Kai Kristiansen Rosewood Desk, 1960s, Denmark
View Similar Items
Kai Kristiansen Rosewood Desk, 1960s, Denmark
About the Item
- Creator:Kai Kristiansen (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 28.75 in (73 cm)Width: 61.03 in (155 cm)Depth: 29.53 in (75 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:Palisander
- Place of Origin:Denmark
- Period:1960-1969
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Some minor signs of use and wear relative to age.
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2259315997131
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.
- Rare Jørgen Høj Coffee Table, Denmark, 1960sBy Jorgen Hoj, A. Mikael LaursenLocated in London, GBRare Jørgen Høj coffee table for A. Mikael Laursen, Aarhus, Denmark, 1960s. Ships worldwide - please contact us for options.Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsSteel
- Poul Kjaerholm PK-54 Dining / Entry Table by E. Kold Christensen, Denmark, 1960sBy Poul Kjærholm, E. Kold ChristensenLocated in London, GBRound Poul Kjaerholm PK-54 dining table by E. Kold Christensen, Denmark, 1960s. Flint rolled Cippolino marble top and a matte chrome-plated steel base. ...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
MaterialsMarble, Steel
- Rare Pair of Rosewood Arne Vodder Cabinets / Sideboards, Sibast, Denmark, 1960sBy Sibast, Arne VodderLocated in London, GBA superb and very rare pair of cabinets or sideboards in rosewood designed by Arne Vodder and produced by Sibast in Denmark in the 1960s. Very good original condition with minor sign...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
MaterialsWood
- Jens Lyngsøe Pine Coffee Table, Havdrup Trævarefabrik for Anton Dam, DenmarkBy Roland Wilhelmsson, Axel Einar HjorthLocated in London, GBJens Lyngsøe coffee table, Denmark. Made of solid reclaimed pine from demolition timber from 18th century buildings in Copenhagen. Manufactur...Category
Late 20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsPine
- Rare Angelo Mangiarotti Dining Table, La Sorgente Dei Mobili, Italy, 1970sBy Angelo MangiarottiLocated in London, GBRare original Angelo Mangiarotti dining table, for La Sorgente Dei Mobili, Italy, 1970s. Cast bronze and wood. In good original condition with minor signs of use to corners. Fast shi...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
MaterialsBronze
- Rare and Important Jørgen Berg Cabinet, William Christensen, Denmark, 1960sBy Jørgen BergLocated in London, GBA rare and important Jørgen Berg cabinet-on-stand, model no. 24190, executed by master cabinetmaker William Christensen, Denmark, in the 1960s for luxury Danish department store Illu...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
MaterialsBrass
- Kai Kristiansen Sled Leg Rosewood Desk c1960sBy Kai KristiansenLocated in London, GBKai Kristiansen Model 30 Desk This iconic desk from Danish master Kai Kristiansen features elegant sled legs with 2 drawer units hung on either side. The units have drawers to the f...Category
Vintage 1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsRosewood
- Danish Vintage Walnut Desk by Kai KristiansenBy Kai KristiansenLocated in London, GBAn absolutely spectacular Danish vintage walnut desk by Kai Kristiansen. This is the model 54 desk, it was made in Denmark in the 1950’s. It is of amazi...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsWalnut
- Danish Design Kai Kristiansen Seating Group Model Universe, 1960sBy Magnus Olesen, Kai KristiansenLocated in Renens, CHA rare seating arrangement designed by designer Kai Kristiansen for Magnus Olesen in Denmark. This set has been made from Brazilian Rio Palisander and represents excellent craftsman...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsWool, Wood
$10,483 Sale Price / set20% Off - Scandinavian Modern Teak Desk by Kai Kristiansen by Fm Møbler, 1960sBy Kai Kristiansen, FM MøblerLocated in Asaa, DKScandinavian Modern Teak desk by Kai Kristiansen by FM Møbler 1960s Freestanding Danish Mid-Century Modern writing desk Model FM60 in teak designed by Danish architect Kai Kristians...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsTeak
- Danish Modern Floating Top Teak Desk by Kai KristiansenBy Feldballes Møbelfabrik, Kai KristiansenLocated in North Hollywood, CAStunning Danish modern teak desk designed by the famous cabinet maker Kai Kristiansen for Feldballes Møbelfrabrik in Denmark, circa 1960s. The FM60 desk is a highly sought-after Scan...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsTeak
- Vintage Mid Century Danish Teak Desk by Kai KristiansenBy Kai KristiansenLocated in San Marcos, CAHere is an extremely rare desk by Kai Kristiansen for FM Mobler Denmark. This is a smaller version of his famous FM60 desk. Desk features 1 large drawer on the left side with a pullo...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsTeak
