Kai Kristiansen Rosewood Bench and Drawers Set, circa 1960
About the Item
- Creator:Aksel Kjersgaard (Manufacturer),Kai Kristiansen (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 15.75 in (40 cm)Width: 34.65 in (88 cm)Depth: 13.39 in (34 cm)
- Style:Scandinavian Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:Rosewood
- Place of Origin:Denmark
- Period:1960-1969
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1960
- Condition:Refinished.
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1333236017402
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: London, United Kingdom
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
- Kai Kristiansen Rosewood Bench and Drawers Set, circa 1960By Aksel Kjersgaard, Kai KristiansenLocated in London, GBStunning, exotic grained rosewood bench with matching, loose standing two-drawer unit which can be positioned anywhere along the bench surface. This piece was designed by Danish desi...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Tables
MaterialsRosewood
- Kai Kristiansen Rosewood Bench and Drawers Set, circa 1960By Aksel Kjersgaard, Kai KristiansenLocated in London, GBStunning, exotic grained rosewood bench with matching, loose standing two-drawer unit which can be positioned anywhere along the bench surface. This piece was designed by Danish desi...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Tables
MaterialsRosewood
- Kai Kristiansen Model 384 Rosewood Chest, 1960sBy Kai Kristiansen, Aksel KjersgaardLocated in London, GBKai Kristiansen Model 384 chest, c1960 Low, 4-drawer chest made from highly figured rosewood, produced by Aksel Kjersgaard in Odder, Denmark, c1960. Fe...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Cabinets
MaterialsRosewood
- Kai Kristiansen Model 384 Rosewood Chest, 1960sBy Kai Kristiansen, Aksel KjersgaardLocated in London, GBKai Kristiansen. Model 384 chest, c1960. Low, 4-drawer chest made from highly figured rosewood, produced by Aksel Kjersgaard in Odder, Denmark, c1960. ...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Cabinets
MaterialsRosewood
- Kai Kristiansen Model 384 Rosewood Chest, 1960sBy Kai Kristiansen, Aksel KjersgaardLocated in London, GBKai Kristiansen Model 384 Chest, c1960 Low, 4-drawer chest made from highly figured rosewood, produced by Aksel Kjersgaard in Odder, Denmark, c1960. Fe...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Cabinets
MaterialsRosewood
- Kai Kristiansen Model 394 Rosewood Chest, 1960sBy Kai Kristiansen, Aksel KjersgaardLocated in London, GBKai Kristiansen Model 394 Low Chest, c1960. A low, 4-drawer chest made from highly figured rosewood, produced by Aksel Kjersgaard in Odder, Denmark, c1...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Cabinets
MaterialsRosewood
- Kai Kristiansen Dark Wood Bench, Drawers and Mirror for Aksel Kjesgaard Set 1960By Aksel Kjersgaard, Kai KristiansenLocated in Reggio Emilia, ITScandinavian, vintage modern antique set for hallway or bedroom consisting of movable chest of drawers, coffee table and mirror in dark wood designed by Kai Kristiansen and produced ...Category
Vintage 1960s European Scandinavian Modern Tables
MaterialsMirror, Wood
- Set of 3 Side Tables in Rosewood, Suede and Zink by Kai Kristiansen, 1960sBy Kai KristiansenLocated in Limhamn, Skåne länSet of 3 Side Tables in Rosewood, Suede and Zink by Kai Kristiansen, 1960’s Additional Information: Material: Rosewood, suede, zink Style: Mid century, Scandinavian Produced by...Category
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Side Tables
MaterialsRosewood
- Kai Kristiansen Set of Three Walnut Nesting Tables, 1960sBy Kai Kristiansen, Vildbjerg MøbelfabrikLocated in Bainbridge, NYOrganic Modern Kai Kristiansen for Vildbjerg Møbelfabrik trio of Walnut stacking tables. Featuring smooth, rounded rectangular dark, beautifully...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Nesting Tables and Stacking Tables
MaterialsWalnut
- Danish Design Kai Kristiansen Seating Group Model Universe, 1960sBy Magnus Olesen, Kai KristiansenLocated in Renens, CHA rare seating arrangement designed by designer Kai Kristiansen for Magnus Olesen in Denmark. This set has been made from Brazilian Rio Palisander and represents excellent craftsman...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsWool, Wood
- Italian Pine Bench and Table Set from Old Vineyard, Modernist, Italy, 1960'sBy Mario CeroliLocated in Antwerp, BEBrutalist; Rustic; Modernist; Italian Pine Bench and Table from Old Vinery; 1960s; Rustic modernist dining set in Italian pine made in the 1960s...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Rustic Tables
MaterialsPine
- Kai Kristiansen for Aksel Kjersgaard Rosewood Side Table No. 381, Danish, 1950sBy Kai KristiansenLocated in Richmond, SurreyKai Kristiansen for Aksel Kjersgaard rosewood side table No. 381, Danish, 1950s This midcentury small occasional / side table is Model no. 381, designed by Kai Kristiansen for Aks...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
MaterialsRosewood