Dansk iron candles were iconic mid-century modern pieces designed by Jens Quistgaard for the brand Dansk Designs, a company founded by an American couple, Ted and Martha Nierenberg, in 1954. Created in the 1950s and 60s, these cast iron candleholders were known for their sculptural, minimalist, and often functional designs, becoming symbols of Scandinavian modernism in America. One specific design, the "iron spider candlestick," earned its nickname because Quistgaard was paid a one-dollar design fee for each of the million pieces produced.