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.
Danish Mid-Century Rosewood Lowboard by Kai Kristiansen, 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen, Schou Andersen Møbelfabrik
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Danish Mid-Century rosewood lowboard credenza, model 54 by Kai Kristiansen for Schou Andersen. This piece has sliding doors with she...
Rosewood
Kai Kristiansen Small Sideboard with Tambour Doors, Made in Denmark
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Antwerp, BE
Mid-century Danish sideboard designed by Kai Kristiansen, circa 1970s. Made from teak wood and teak tapered legs. Two tambour doors fronts that open to internal storage. A great sm...
Teak
Bureau by Kai Kristiansen for Aksel Kjersgaard, Denmark, 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Stockholm, SE
Bureau / small sideboard model 394 by danish designer Kai Kristiansen. Produced by Aksel Kjersgaard, Denmark, 1960s.
Walnut
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.
Aluminum
Sideboard / Credenza In Rosewood By Kai Kristiansen From 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Lejre, DK
Sideboard in rosewood designed by Kai Kristiansen for Feldballes Møbelfabrik. Danish design from the 1960s with aluminum handles and feet. — Origin: Denmark — Designer: Kai Kristian...
Aluminum
Kai Kristiansen Danish Modern Rosewood Sideboard Table for Askel Kjersgaard #393
By Illums Bolighus, Kai Kristiansen, Aksel Kjersgaard
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Handsome rosewood sideboard or table, model #393, designed by Kai Kristiansen and manufactured in Denmark by high-quality furniture maker, Askel Kjersgaard...
Rosewood
Kai Kristiansen rosewood sideboard Danish mid century
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Dublin, IE
Kai Kristiansen rosewood sideboard with three felt lined beech drawers, Denmark 1960’s. This elegant rosewood sideboard, by designer Kai Kristiansen, exemplifies the clean lines and ...
Rosewood
Small Danish teak sideboard model 42 by Kai Kristiansen, Feldballes Mobelfabrik.
By Feldballes Møbelfabrik, Kai Kristiansen
Located in JOINVILLE-LE-PONT, FR
Superb small Scandinavian sideboard or bar cabinet. Two large sliding doors, known as "roller doors," made of thin wooden slats that allow the doors to retract into the cabinet. They...
Teak
H 25.4 in W 74.81 in D 18.71 in
Vintage Mid-Century Danish Lowboard / Sideboard in Teak, 1960s
Located in Store Heddinge, DK
Vintage teak sideboard from 1960s Denmark with a clean mid-century modern design. The long, low structure features a balanced layout with two doors on each side and four flat-front d...
Teak
H 34.06 in W 78.75 in D 17.33 in
Danish Mid-Century Modern Rosewood Sideboard, 1960s
By Arne Vodder, Sibast
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Mid-Century Modern Low Rosewood sideboard, 1960s Beautiful Danish Modern low sideboard in minimalistic style attributed to Danish designer Arne Vodder for Sibast. Front with...
Rosewood
H 32.88 in W 94.49 in D 19.69 in
Danish Midcentury Sideboard in Rosewood, 1960s
Located in Lejre, DK
Great looking sideboard in rosewood designed and made in Denmark, 1960s. Great original condition.
Rosewood
H 29.5 in W 54 in D 19.5 in
Mid-Century Sibast Furniture Teak Sideboard, Made In Denmark
By Sibast
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Classic Danish Mid Century teak sliding door sideboard dating to the 1950's/1960's for restoration.The sideboard in a more diminutive size and useful for many applications. The slidi...
Teak
H 43.31 in W 59.45 in D 16.93 in
Mid-Century Cabinet / Sideboard in Teak & Oak, Danish Cabinetmaker, 1960s
Located in Odense, DK
Lovely rare cabinet in teak & oak. Made by a Danish Cabinetmaker in 1960s. Highlighted details and plenty of shelves featured in this beautiful cabinet. A fine vintage object that will complement many interior styles. A modern, classic, art deco or Scandinavian home deco. With a heavy focus on functionality, this design style leans toward modernism, while incorporating coziness. The Scandinavian design style aims to provide a way for people to live more sustainably and in harmony with one another. Honorable mentions with similar designs; Jakob Kjær...
Oak, Teak
H 32.5 in W 77 in D 19 in
Mid-Century Modern Danish Long Teak Credenza with Tambour Doors
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A beautifully designed teak credenza with top notch construction. It features two sliding tambour doors, two drawers and two shelf spaces. Marked made in Denmark. Original clean cond...
Teak
H 6.11 in W 20.08 in D 9.06 in
Danish Floating Teak Shelf by Kai Kristiansen for Aksel Kjersgaard, 1960s.
By Aksel Kjersgaard, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Floating Teak Shelf by Kai Kristiansen for Aksel Kjersgaard, 1960s. Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern wall mounted two tier shelf in teak. Designed by Kai Kristiansen and manuf...
Teak
H 39 in W 42.5 in D 16.75 in
Restored Brazilian Rosewood Dresser by Kai Kristiansen, Danish Modern, 1958
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Oakland, CA
Brazilian rosewood five-drawer dresser designed by Kai Kristiansen. Features a minimalist design with beautifully grained Brazilian rosewood and pattern-matched drawers, raised on sq...
Rosewood
H 20.48 in W 23.63 in D 14.18 in
Kai Kristiansen Danish Rosewood Nightstand, 1950s
By Kai Kristiansen, Aksel Kjersgaard
Located in London, England
Kai Kristiansen - Model 384 Rosewood Nightstand, c1950s An exquisite rosewood bedside cabinet, produced by cabinetmaker Aksel Kjaersgaard in Odder, Denmark circa 1950s. This design ...
Oak
H 23.63 in W 47.25 in D 13.39 in
Kai Kristiansen for Aksel Kjersgaard, Bench with Chest of Drawers, Teak, Denmark
By Aksel Kjersgaard, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Kai Kristiansen bench with movable chest of drawers on top. Made of partly solid teak. Made by Aksel Kjersgaard 1960s.
Teak
H 20.48 in W 23.63 in D 14.18 in
Kai Kristiansen Danish Oak Nightstands, 1950s
By Kai Kristiansen, Aksel Kjersgaard
Located in London, England
Kai Kristiansen - Bedside Cabinets, c1960s. A pair of patinated oak bedside cabinets, produced by Aksel Kjersgaard in Odder, Denmark in the early 1960s. The design features Kristian...
Oak
H 32.5 in W 83 in D 20 in
Mid-Century Kai Kristiansen Sideboard, Scandinavian Modern
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Long teak server by Kai Kristiansen featuring four drawers and three doors with adjustable shelving makes the perfect storage piece for any modern home. Midcentury design is evidence...
Metal
H 78.75 in W 135.44 in D 16.15 in
Modular Wall Unit by Kai Kristiansen for FM Mobler, Denmark, 1960s
By FM Møbler, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Ranst, VAN
Danish modular wall unit by Kai Kristiansen for FM Møbler, Denmark 1960s. This teak setup has two big storage cabinets, one big drawer cabinet, two small storage cabinets, one postma...
Teak
H 30 in W 33.75 in D 15.75 in
Mid-Century Sideboards by Kai Kristiansen - a Pair
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Raleigh, NC
Mid-century Danish sideboards / record cabinets designed by Kai Kristiansen, circa 1970s. We have two of these cabinets available, purchase both and push together to create a long cr...
Wood, Teak
H 30 in W 33.75 in D 15.75 in
Mid-Century Sideboard by Kai Kristiansen
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Raleigh, NC
Mid-century Danish sideboard / record cabinet designed by Kai Kristiansen, circa 1970s. Made from teak wood and sitting atop teak tapered legs. Two tambour doors fronts that open to ...
Wood, Teak
H 31.5 in W 79.75 in D 19 in
Mid-Century Modern Danish Long Teak Credenza Tambour Cabinet by Kai Kristensen
By Kai Kristiansen, Faarup Møbelfabrik
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A beautifully designed teak credenza with top notch construction made by Kai Kristiansen and produced by Faarup in the 1960's. It features a sleek full front tambour door with tons o...
Teak
H 76.6 in W 86 in D 40 in
Kai Kristiansen Compact Teak Sideboard
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in London, GB
Designed by the renowned Kai Kristiansen, this compact teak sideboard is a masterful example of Danish mid-century design, blending functionality with minimalist elegance. Crafted fr...
Teak
H 20.48 in W 46.07 in D 14.18 in
Kai Kristiansen Sideboard Model 394 Aksel Kjersgaard Danish Mid-Century Modern
By Aksel Kjersgaard, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Munster, NRW
Kai Kristiansen, Sideboard Model 394 for Aksel Kjersgaard A fine example of Danish modernism, the 394 sideboard combines all the hallmarks of Scandinavian design: functionality, sob...
Wood
H 27.56 in W 133.86 in D 17.72 in
Modular Sideboard with Sliding Doors designed by Kai Kristiansen 1970s
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Antwerp, BE
Modular set of four sideboards designed by Kai Kristiansen in the 1970s with the well known handles and sliding doors that characterizes his design. Labeled at the back N-furnitur. I...
Teak
H 30.32 in W 33.86 in D 15.75 in
Danish Sideboard/Credenza by Kai Kristiansen. Rosewood. 1960's
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in London, GB
Vintage Danish Rosewood sideboard by Kai Kristiansen for FM 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern cabinet model No. 13 in Rosewood designed by Danish architect Kai Kristiansen for Feldball...
Rosewood
H 6.3 in W 34.65 in D 9.06 in
Teak wall board Kai Kristiansen for Aksel Kjersgaard #132 Odder Made in Denmark
By Aksel Kjersgaard, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Krefeld, DE
1960s Teak wall board / teak wood hanging shelf no. 132 designed by Kai Kristiansen and signed/produced by cabinetmaker Aksel Kjaersgaard, Odder Mad...
Oak
H 20.48 in W 46.07 in D 13.78 in
Midcentury Kai Kristiansen Model 394 Oak Chest Of Drawers Aksel Kjersgaard
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Shepperton, Surrey
Very much considered a Danish design classic now, the range of case pieces designed by Kai Kristiansen for Aksel Kjersgaard are an extremely successful study in simple but graceful form. They were produced for around 10 years from the mid 50...
Oak
H 29.93 in W 33.67 in D 15.75 in
Vintage Danish Rosewood Cabinet with Tambour Doors by Kai Kristiansen, 1960s
By Feldballes Møbelfabrik, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Asaa, DK
Vintage Danish rosewood cabinet with tambour doors by Kai Kristiansen 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern cabinet in rosewood designed by ...
Rosewood
H 29.93 in W 33.86 in D 15.75 in
Danish Midcentury Rosewood Kai Kristiansen Cabinet For Feldballes Møbelfabrik
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Shepperton, Surrey
Beautiful little sideboard designed by Kai Kristiansen for Feldballes Mobelfabrik in the mid 50’s. Produced in rich Brazilian rosewood with wonderf...
Rosewood