Kai Kristiansen Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
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 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.
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Creator: Kai Kristiansen
Modular Teak shelving system by Kai kristansen for FH Möbel , Denmark, 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Gaggenau, DE
Danish modern modular Teak shelving system by Kai kristansen for FH Möbel , Denmark, 1960
Danish design by F.H Møbler
Design year: 1960s
Dimensions: : 46--25 D x 174 W x 220 H ...
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kai Kristiansen Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Teak
Modular Dark wooden Wall System from Kai Kristiansen - FM Møbler
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Oirlo, LI
Modular Dark wooden Wall System from Kai Kristiansen - FM Møbler
Dark wood wall system, designed by the renowned Kai Kristiansen for FM Møbler. This versatile piece of furniture is ...
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kai Kristiansen Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Wood
Kai Kristiansen Model 394 Rosewood Chest, 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen, Aksel Kjersgaard
Located in London, England
Kai Kristiansen
Model 394 Low Chest, c1960.
A low, 4-drawer chest made from highly figured rosewood, produced by Aksel Kjersgaard in Odder, Denmark, c1960....
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Kai Kristiansen Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Rosewood
Small Rosewood Dresser by Kai Kristiansen for FM Møbler, 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen, FM Møbler
Located in Breda, Netherlands
Danish Design by Kai Kristiansen
This stylish chest of drawers was designed by Kai Kristiansen and produced by Feldballes Møbelfabrik in the 1960s.
This cabinet is made of rosewood...
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kai Kristiansen Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Rosewood
Kai Kristiansen for Aksel Kjirsgaard Dark Wood Scandinavian Sideboard Chest 1960
By Aksel Kjersgaard, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Scandinavian midcentury moderh design dark wood double drawer or low sideboard model 394 designed by Kai Kristiansen and produced by Aksel Kjersgaard Odder, manufactured stamp on the...
Category
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kai Kristiansen Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Wood
Commode With Four Drawers Made In Rosewood By Kai Kristiansen From 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Lejre, DK
Chest of drawers with 4 drawers and round legs. Made of rosewood from the 1960s and designed by Kai Kristiansen. Kai Kristiansen's design is known for its focus on functionality, sim...
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kai Kristiansen Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Rosewood
Model 128 Wall Shelf or Console by Kai Kristiansen for Aksel Kjersgaard, 1960
By Kai Kristiansen, Aksel Kjersgaard
Located in Kelkheim (Taunus), HE
Rar Modell 128 Wall Shelf by Designer and Cabinet Maker Kai Kristiansen for Aksel Kjersgaard in Teak.
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Kai Kristiansen Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Teak
Small Rosewood Dresser by Kai Kristiansen for FM Møbler, 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen, FM Møbler
Located in Breda, Netherlands
Danish Design by Kai Kristiansen This stylish chest of drawers was designed by Kai Kristiansen and produced by Feldballes Møbelfabrik in the 1960s. This cabinet is made of rosewood a...
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kai Kristiansen Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Rosewood
Model 394 Low Chest of 4 Drawers by Kai Kristiansen for Aksel Kjersgaard
By Aksel Kjersgaard, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Little Burstead, Essex
This is a particularly good example, the Santos Rosewood ( which is not a protected species and therefore sustainable and no problem for import or export) has exceptionally nicely ma...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Kai Kristiansen Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Rosewood
Kai Kristiansen Storage Chest Trunk for Aksel Kjersgaard
By Aksel Kjersgaard, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Storage trunk by Kai Kristiansen for Aksel Kjersgaard, c.1960s, Denmark. The teak chest features a brass hinged lid and brass lock with key. The inside of the chest showcases a large...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Kai Kristiansen Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Kai Kristiansen Model 384 Rosewood Chest, 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen, Aksel Kjersgaard
Located in London, England
Kai Kristiansen
Model 384 Chest, c1960
Low, 4-drawer chest made from highly figured rosewood, produced by Aksel Kjersgaard in Odder, Denmark, c1960. Fe...
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Kai Kristiansen Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Rosewood
Kai Kristiansen Model 384 Rosewood Chest, 1960s
By Aksel Kjersgaard, Kai Kristiansen
Located in London, England
Kai Kristiansen
Model 384 chest, c1960
Low, 4-drawer chest made from highly figured rosewood, produced by Aksel Kjersgaard in Odder, Denmark, c1960. Fe...
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Kai Kristiansen Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Rosewood
Kai Kristiansen Sideboard Produced by PSA Furniture in Denmark
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare sideboard in rosewood designed by Kai Kristiansen. Produced by Preben Skov Andersen, PSA Furniture in Denmark.
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Kai Kristiansen Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Aluminum
Danish Mid Century Hydraulic Drinks Cabinet or Bar by Kai Kristiansen
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Rare Kai Kristiansen Rosewood Hydraulic Bar Cart. With a turn of the key the hydraulic kicks in. First turn the key slightly to the right, push down the top, and the bar will come u...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Kai Kristiansen Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Wood
Model 394 Chest of drawers, Kai Kristiansen, 1960s
By Aksel Kjersgaard, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Neuss, NW
Wonderful chest of drawers model 394 from Kai Kristiansen for Aksel Kjersgaard from the 1960s. Corpus in oak veneer with four drawers and straight feet. The top is coated with off wh...
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kai Kristiansen Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Formica, Oak
Large Walnut Sideboard by Kai Kristiansen
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Dorchester, MA
Designed by Kai Kristiansen in the 1960s, this long sideboard exemplifies clean-lined Danish modernism. The walnut case comprises four doors behind which are two sections of adjustab...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Kai Kristiansen Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Walnut
$7,800 / item
Mid-Century Shelves & Wall Units & Desk by Kai Kristiansen for FM Mobler, 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen, FM Møbler
Located in KUTNO, PL
The modular shelving and racking system designed by Kai Kristiansen for FM Møbler is one of the iconic examples of Danish modernist design of the 1950s and 1960s. Designed for maximu...
Category
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kai Kristiansen Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Teak
Mod. 63 Sekretär Schreibtisch Teak Kai Kristiansen HNJ Møbel / Tørring Møbelfabr
By Torring Mobelfabrik, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Aachen, DE
Klassischer dänischer Sekretär Kai Kristiansen für Torring / HJN Mobler in hervorragendem Zustand. Eventuelle Beieinträchtigungen der Oberfläche werden von uns vor Auslieferung fachg...
Category
1950s Danish Modern Vintage Kai Kristiansen Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Teak
Teak Model 70 Desk by Kai Kristiansen for Feldballes Møbelfabrik, 1960s
By Feldballes Møbelfabrik, Kai Kristiansen
Located in GNIEZNO, 30
Model 70 desk designed by Kai Kristiansen for the Danish manufacture Feldballes Møbelfabrik in the mid-1960s. A modernist style desk, characterized by unique ...
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kai Kristiansen Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Teak
Kai Kristiansen Model 385 Tallboy Chest, Rosewood
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in London, England
Kai Kristiansen Model 385 Chest of Drawers, circa 1960
Rosewood tallboy chest, produced by Aksel Kjersgaard in Odder, Denmark. Solid rosewood frame...
Category
1960s Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Kai Kristiansen Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Oak
Chest of drawers in teak by Vildbjerg Møbelfabrik
By Kai Kristiansen, Vildbjerg Møbelfabrik
Located in Ranst, VAN
The chest of drawers or nightstand, designed by renowned Danish designer Kai Kristiansen for Vildbjerg Møbelfabrik, is a beautifully crafted piece made from teak wood. Its clean line...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Kai Kristiansen Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Teak
Kai Kristiansen Low Drawers
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in London, GB
These low teak drawers by Kai Kristiansen exemplify the designer’s signature blend of functionality, refined proportions, and sculptural detailing. Crafted from richly grained teak, ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Kai Kristiansen Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Teak
$1,374 / item
Kai Kristiansen Model 394 Rosewood Chest, 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen, Aksel Kjersgaard
Located in London, England
Kai 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
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Kai Kristiansen Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Rosewood
Kai Kristiansen Bureaus Model Nr 50 by Feldballes Møbelfabrik in Denmark
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare pair of bureaus model nr 50 designed by Kai Kristiansen. Produced by Feldballes Møbelfabrik in Denmark.
Category
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Kai Kristiansen Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Rosewood
Kai Kristiansen case pieces and storage cabinets for sale on 1stDibs.
Kai Kristiansen case pieces and storage cabinets 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 case pieces and storage cabinets, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original case pieces and storage cabinets 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 case pieces and storage cabinets by Børge Mogensen, Arne Vodder, and Poul Cadovius. Prices for Kai Kristiansen case pieces and storage cabinets can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $503 and can go as high as $27,370, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $3,937.
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