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Kai Kristiansen Furniture

Danish, b. 1929

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.

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Creator: Kai Kristiansen
Dealer: Antyki Koneser Sp. z o.o.
Model 31 dining chairs by Kai Kristiansen, Denmark, 1960s. Set of 6.
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Chorzów, PL
A set of six teak chairs designed by Kai Kristiansen. Classic cult model 31. Light, stable, interesting construction. The chairs have undergone ...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kai Kristiansen Furniture

Materials

Teak

Model 31 Chairs, Designed by Kai Kristiansen, Denmark, 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Chorzów, PL
A set of four teak chairs designed by Kai Kristiansen. Classic cult model 31. Light, stable, interesting construction. The chairs have undergone wood renovation, the upholstery on th...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kai Kristiansen Furniture

Materials

Teak

Chair, Model Fire, Denmark, 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Chorzów, PL
A Danish chair from the 1960s. Furniture in very good condition, after professional renovation, the seat and backrest are upholstered with new natural leather. Dimensions: Height ...
Category

1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Kai Kristiansen Furniture

Materials

Leather, Teak

Four Kai Kristiansen Model 31 Teak Dining Room Chairs
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Chorzów, PL
The Kai Kristiansen, model 31, chairs have been replaced with a new upholstery.
Category

1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Kai Kristiansen Furniture

Materials

Teak

Paper Knife Armchair by Kai Kristiansen, Denmark, 1950s
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Chorzów, PL
Paper Knife armchair by Kai Kristiansen, produced in Denmark in around 1950s. Teak frame preserved in very good condition, with original stamp at the back. Custom made boucle cushion...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Kai Kristiansen Furniture

Materials

Bouclé, Teak

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1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Kai Kristiansen Furniture

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Kai Kristiansen furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Kai Kristiansen furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Kai Kristiansen furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 404 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 1 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Kai Kristiansen were created in the Scandinavian Modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Arne Vodder, Niels Otto Møller, and Johannes Andersen. Prices for Kai Kristiansen furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $72 and can go as high as $27,370, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $3,761.

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