By Rain Noe - September 27, 2012

in Object Culture

Digsmed was the name of a tableware manufacturer from Denmark, and lately I've stumbled across a rash of their items manufactured in the 1960s. Sold by secondhanders on Etsy, eBay and elsewhere online, Digsmed seems to have gotten a couple of basic things very right--a rotating wooden circle attached to an unseen base, and a glassblowing operation--and adapted those things into a beautiful line of Lazy Susans and spice racks made from teak.

Here's what must have been their flagship product, an 18-jar number that was for sale on Etsy:

As you can see, the wooden caps to the jars are permanently affixed to their spokes. You rotate the jar you want to the six o'clock position, then unscrew it, leaving the cap where it is.

I like that design because it means you'll never misplace the cap.Blogger Beccalina found a smaller version that she uses to hold craft items:

Here's a bi-level Lazy Susan/snack tray they produced with smoked glass rectangular inserts:

The glass bowls also came in circular and wood-lidded varieties, like this one from an auction site:

Occasionally you'll see one for sale, like this one from A La Modern, where the glass has gone by the wayside. Sad, but it does draw your eye to the beautiful teak work:

The single-level "party trays," like the ones seen at Furniture Collectables and The Groove Vintage, are no less stunning:

This one is either another snack tray, or for you to do shots with nine of your teammates:

And while a fondue set is typically the lamest of wedding gifts, I wouldn't complain if this one showed up on the gifting table:

Lastly, the company didn't limit themselves to rotating foodstuffs; they also made this neat candle holder by adding some cast iron.

Sadly, I can find next to no information on Digsmed; I suspect there is a Danish character in the name that I am unable to generate which is stymying Google. If any of our Danish readers know anything about the company, please share!

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Jacqueline BUADES

12 years ago

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Hello!
You can't get much information about Digsmed Design or purchase items since the factory in Roskilde DK was closed down around june 1975.
Mr Digsmed went on as a designer but had different firms producing his designs!!
So,by now it 's almost impossible to get "spare" parts unless you find them in a vintage market.
I would be interested in selling a few items like a ham display or holder?(I'm not sure it's the right word in English ,I'm French) and smaller items,if you should know about anybody interested.
Only one problem I live in Spain and freight costs might stop people from buying anything.
Regards
Jacqueline
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Rebecca Linden

12 years ago

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I have one of these spice racks (bought at the dansk outlet in westchester NY in the 70's or 80's) and I recently broke a jar, any idea how to replace it?
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