Kai Kristiansen Solid Teak "Z" Armchair in New Knoll Grey Wool, 1960s Vintage
View Similar Items
Kai Kristiansen Solid Teak "Z" Armchair in New Knoll Grey Wool, 1960s Vintage
About the Item
- Creator:Kai Kristiansen (Designer)
- Similar to:Arne Vodder (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 29 in (73.66 cm)Width: 21 in (53.34 cm)Depth: 16 in (40.64 cm)Seat Height: 17.5 in (44.45 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Outstanding restored vintage condition.
- Seller Location:Chattanooga, TN
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2255314806281
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.
- Scandinavian Modern Vamdrup Stolefabrik Solid Teak Danish Dining Chairs Set of 6By Vamdrup Stolefabrik, Kai Kristiansen, Arne VodderLocated in Chattanooga, TNThe FMV restoration team chose this tasty plum fabric and the results were even more delicious than we expected. Or if you prefer wine analogies, it resembles a Petite Sirah. The s...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Teak
- Vintage Solid Teak Danish Modern Style Lounge ChairBy Kai KristiansenLocated in Chattanooga, TNAlthough not marked by the maker, this exceptional, vintage, solid teak armchair has a distinctive Danish modern design but may actually be Canadian. The chair features an upholstere...Category
Vintage 1980s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Teak
- Set of Six Vintage Thomasville Embassy Asian Chinoiserie Dining ChairsBy Century Furniture, Thomasville, Raymond K. SobotaLocated in Chattanooga, TNLovingly restored, set of six vintage Nineteen-Laties Thomasville Embassy dining chairs. The Chinoiserie dining chairs have an Asian inspired silho...Category
Vintage 1980s American Chinoiserie Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Wood, Lacquer
$2,896 Sale Price / set27% Off - Vintage 1970s Henredon Cane Back Burl Wood Dining Chairs in New Green FabricBy HenredonLocated in Chattanooga, TNHandsome set of four Henredon burl wood dining chairs with caned backs. The vintage 1970s dining chairs are ash wood with ash burl accent along the seat trim. The chair seats have be...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Cane, Burl
$1,960 Sale Price / set20% Off - Restored Set of (8) Saarinen for Knoll Executive Armchairs with Wood LegsBy Knoll, Eero SaarinenLocated in Chattanooga, TNSet of eight vintage Saarinen for Knoll executive chairs. These chairs come in variety of iterations, but I think we have a winning combo here. Our group of Saarinen chairs features ...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Maple
On Hold$9,995 / set - Diamond Chair by Harry Bertoia for Knoll, Full Cover Plum Knoll TweedBy Harry Bertoia, KnollLocated in Chattanooga, TNFully restored vintage Bertoia diamond chair by Knoll. (2) Available, sold separately. Our team used the original pattern to recreate a new cover in be...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Danish Mid-Century Teak Z-Chair, Model 42, by Kai Kristiansen, 1960s, Set of 4By Slagelse Mobelvaerk, Kai KristiansenLocated in Elshout, NLKai Kristiansen : Model 42 The Z chair, also referred to as chair #42, by design of Kai Kristiansen and produced by Slagelse Møbelvaerk. This chair got it’s Z shape from the suspend...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsNaugahyde, Teak
- 6 Original Kai Kristiansen Teak Dinning Chairs from 1960sBy Kai KristiansenLocated in Copenhagen, DKElegant set of 6 'model 31' dining chairs designed by Kai Kristiansen and manufactured by Schou Andersen, Denmark 1956. These typical Danish Modern dining chairs have solid teak fram...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsTeak
- Set of 7 Danish Modern Kai Kristiansen Teak Dining ChairsBy Kai Kristiansen, Jens RisomLocated in Rockaway, NJSet of 8 Mid-Century Modern teak dining chairs in black vinyl by Kai Kristiansen.Category
20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsTeak
- 4 Kai Kristiansen Chairs 1960s - Model 31, Vintage OakBy Kai KristiansenLocated in Hannover, DESet of 4 Vintage Chairs designed by Kai Kristiansen. Model: 31 from the 1960s. Displayed price is for a set of 4. Very good vintage condition. Sturdy oak chair frames. Refurbishe...Category
Vintage 1960s European Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsTeak
- Kai Kristiansen, set of six rosewood armchairs, 1960sBy Kai KristiansenLocated in Los Gatos, CAA set of six rosewood armchairs by KAI KRISTIANSEN, seat, and tilt back upholstered with brown colored leather. Model 42. Manufactured by Schou Andersen Furniture Presented at the ...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
MaterialsRosewood
- Kai Kristiansen Ivory Tweed Curved Back Teak Chair, Danish, 1960sBy Kai KristiansenLocated in New York, NYBeautiful midcentury chair, Kai Kristiansen’s iconic curved back chair Silhouette. Teak frame, seat and curved back reupholstered with ivory tweed. Structurally sound, in good vintag...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Upholstery, Teak
$940 Sale Price / item20% Off