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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: ROUSSEAU
Kai Kristiansen Ivory Tweed Curved Back Teak Chairs, Danish, 1960s, Pair of Two
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in New York, NY
Set of two beautiful midcentury chairs, Kai Kristiansen’s iconic curved back chair Silhouette. Teak frame, seat and curved back reupholstered with ivory tweed. Structurally sound, in...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kai Kristiansen Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Upholstery, Velvet, Teak

Kai Kristiansen Ivory Tweed Curved Back Teak Chair, Danish, 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful midcentury chair, Kai Kristiansen’s iconic curved back chair Silhouette. Teak frame, seat and curved back reupholstered with ivory tweed. Structurally sound, in good vintag...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kai Kristiansen Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Upholstery, Teak

Kai Kristiansen Mauve Pink Curved Back Chair, 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful midcentury chair, Kai Kristiansen’s iconic curved back chair Silhouette. Teak frame, seat reupholstered with mauve pink velvet and curved back reupholstered in a coordinati...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kai Kristiansen Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Upholstery, Teak

Kai Kristiansen Mauve Pink Curved Back Dining Side Chairs, 1960s, Pair of Two
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in New York, NY
Set of two beautiful mid-century chairs, Kai Kristiansen’s iconic curved back chair silhouette. Teak frame, seat reupholstered with mauve pink velvet and curved back reupholstered in...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kai Kristiansen Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Upholstery, Velvet, Teak

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Kai Kristiansen Six Fully Restored Teak Dining Chairs Inc. Custom Reupholstry
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Set of six original fully restored, 1960s teak dining chairs by Kai Kristiansen for Schous Møbelfabrik. The chairs have Kai Kristiansens typical light and elegant design that make t...
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Twelve Restored Kai Kristiansen Rosewood Dining Chairs - Inc. Custom Upholstery
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Set of twelve fully restored, 1960s rosewood dining chairs by Kai Kristiansen for Schous Møbelfabrik. The chairs have Kai Kristiansens typical light and elegant design that make them fit in easily where you want them in your home - a design that was so uniqe that his colleague the famous designer Hans J. Wegner characterized model 42 as beautiful from all angles when the chair with it´s unique backrest swivel function was revealed in 1956. The chairs are in very good condition as they have been fully restored, sanded by hand and refinished by our experienced workshop to insure that they are in very good condition with only minimal signs of age and use and will be reupholstered without additional cost in fabric of your choice from "Kvadrat" / standard leathers from "Sorensen Leather" or for additional price luxury leathers (Elegance, Vegetal, Rustic, Pure and Royal Nubuck). Kai Kristiansen was one of the last pupils of the famous architect Kaare Klint who founded modern Danish design and laid the foundation for the "Danish Modern" style. During the years 1958-78 Kristiansen worked in his business in Aarhus owned jointly by himself and furniture maker Illum Wikkelsø (1919-99). Kristiansens works met their most intense demand during a few decades from 1950, then production of them was discontinued. However, several of them are now being produced again by the Japanese furniture producer Miyazaki Chair...
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Ten Restored Kai Kristiansen Rosewood Dining Chairs Including Custom Upholstery
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Set of 10 model 42 rosewood dining chairs with adjustable backrest by Kai Kristiansen for Schous Møbelfabrik. The chairs have Kai Kristiansens typical light and elegant design that ...
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Kai Kristiansen Set of Four Dining Chairs in Teak for K.S. Mobler Denmark, 1960s
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Fantastic set of four dining chairs in teak with wool seats designed in the 1960s by Kai Kristiansen for K.S. Mobler of Denmark. The style of these Kai Kristiansen chairs is often mi...
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Vintage Danish High-Back Teak Dining Chairs by Korup Stolefabrik 1960s, Set of 4
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Vintage Danish teak dining chairs by Korup Stolefabrik 1960s, Set of 4. Set of Danish Mid-Century Modern ladder back dining chairs in solid teak with new upholstery in black faux le...
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Set of Six Restored Kai Kristiansen Rosewood Dining Chairs - Custom Upholstery
By Kai Kristiansen, Schou Andersen Møbelfabrik
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Set of six fully restored, 1960s rosewood dining chairs by Kai Kristiansen for Schous Møbelfabrik. The chairs have Kai Kristiansens typical light and elegant design that make them fit in easily where you want them in your home - a design that was so uniqe that his colleague the famous designer Hans J. Wegner characterized model 42 as beautiful from all angles when the chair with it´s unique backrest swivel function was revealed in 1956. The chairs are in very good condition as they have been fully restored, sanded by hand and refinished by our experienced workshop to insure that they are in very good condition with only minimal signs of age and use and will be reupholstered without additional cost in fabric of your choice from "Kvadrat" / standard leathers from "Sorensen Leather" or for additional price luxury leathers (Elegance, Vegetal, Rustic, Pure and Royal Nubuck). Kai Kristiansen was one of the last pupils of the famous architect Kaare Klint who founded modern Danish design and laid the foundation for the "Danish Modern" style. During the years 1958-78 Kristiansen worked in his business in Aarhus owned jointly by himself and furniture maker Illum Wikkelsø (1919-99). Kristiansens works met their most intense demand during a few decades from 1950, then production of them was discontinued. However, several of them are now being produced again by the Japanese furniture producer Miyazaki Chair...
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Rosewood

Eight Restored Kai Kristiansen Rosewood Dining Chairs Custom Upholstery Included
By Kai Kristiansen, Schou Andersen Møbelfabrik
Located in Knebel, DK
Set of eight fully restored, 1960s rosewood dining chairs by Kai Kristiansen for Schous Møbelfabrik with custom upholstery. The chairs have Kai Kristiansens typical light and elegan...
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Vintage Danish Modern Rosewood Chair Model 42 by Kai Kristiansen, 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen, Schou Andersen Møbelfabrik
Located in Asaa, DK
Vintage Danish Modern Rosewood chair Model 42 by Kai Kristiansen, 1960s. Mid-Century Modern armchair designed by Danish architect Kai Kristian...
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Kai Kristiansen Twelve Restored Teak Dining Chairs Including Custom Reupholstery
By Kai Kristiansen, Schou Andersen Møbelfabrik
Located in Knebel, DK
Kai Kristiansen set of twelve fully restored teak dining chairs by Schou Andersens Møbel Fabrik. The A-frame model 31 dining chairs were designed by Kai Kristiansen in 1956 for Schou-Andersens Møbelfabrik and the A-frame chair is one of the most well-known chairs designed by Kai Kristiansen - a true Classic with its modest appearence but advanced design with curved backrest, crooked angles, straight yet at the same time curved and bended lines... and on top of that as all of Kai Kristiansens chairs very comfortable in use. The chairs have been checked, restored and reglued if needed, sanded and refinished by our cabinetmaker to insure that they are in very good condition with only minimal signs of age and use and and will be reupholstered in fabric from a wide list of "Kvadrat" / Romo fabrics of your choice or a list of standard leathers from "Sorensen Leather" / "Camo Leater". Kai Kristiansen who is still alive was born in 1929 and raised in Thy, North Denmark. Originally a carpenter, Kristiansen was educated as a building architect at the Royal Academi of Arts in Copenhagen and graduated from here in 1954. His father was the propritetor of at furniture production company, so his interest in furniture was founded early. Kristiansen was one of the last pupils of the famous architect Kaare Klint who died in 1959 and is considered the founder of modern Danish design. During the years 1958-1978 Kristiansen worked in his business in Aarhus owned jointly by himself and designer and cabinetmaker Illum Wikkelsø (1919-1999). Kristiansens works met their most intense demand during a few decades from 1950, then production of them was discontinued. However, several of the are now being produced again by the Japanese furniture producer Miyazaki Chair Mill in Tokushima. An Australien producer has also included Kristiansen production in their portfolio. Kai Kristiansen might have been the originator of mass produced furniture, had he accepted an offer from Ikea-founder Ingvar Kamprad. He declined to let himself enroll in the Ikea staff. Kristiansen exhibitions include numerous participations in furniture and design shows in Milano, Paris, Cologne and London. Among his most cherished works is the Paper Knife collection...
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1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Kai Kristiansen Furniture

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Teak

Kai Kristiansen Ten Fully Restored Teak Dining Chairs Custom Upholstery Included
By Kai Kristiansen, Schou Andersen Møbelfabrik
Located in Knebel, DK
Set of ten fully restored, 1960s teak dining chairs by Kai Kristiansen for Schous Møbelfabrik. The chairs have Kai Kristiansens typical light and elegant design that make them fit i...
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Vintage Danish Teak Dining Chairs 1960s, Set of 2
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Vintage Danish teak dining chairs 1960s, set of 2. Pair of Danish Mid-Century Modern side chairs in solid teak and reupholstered in off white Bouclé. Wide curved backrest with stunning joinery details. Round tapered legs in solid teak. The teak has wonderful dark and warm color with visible grain pattern. Very smooth to the touch. Seats have been reupholstered with new high density foam and very high quality Scandinavian Bouclé...
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1960s Kai Kristiansen Fully Restored and Reupholstered Rosewood Dining Chairs
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Rosewood dining chair with adjustable swivel backrest by Kai Kristiansen for Schous Møbelfabrik. The chair have Kai Kristiansens typical light and elegant design that make it fit in...
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Previously Available Items
1960's Kai Kristiansen Model 31 Danish Lilac Tweed Chair Reupholstered
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in New York, NY
Stunning Kai Kristiansen, iconic Model 31 chair design. Teak wood frame, in good condition and structurally sound. A beautifully updated chair, new seat padding and reupholstered in ...
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1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kai Kristiansen Furniture

Materials

Upholstery, Teak

Midcentury Kai Kristiansen Teak Nesting Tables Set of 3
By Kai Kristiansen, Skovmand and Andersen
Located in New York, NY
Circa 1960s, set of (3) Danish mid-century nesting tables designed by Kai Kristiansen for Skovmand & Andersen. Smallest table is marked underneath: "Made in Denmark." The two larger ...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kai Kristiansen Furniture

Materials

Teak

RESERVED 1960's Kai Kristiansen Model 31 Danish Teak Mauve Rose Chair
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in New York, NY
*Shipping charge removed, for pick up locally in Manhattan Stunning Kai Kristiansen Model 31 chair. Teak wood frame, beautifully reupholstered with mauve velvet and mauve wool seat.   
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kai Kristiansen Furniture

Materials

Velvet, Teak

1960's Kai Kristiansen Model 31 Danish Teak Mauve Rose Chair
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in New York, NY
Stunning Kai Kristiansen Model 31 chair. Teak wood frame, beautifully reupholstered with mauve velvet and mauve wool seat.   
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kai Kristiansen Furniture

Materials

Velvet, Teak

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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