Kai Kristiansen Rosewood Ottoman
About the Item
- Creator:Kai Kristiansen (Designer),Magnus Olesen (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 14.97 in (38 cm)Width: 24.41 in (62 cm)Depth: 24.41 in (62 cm)
- Style:Scandinavian Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:Expertly restored and reupholstered to the highest standard by our in-house team.
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1333214456671
Kai Kristiansen
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: London, United Kingdom
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
- Kai Kristiansen Vintage ArmchairBy Magnus Olesen, Kai KristiansenLocated in London, GBKai Kristiansen Exotic wood armchair, circa 1960 Produced by Oddense Maskinsnedkeri A/S. Exotic wood frame with upholstered seat and back in Kvadrat Hallingdal wool fabric.Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsWool
- Kai Kristiansen Pair of Rosewood Paper Knife Lounge Chairs, 1950sBy Magnus Olesen, Kai KristiansenLocated in London, GBKai Kristiansen Pair of paper knife model lounge chairs, 1955. Produced by Magnus Olesen, Denmark in rosewood. New cushions upholstered in soft grey wool fabric.Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsWool, Rosewood
- Kai Kristiansen Paper Knife Lounge ChairsBy Magnus Olesen, Kai KristiansenLocated in London, GBKai Kristiansen Pair of 'Paper Knife' model 121 lounge chairs, 1955. Produced by Magnus Olesen, Denmark. New cushions upholstered in Kvadrat Hallingd...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsWool
- Kai Kristiansen Pair of Rosewood Ottomans by Aksel Kjersgaard, 1950sBy Aksel Kjersgaard, Kai KristiansenLocated in London, GBPair of Kai Kristiansen rosewood ottomans produced by Aksel Kjersgaard in Denmark, circa 1950s. The seats has been reupholstered in off-white, pure wool fabric from Chase Erwin.Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Stools
MaterialsWool, Rosewood
- Kai Kristiansen Pair of Oak & Mohair OttomansBy Kai KristiansenLocated in London, GBKai Kristiansen - Oak Ottomans, c1950s. A pair of ottomans designed by Kai Kristiansen in the late 1950s as part of the Entre series. These examples are newly produced under license...Category
2010s Danish Scandinavian Modern Stools
MaterialsMohair, Velvet, Oak
- Kai Kristiansen Model 384 Rosewood Chest, 1960sBy Aksel Kjersgaard, Kai KristiansenLocated in London, GBKai Kristiansen Model 384 chest, c1960 Low, 4-drawer chest made from highly figured rosewood, produced by Aksel Kjersgaard in Odder, Denmark, c1960. Fe...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Cabinets
MaterialsRosewood
- Kai Kristiansen Univers ottoman in leather and rosewoodBy Magnus Olesen, Kai KristiansenLocated in Esbjerg, DKKai Kristiansen ottoman in rosewood and leather cushion. Model Univers, made by Magnus Olsen.Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Ottomans and Poufs
MaterialsRosewood, Leather
- Kai Kristiansen Paper Knife Chair in Teak for Magnus OlesenBy Magnus Olesen, Kai KristiansenLocated in Fort Lauderdale, FLVintage 'Paper Knife' chair in teak by Kai Kristiansen for Magnus Olesen. Cushions have been newly upholstered in a vintage grey Maharam Hallingdal wool textile by Nana Ditzel. Marke...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Wool, Teak
- Set of Kai Kristiansen Paper Knife Easy Chairs 1950s DenmarkBy Magnus Olesen, Kai KristiansenLocated in St-Brais, JUA set of Kai Kristiansen’s most celebrated design: two ‘Paper knife’ chairs crafted from solid teak wood. One of the most graceful and beautiful chairs of the Danish Modern period. T...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsTeak, Wool
- Paper Knife Armchair by Kai kristiansen for Magnus Olesen, Denmark, 1956By Kai Kristiansen, Magnus OlesenLocated in Barcelona, ESPaper Knife armchair designed in 1956 by Kai Kristiansen for Magnus Olesen, Denmark. Teak frame upholstered with new wool fabric from...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
MaterialsFabric, Teak
- Pair of 'Paper Knife' Easy Chairs by Kai Kristiansen for Magnus Olesen, 1956By Magnus Olesen, Kai KristiansenLocated in Antwerpen, VANMagnificent pair of ‘Model 121’ easy chairs designed in 1956 by Kai Kristiansen and produced by Magnus Olesen in Denmark. Beautifully crafted solid teak frames with the signature arm...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Teak
- Midcentury Teak Paper Knife Armchair by Kai Kristiansen for Magnus OlesenBy Magnus Olesen, Kai KristiansenLocated in Lisboa, LisboaSet of two Midcentury Teak "Paper Knife" Armchairs designed by Kai Kristiansen for Magnus Olesen. These iconic pieces are a testament to the sleek, organic design that typifies mid-c...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Teak