Midcentury Wall Unit in Rosewood by Kai Kristiansen for Feldballes Mobelfabrik
View Similar Items
Midcentury Wall Unit in Rosewood by Kai Kristiansen for Feldballes Mobelfabrik
About the Item
- Creator:Feldballes Møbelfabrik (Maker),Kai Kristiansen (Designer)
- Design:
- Dimensions:Height: 78.75 in (200 cm)Width: 101.58 in (258 cm)Depth: 16.54 in (42 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960
- Condition:Refinished. Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Lisboa, PT
- Reference Number:Seller: 07678/221stDibs: LU4727233189022
Kai Kristiansen
With a passion for math and engineering, Kai Kristiansen has created high-quality wood furniture for decades. Beginning in the 1950s, his chairs, modular shelving and other furnishings were made in the style that would become internationally renowned as Danish modern and boasted clean lines, perfected functionality and exacting craftsmanship.
Born in Denmark, Kristiansen trained in cabinetmaking before studying with Kaare Klint, often cited as the “father of modern Danish design,” at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen. At just 26 years old, Kristiansen opened his own studio.
Kristiansen had his mid-century breakthrough in 1956 with the Chair #42, which he made with Schou Andersen. Unlike most other chairs at the time, Chair #42’s armrests, with their wealth of radical angles, were connected to the back rather than the front legs. This unconventional flourish makes the backrest appear as though it is floating in midair above the seat. Kristiansen’s next innovation was a modular wall system in 1957 — three years ahead of Dieter Rams’s more famous 606 Universal Shelving System. Called the Reolsystem Wall Unit, produced by SB Feldballes Møbelfabrik, it’s also known as the FM Wall Unit as FM/Fornem Møbelkunst began producing it in the 1960s. Kristiansen would go on to work with other leading Danish furniture manufacturers such as Magnus Olesen, Fritz Hansen and Vildbjerg Møbelfabrik, designing everything from chairs and desks to sideboards and cabinets, frequently in rosewood and teak. (The latter was a sought-after wood by Scandinavian modern designers.)
While many of Kristiansen’s timeless designs remain in production, such as his Paper Knife sofa, which was reintroduced by Miyazaki Chair Factory in 2008, and his 1950s Entré collection, which was relaunched with Great Dane Furniture in 2016, others are prized as vintage mid-century pieces. Today, Kristiansen is still at work on new furniture with an expert eye to thoughtfully functional designs that are made to last.
Find a collection of vintage Kai Kristiansen furniture on 1stDibs.
- Danish Modern Wall Unit by Kai Kristiansen for Feldballes MobelfabrikBy Feldballes Møbelfabrik, Kai KristiansenLocated in Lisboa, LisboaThis Danish Modern wall unit, designed by Kai Kristiansen for Feldballes Møbelfabrik, is a masterpiece of mid-century design. Crafted from teak wood, known for its durability and bea...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
MaterialsRosewood
- Midcentury Desk by Kai Kristiansen for Feldballe Møbelfabrik, 1950sBy Feldballes Møbelfabrik, Kai KristiansenLocated in Lisboa, LisboaKai Kristiansen design this large desk in 1950s for Feldballe Mobelfabrik. Iconic Model 70. The desk have six drawers on the front and two doors on the backside. This executive desk ...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks
MaterialsRosewood
$9,164 Sale Price20% Off - Midcentury Teak Paper Knife Armchair by Kai Kristiansen for Magnus OlesenBy Magnus Olesen, Kai KristiansenLocated in Lisboa, LisboaSet of two Midcentury Teak "Paper Knife" Armchairs designed by Kai Kristiansen for Magnus Olesen. These iconic pieces are a testament to the sleek, organic design that typifies mid-c...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Teak
$6,546 Sale Price / set20% Off - Teak Paper Knife Armchair, Model 121 by Kai Kristiansen for Magnus OlesenBy Magnus Olesen, Kai KristiansenLocated in Lisboa, LisboaThe pair of teak 'Paperknife' armchairs, Model 121, designed by Kai Kristiansen for Magnus Olesen, is a testament to the finesse of Danish mid-century modern furniture design. Crafte...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Teak
$6,137 Sale Price / set25% Off - Mid Century Set of Four Teak and Fabric Dining Chairs by Kai KristiansenBy Kai Kristiansen, Schou Andersen MøbelfabrikLocated in Lisboa, LisboaThis set of four dining chairs by Kai Kristiansen, Model 31, epitomizes the timeless elegance and comfort of Danish mid-century design. Crafted in 1960, these chairs showcase the dis...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Rosewood
$3,665 Sale Price / set20% Off - Rosewood Dining Chairs by Harry Østergaard for Randers Møbelfabrik, 1960sBy Harry Østergaard, Randers MøbelfabrikLocated in Lisboa, LisboaSet of six dining chairs designed by Harry Østergaard for Randers Møbelfabrik, Denmark 1960’s. Very elegant chairs, with curved backrests ...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsRosewood
- Rosewood Wall Unit by Kai Kristiansen for Feldballes Mobelfabrik, Denmark 1950'sBy Kai Kristiansen, Feldballes MøbelfabrikLocated in Amsterdam, NLLarge rosewood wall unit with rosewood back plates. The cabinet has some traces of use like stains, but no veneer damage. There are 2 holes in the back plates, one for the lamp and...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves and Wall Cabinets
MaterialsRosewood
- Vintage Danish Rosewood Wall Unit by Kai Kristiansen for FM, 1960sBy Kai Kristiansen, Feldballes MøbelfabrikLocated in Asaa, DKVintage Danish modular rosewood wall unit by Danish architect Kai Kristiansen for Feldballes Møbelfabrik, Denmark, 1960s. Floating modular 1 bay shelving system model FM Reolsystem....Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
MaterialsRosewood
- Teak Shelf by Kai Kristiansen for Feldballes Møbler, 1960sBy Kai Kristiansen, Feldballes MøbelfabrikLocated in PARIS, FRThis shelf was designed by Kai Kristiansen for the Danish publisher Feldalles Møbler in the 1960s. This designer is a major figure in 20th century Scandinavian design. He is known fo...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves
MaterialsTeak
- Kai Kristiansen Rosewood Chest of Drawers for Feldballe MøbelfabrikBy Kai Kristiansen, Feldballes MøbelfabrikLocated in Porto, PTKai Kristiansen Mid-Century Modern Danish rosewood chest of drawers for Feldballe Møbelfabrik.Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsRosewood
$2,836 Sale Price20% Off - Set of 3 Teak Shelves by Kai Kristiansen for Feldballes Møbler, 1960sBy Kai Kristiansen, Feldballes MøbelfabrikLocated in PARIS, FRThese shelves were designed by kai kristiansen for the Danish publisher feldalles møbler in the 1960s. This designer is a major figure. Scandinavian design of the 20th century. He is...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves
MaterialsTeak
- 1960s Wall unit, Kai KristiansenBy FM Møbler, Kai KristiansenLocated in Neuss, NWClassic shelving system by Kai Kristiansen for FM Møbler from the 1960s. The high-quality containers are veneered in teak. The system consists of one container with doors and four sh...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves
MaterialsTeak