Teak Kai Kristiansen Credenza with Graduated Drawers and His Iconic Smile Pulls
View Similar Items
Teak Kai Kristiansen Credenza with Graduated Drawers and His Iconic Smile Pulls
About the Item
- Creator:Kai Kristiansen (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 29.75 in (75.57 cm)Width: 71.25 in (180.98 cm)Length: 29.75 in (75.57 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:
- Seller Location:New Westminster, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1410211856433
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.
- Kai Kristiansen Teak Chest of Drawers DresserBy Kai Kristiansen, Feldballes MøbelfabrikLocated in Oakland, CAMidcentury Danish teak low dresser designed by Kai Kristiansen, 1955, Denmark. The dresser is crafted of teak with six book-matched drawers and...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dressers
MaterialsTeak
- Kai Kristiansen for Faarup Møbelfabrik Mid Century Danish Teak Tambour CredenzaBy Kai Kristiansen, Faarup MøbelfabrikLocated in Countryside, ILKai Kristiansen for Faarup Møbelfabrik Mid Century Danish Teak Tambour Credenza and Hutch The credenza measures: 79.75 wide x 19 deep x 31.25 inches high The hutch measures: 59 wide...Category
Vintage 1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsTeak
- Kai Kristiansen CabinetBy Kai KristiansenLocated in Chicago, ILMade in: Denmark, 1958 Material: rosewood, aluminum Size: 82.75 W × 20 D × 32.5 H in.Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Cabinets
MaterialsAluminum
$10,750 - French 19th Century Walnut Buffet with Marble Top, Pull-Out, Drawers and DoorsLocated in Atlanta, GAA French walnut buffet from the 19th century, with marble top, pull-out, two drawers and two doors. Created in France during the 19th century, this walnut buffet features a black mar...Category
Antique 19th Century French Buffets
MaterialsMarble
- Italian 1800s Walnut Credenza with Drawers, Doors, Inlay and Foliage Carved FeetLocated in Atlanta, GAAn Italian walnut credenza from the early 19th century, with drawers over doors, inlay and carved feet. Created in Italy in the early years of the 19th century, this walnut credenza ...Category
Antique Early 19th Century Italian Credenzas
MaterialsWalnut
- Midcentury Scandinavian G Plan Teak Buffet or CredenzaBy G Plan FurnitureLocated in Troy, MIcirca 1960s medium sized buffet in teak by British maker G Plan. Three narrow top drawers with integrated pulls in darker, contrasting wood over three open storage cabinets with hing...Category
Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Buffets
MaterialsTeak