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.
H 31.11 in W 19.3 in D 19.69 in
Set of 4 Danish Teak Dining Chairs by Schionning & Elgaard, 1960s
By Schionning & Elgaard
Located in Praha, CZ
Set of four mid-century modern dining chairs designed by Schionning & Elgaard and produced in Denmark during the 1960s. The chairs feature beautifully sculpted solid teak frames with...
Fabric, Teak
H 30.32 in W 19.69 in D 16.54 in
4 Dining Room Chairs Model 31 Made In Teak, Designed By Kai Kristiansen
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Lejre, DK
This set of four dining room chairs, model 31, designed by the renowned Kai Kristiansen around the 1960s, showcases the epitome of mid-century Danish design. Crafted by Schou Anderse...
Fabric, Teak
H 29.5 in W 21.25 in D 20 in
Set of 4 Model 42 Dining Chairs in Teak by Kai Kristiansen, Denmark, c. 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Deland, FL
This elegant set of four Model 42 dining chairs, designed by Kai Kristiansen, showcases the timeless sophistication of Mid-Century Danish design. Crafted from solid teak with a warm,...
Teak
H 37.8 in W 22.45 in D 22.05 in
Set of 3 Teak Dining Chairs by Kai Kristiansen Schou Andersen, Denmark, 1970s
By Schou Andersen Møbelfabrik, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Andernach, DE
Fantastic Scandinavian mid-century design 1960s to 1970s by Kai Kristiansen, Denmark. Maker is the Möbelfabrik Schou Andersen. Two chairs made of beautiful honey coloured teak, the o...
Teak
H 27.56 in W 21.26 in D 19.3 in
Dining Chairs in Teak by Hans Olsen, 1960s, Set of 4
By Hans Olsen
Located in Nørre Aaby, DK
A striking set of four dining chairs attributed to renowned Danish designer Hans Olsen, dating from the 1960s. These chairs feature a beautifully sculptural form, combining elegant d...
Teak
H 31.5 in W 18 in D 16 in
Kai Kristiansen Set of Four Dining Chairs in Teak for K.S. Mobler Denmark, 1960s
By Niels Otto Møller, Kai Kristiansen, K.S. Mobler
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Fantastic set of four dining chairs in teak with wool seats designed in the 1960s by Kai Kristiansen for K.S. Mobler of Denmark. The style of these Kai Kristiansen chairs is often mi...
Teak
H 31.5 in W 20.08 in D 20.08 in
Teak Dining Chairs by Erik Buch for Christiansen Møbelfabrik, 1960s, Set of 4
By Erik Buch
Located in Nørre Aaby, DK
Set of four dining chairs designed by renowned Danish designer Erik Buch in the 1960s and produced at Christian Christensen’s Møbelfabrik. Known as Model 310, these chairs are crafte...
Teak
H 30 in W 19 in D 16 in
1 , 2 or 3 Danish Modern Teak Dining Chairs by Arne Hovmand-Olsen - Mogens Kold
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Beautiful set of three vintage Danish modern teak dining chairs, designed by Arne Hovmand-Olsen and produced by Mogens Kold, Denmark, circa 1960s. Each chair features a sculpted teak...
Teak
H 29.93 in W 19.69 in D 16.93 in
Dining Room Chairs Model 31 Made In Rosewood By Kai Kristiansen From 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Lejre, DK
A set of four dining room chairs, model 31, designed by the renowned Danish designer Kai Kristiansen around the 1960s. These exquisite chairs are crafted with rosewood frames by Scho...
Fabric, Teak
H 29.14 in W 19.3 in D 19.3 in
Set of 6 Kai Kristiansen Dining Chairs in Teak – Newly Upholstered
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in BERKEL EN RODENRIJS, NL
Rare set of six dining chairs attributed to Kai Kristiansen from the 1960s. These elegant Danish modern chairs are crafted in solid teak and feature Kristiansen’s characteristic scul...
Textile, Teak
Set of 4 Teak Chairs by Villy Schou Andersen - Mid-Century Scandinavian Design
Located in Torino, IT
This set of four chairs, designed by Villy Schou Andersen, effortlessly embodies the principles of 1960s Danish design, where comfort, balance, and craftsmanship come together in a m...
Teak
Set of 4 Vintage Teak Chairs - Funder-Schmidt & Madsen (1960s)
By Funder-Schmidt and Madsen
Located in Torino, IT
This elegant set of four vintage dining chairs is an iconic piece of Mid-Century design and is attributed to the masters Funder-Schmidt & Madsen (Netherlands, 1960). The chairs combi...
Leather, Teak
Set of 6 Sax Møbelfabrik chairs in Danish teak, 1960s
Located in Torino, IT
This set of six chairs produced by Sax Møbelfabrik in the 1960s interprets very well that part of Danish Mid-Century design built around visual lightness, comfort and precision of pr...
Teak
Set of 6 Vintage Teak Chairs - Attributed to Erik Buch (1960s)
By Erik Buch
Located in Torino, IT
This elegant set of six vintage dining chairs is a distinctive piece of Danish Mid-Century Design, attributed to renowned designer Erik Buch. Made in Denmark in the 1960s, these chai...
Fabric, Teak
Set of 6 Erik Buch teak chairs with armrests, 1960s
By Erik Buch
Located in Torino, IT
Set of six Danish chairs with arms attributed to Erik Buch, made of teak in the 1960s and characterized by an extremely fluid and organic language typical of Scandinavian Modern prod...
Teak
Set of fuor vintage teak chairs, Denmark 1960s
Located in Torino, IT
Set of fuor vintage teak chairs, Denmark 1960s
Teak
