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.
$4,600 / set
Pair of Kai Kristiansen Cube Tables
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of Kai Kristiansen cube tables Made from solid teak wood and glass.
Glass, Teak
Cube No 33 Coffee Table Set (3) by Kai Kristiansen in Solid Oak
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Utrecht, NL
Iconic CUBE table model cube 33 was designed by Danish designer Kai Kristainsen to serve multiple purposes, as a coffee table, an end table and to use for (multiple) occasional table...
Oak
$2,500 / set
H 16.25 in W 16 in D 16 in
1960s Set of Three Kai Kristiansen Nesting End / Side Tables Model 33
By Kai Kristiansen, Vildbjerg Møbelfabrik
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a set of 3 Model 33 Nesting Tables, originally designed by Kai Kristiansen in the 1960s. These particular examples were produced by Vildbjerg Mobelfabrik in Denmark. The tabl...
Teak
Kai Kristiansen Entre Bedside Table Low by Dagmar in Oak
By Kai Kristiansen, Dagmar
Located in London, England
Kai Kristiansen, Entre Bedside Table, 1950s A key figure in the Danish Modern movement, Kai Kristiansen designed the iconic Entre series in 1956 as a modular collection of bedside c...
Oak
Pair of Smoked Lucite Cube End Tables
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of dark smoked Lucite cube tables. Wonderfully square and recently polished, can be used as a split coffee table or unexpected end tables.
Lucite
Pair of Acrylic Cube End Tables
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of Acrylic or Lucite end or side tables, American, circa 1980s. They are a versatile size and can be used as end or side tables, or as night stands. They were made without a bot...
Acrylic
Pair of Midcentury End Table/ Cube Boxes with Storage Interiors
Located in Westport, CT
Pair of midcentury cube end tables with storage compartment mahogany wood lids are fitted to lift and store.
Mahogany
Freestanding Teak Desk by Kai Kristiansen
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Handewitt, DE
Mid century danish freestanding teak desk. Designed by Kai Kristiansen. Manufactured by FM. Model FM60. With 3 drawers on each side and forward with open shelves.
Teak
Midcentury Kai Kristiansen Style Teak Coffee Table
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Esperance, NY
This is a very nice vintage teak coffee table with a smoked glass top. The table was made in Belgium.
Teak
Pair of Mid Century Walnut Cube Tables
Located in Redding, CT
Amazing pair of walnut cube end or side tables with recessed base.. Classic timeless style. Use anywhere . Some wear to two edges. see close ups.
Wood, Walnut
$1,295 / set
H 15.5 in W 22 in D 22 in
Set of 2 End Tables in Teak by Kristiansen Thomassen, Denmark, c. 1970s
Located in Deland, FL
This refined pair of Mid-Century Danish Modern end tables by Kristiansen Thomassen showcases the clean, functional elegance that defined 1960s Da...
Teak
$3,506 / item
H 17.33 in W 35.04 in D 11.82 in
Kai Kristiansen Flower Tables Produced by Aksel Kjersgaard in Denmark
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare flower tables designed by Kai Kristiansen. Produced by Aksel Kjersgaard in Denmark. Price is listed / item.
Metal
$2,300 / set
H 16 in W 20 in D 20 in
Pair of Minimalist Walnut Cube Side Tables, Mid-Century Modern, 1960s
Located in Wheat Ridge, CO
Pair of Minimalist Walnut Cube Side Tables, Mid-Century Modern A striking pair of minimalist walnut cube side tables showcasing the clean lines and understated elegance of Mid-Centu...
Walnut
Kai Kristiansen Teak and Glass Coffee Table
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Mid-Century Modern coffee table by Kai Kristiansen. Made from solid teak wood and glass. Refinished. Gorgeous minimalist design offering a sleek and elegant profile. Simple and organ...
Glass, Teak
Mid-Century Danish Nesting Tables by Kai Kristiansen
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Raleigh, NC
Set of three mid-century nesting tables designed by Kai Kristiansen, circa 1960s. A perfect example of incredible design and practical use. Set of three tables slide and stack via a ...
Wood, Teak
Danish Modern Petite Teak Cocktail End Table by Kai Christiansen
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in San Diego, CA
Simple elegant Danish modern petite teak cocktail end table, versatile beautiful freshly refinished nice solid and sturdy.
Teak
Sold
H 20.48 in W 22.84 in D 13.78 in
Kai Kristiansen for Aksel Kjersgaard Mod #384 in teak Denmark - 1960s
By Aksel Kjersgaard, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Berlin, DE
Kai Kristiansen for Aksel Kjersgaard Mod #384 in teak, Denmark - 1960s.
Teak
Kai Kristiansen Pair of Teak Cube Side Tables or Nightstands
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Atlanta, GA
Clean Lined Pair of Mid Century Modern Teak Cube Tables, designed by Kai Kristiansen, Denmark, circa 1960s. They have been cleaned and Danish oiled. Th...
Glass, Wood, Teak
Sold
H 27.56 in W 23.63 in D 14.18 in
Kai Kristiansen 386 Teak Bedside or End Table for Aksel Kjersgaard
By Aksel Kjersgaard, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Berlin, DE
Kai Kristiansen for Aksel Kjersgaard Teak 386 Bedside or End Table. A very similar piece with the same measurements in oak is available, too.
Teak
Kai Kristiansen Pair Teak Nightstands Bedside Tables Danish
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Lège Cap Ferret, FR
2 Scandinavian bedside tables in teak 1950s from Denmark.
Brass
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 ...
Teak
Danish Modern Teak Cocktail End Table
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in San Diego, CA
Simple elegant Danish modern teak cocktail end table, versatile and great design beveled edge. Freshly refinished.
Teak
Danish Modern Teak Cocktail End Table
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in San Diego, CA
Simple elegant Danish modern teak cocktail end table, versatile and great design beveled edge.
Teak
Sold
H 16.25 in W 16.75 in D 16.75 in
Interlocking Kai Kristiansen Danish Rosewood Cube Nesting Tables
By Kai Kristiansen, Vildbjerg Møbelfabrik
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Absolutely masterfully designed nesting tables by Kai Kristiansen for Vildbjerg Mobler. The cube is actually three independent interlocking end tables that fit together like a 3D puzzle! The Danish have a tendency to be clever with functionality. Kai Kristiansen takes home the blue ribbon for this easy to maneuver, space saving design. The tables are all the same size unlike most nesting tables. The vintage 1960s tables...
Rosewood
Modernist Danish Kai Kristiansen Teak Wood Modular Nesting Tables
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in San Diego, CA
Great set of three modular teak wood Danish nesting tables designed by Kai Kristiansen, circa 1960s. The modular set of three tables fit together for perfect storage. Pull them apart...
Teak
Vintage Pair of Teak Danish Kai Kristiansen Nightstands
By Aksel Kjersgaard, Kai Kristiansen
Located in San Jose, CA
Mid-Century Modern matching pair of teak bedside tables designed by Kai Kristiansen for Aksel Kjersgaard, Denmark. This set features sleek circular recessed pulls that open three dov...
Teak