Kai Kristiansen Model 394
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Cabinets
Rosewood
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Cabinets
Rosewood
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Cabinets
Rosewood
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Sideboards
Walnut
People Also Browsed
2010s South African Minimalist Pedestals
Hardwood
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Textile, Wood
Vintage 1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Sofas
Sheepskin, Elm
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Loveseats
Brass
Vintage 1960s French Scandinavian Modern Bookcases
Teak
2010s British Ottomans and Poufs
Sheepskin, Walnut
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Teak
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Stools
Steel
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood
Late 20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Teak
2010s American Modern Console Tables
Leather, Maple, Oak, Walnut
Vintage 1950s German Mid-Century Modern Stools
Metal
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Cabinets
Rosewood
2010s British Lounge Chairs
Mohair, Oak
Vintage 1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Sofas
Bouclé, Mahogany
Recent Sales
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Sideboards
Rosewood
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dressers
Rosewood
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Sideboards
Rosewood
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
Rosewood
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
Rosewood
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Rosewood
Vintage 1960s Danish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Sideboards
Teak
Vintage 1960s European Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
Teak
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Kai Kristiansen Model 394 For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Kai Kristiansen Model 394?
Kai Kristiansen for sale on 1stDibs
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.
Finding the Right storage-case-pieces for You
Of all the antique and vintage case pieces and storage cabinets that have become popular in modern interiors over the years, dressers, credenzas and cabinets have long been home staples, perfect for routine storage or protection of personal items.
In the mid-19th century, cabinetmakers would mimic styles originating in the Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI eras for their dressers, bookshelves and other structures, and, later, simpler, streamlined wood designs allowed these “case pieces” or “case goods” — any furnishing that is unupholstered and has some semblance of a storage component — to blend into the background of any interior.
Mid-century modern furniture enthusiasts will cite the tall modular wall units crafted in teak and other sought-after woods of the era by the likes of George Nelson, Poul Cadovius and Finn Juhl. For these highly customizable furnishings, designers of the day delivered an alternative to big, heavy bookcases by considering the use of space — and, in particular, walls — in new and innovative ways. Mid-century modern credenzas, which, long and low, evolved from tables that were built as early as the 14th century in Italy, typically have no legs or very short legs and have grown in popularity as an alluring storage option over time.
Although the name immediately invokes images of clothing, dressers were initially created in Europe for a much different purpose. This furnishing was initially a flat-surfaced, low-profile side table equipped with a few drawers — a common fixture used to dress and prepare meats in English kitchens throughout the Tudor period. The drawers served as perfect utensil storage. It wasn’t until the design made its way to North America that it became enlarged and equipped with enough space to hold clothing and cosmetics. The very history of storage case pieces is a testament to their versatility and well-earned place in any room.
In the spirit of positioning your case goods center stage, decluttering can now be design-minded.
A contemporary case piece with open shelving and painted wood details can prove functional as a storage unit as easily as it can a room divider. Whether you’re seeking a playful sideboard made of colored glass and metals, an antique Italian hand-carved storage cabinet or a glass-door vitrine to store and show off your collectibles, there are options for you on 1stDibs.