With a passion for math and engineering, Kai Kristiansen has created high-quality wood furniture for decades. Beginning in the 1950s, his coffee tables, 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.
Plant Box With Frame Made In Rosewood By Kai Kristiensen From 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Lejre, DK
This plant box, designed by Kai Kristensen, is a beautiful piece of Danish design from the 1960s. The frame is made of rosewood, showcasing the rich, dark to...
Plastic, Rosewood
Silver Plated Metal 1960s Bowl & Box by Christofle
By Christofle
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Set of 2 silver plated metal decorative objects: a "leave" bowl and an "apple" box from the '60s. Pretty good condition: the bowl show light defect on one side as showed in the pictu...
Silver Plate, Brass
$422Sale Price|30% Off
H 8.67 in Dm 12.21 in
Mid-Century Rattan Basket / Planter with Brass decoration. From Italy 1960s
Located in Turku, Finland
Beautiful Mid-Century Rattan Basket / Planter with Brass Decoration. Handcrafted in italy in 1960's. Dimensions: - Height 25cm / 9.85in - Diameter 31cm / 12.2in Beautiful item for ...
Brass
$2,350
H 22.5 in Dm 17.5 in
Brazilian Modern Rosewood Ice Bucket with Sculptural Turned Handles, 1960s
Located in New York, NY
A refined expression of Brazilian Modern design, this sculptural ice bucket embodies the warmth, craftsmanship, and understated sophistication that defined the finest Brazilian decor...
Rosewood
$521Sale Price|47% Off
H 5.52 in W 15.75 in D 11.62 in
Danish Mid-Century Modern Rosewood Basket, 1960s
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Mid-Century Modern Rosewood Basket, 1960s. Vintage Danish foldable fruit basket in solid Palisander. Made in Denmark in the 1960s. This flexible Rosewood bowl can be used as ...
Rosewood
Italian Hand-Crafted Willow Plant Holder/Waste Basket, 1960s Design
Located in Douglas Manor, NY
3-989 Italian hand grafted willow plant holder/waste basket.
Willow
1960s Brazilian Rosewood Handled Bowl by Jean Gillon
By Jean Gillon
Located in Victoria, BC
Introducing our latest addition to our Brazillian smalls collection, this 1960's handle bowl by Jean Gillon for his Wood Art collection. Crafted from the finest jacaranda, it exudes ...
Rosewood
1960s Brazilian Rosewood Bowl by Jean Gillon for Wood Art
By Jean Gillon
Located in Victoria, BC
Introducing a remarkable piece from the Jean Gillon's Wood Art collection: discover this elegant wood bowl, expertly fashioned from a single piece of Rosewood with meticulous attenti...
Rosewood
$975
H 5.1 in W 17 in D 8.5 in
1960s Sculptural Bowl by Jean Gillon for Italma WoodArt in Brazilian rosewood
By Jean Gillon
Located in Victoria, BC
Designed by Jean Gillon and produced by Italma / WoodArt in Brazil during the 1960s, this sculptural bowl reflects the same material sensitivity and organic formal language found thr...
Hardwood
$985
H 2.56 in W 20.48 in D 15.36 in
Rattan Tray Designed and Made by Artek in Finland During the 1960s
By Artek
Located in Hägersten, SE
Rattan tray designed and made by Artek in Finland during the 1960s. Hand woven from cane and rattan. Good vintage condition with signs of age related wear and patina. these beauti...
Cane, Rattan
$975
H 1.6 in W 17.3 in D 4.3 in
1960s Bottle Holder by Jean Gillon for Italma WoodArt in solid rosewood
By Jean Gillon
Located in Victoria, BC
Designed by Jean Gillon and produced by Italma / WoodArt in Brazil during the 1960s, this sculptural bottle holder reflects the refined balance between utility and organic form that ...
Hardwood
Lino Sabattini bowl from the 1960s produced by Christofle
By Lino Sabattini
Located in Vigevano, PV
Lino Sabattini bowl from the 1960s produced by Christofle
Silver Plate
Paper Waste Bin in Patinated Leather Made for Firma Svenskt Tenn, 1960s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Unusual paper waste bin in leather. Produced and sold at Firma Svenskt Tenn, Stockholm in the 1960s. Hand made and sewn with brass handles. The bin comes with a smooth surface in goo...
Brass