Q: I've been on a bit of Danish kick lately (who isn't?), and recently bought a huge set of vintage Sival flatware. All of the pieces are marked "Sival Stal Denmark," except the table and butter knives. Some of the butter knives are marked "Sival Stal Denmark," like the rest of the set, but some are marked "Sival Stainless Steel Denmark IHQ." The "IHQ" matches a mark on a set of Dansk flatware I saw online that was designed by Jens Quistgaard.
The table knives are marked with a crown and "Raadvad Sival Steel Denmark" and some are marked "Dansk Knivfabrik Denmark." They have the same handles, but the Dansk blades are slightly rounder and shorter (not really noticable to the naked eye). I'm not sure what to think. It doesn't strike me as a mixed set, but maybe it is? I don't know anything about Sival, but I'm wondering if there's a connection between Sival and Dansk and possibly Jens Quistgaard. Maybe someone out there knows.
Sent by Karen
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I would say that you have a mis-mismatched set. Maker's Marks are generally temporally-sensitive meaning that they have a defined date-range. You're looking at four different marks so the assumption is probably four different sets. Maker's marks change because of several different reasons including the company being bought and sold. Sorry I can't date them for you- can't say i'm up on my mid-century Danish flatware, hahaha!
Sounds like a mixed set. You should check with these fine folks:
http://www.replacements.com/webquote/SVLING.htm#1193115
Raadvad and Dansk Knivfabrik are two different brands - Raadvad still exists while Dansk Knivfabrik closed/disappeared 40ish years ago. Sival is not a brand name but (I think, don't shoot me) about the type of steel.
IHQ are the initials of Jens H. Quistgaard - yes, J becomes I, long story. Some of his designs were picked up by Raadvad, and as far as I know he never had any affiliation with Dansk Knivfabrik.
Basically, I think you have a mixed set.
Awesome sets of silverware! however they are set"S" of silverware, the width of the knives are different too....
You do not have a mixed set of flatware, all your pieces are SIVAL (maker's name) 'INGER' (pattern name) flatware. Raadvad and Dansk Knivfabrik are both blade makers - you only see their marks/stamps on the knife blades. It is not uncommon for European flatware manufacturers to use different manufacturers blades depending on availability during the production run of a pattern and their length and shape will vary slightly. Quistgaard's designs were not 'picked up' by Raadvad rather he designed the 'Permante' pattern flatware manufactured by Raadvad earlier in his career prior to the creation of Dansks Designs. The architect Johan Hagen designed for SIVAL including the radically modern design 'UNIQUE' but your pattern, 'INGER' is an early Jens Quistgaard design.