Kai Kristiansen Vintage Mid-Century Bean Walnut Desk Danemark
View Similar Items
Kai Kristiansen Vintage Mid-Century Bean Walnut Desk Danemark
About the Item
- Creator:Kai Kristiansen (Designer),Feldballes Møbelfabrik (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 28.74 in (73 cm)Width: 27.55 in (69.98 cm)Depth: 53.93 in (136.99 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1950
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Lège Cap Ferret, FR
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU6253227650832
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.
- Olavi Hanninen Vintage Black Brutalist Table Desk in ElmBy Alexandre NollLocated in Lège Cap Ferret, FROlavi Tapio Hänninen (14 December 1920, in Lapinlahti – 16 June 1992 in Espoo) was a Finnish designer and interior architect. Olavi Hänninen's design projects ranged from furniture to trams and church silverware, including total interior designs for many public facilities. His modernist designs also included tables and chairs, and he was well recognized for his work on the Palace Hotel interiors together with Antti Nurmesniemi and Olli Borg. Hänninen designed a renowned plastic chair with metal structure for the hotel's cafe. In the 1970s his designs included the new Valmet Nr I trams for Helsinki City Transport. Before starting his own design office in 1961, Hänninen worked at architect Viljo...Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
MaterialsElm
- Vintage Italian Black Armchair Mid centuryLocated in Lège Cap Ferret, FRLovely Italian armchair from the 60s. Completely renovated and covered with a black fabric from kvadrat. Very comfortable with its elegant curves and easy to move. Good condit...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsFabric
- Jacques Adnet Style Vintage French Mid Century Leather and Metal Stools set 3Located in Lège Cap Ferret, FR3 Round stools in new full grain leather and metal foot. Very good state.Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Stools
MaterialsMetal
- Brass Mirror Mid Century FranceLocated in Lège Cap Ferret, FROld polished brass fireplace frame from the Bordeaux region (south west of France), mounted as a mirror from the 1960s. Made in France. The mirror can be positioned vertically or...Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsBrass, Chrome
- Jean Louis Domecq Jielde Vintage French Industrial 3 Arms Reading Desk LampBy Jean Louis DomecqLocated in Lège Cap Ferret, FR3 arms Jielde lamp brushed- reading lamp - French industrial lamp Designed by Jean-Louis Domecq in the early 1950s Original Jielde lamp, professionally restored in our workshop...Category
Mid-20th Century French Industrial Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal, Aluminum
- Pair of Scandinavian Brass Lamps Mid centuryLocated in Lège Cap Ferret, FRMagnificent pair of Scandinavian brass lamps from the 1960s. These mid-century bulbous shaped lamps have a polished brass body and candelabra d...Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
$1,280 / set
- 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
On Hold$7,359 - 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
- Kai Kristiansen Fm 60 Executive Desk In TeakBy Feldballes Møbelfabrik, Kai KristiansenLocated in Berkeley, CAThis Danish modern executive desk Model FM 60 in teak was designed by Kai Kristiansen for Feldballes Møbelfabrik in 1957. The large work surface is supported by four sculpted legs wh...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century 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
- Teak Desk Model70 by Kai Kristiansen for Feldballe MobelfabrikBy Kai Kristiansen, Feldballes MøbelfabrikLocated in Little Burstead, EssexAn excellent example of this desk from Kai Kristiansen, produced by Feldballes Møbelfabrik in the 1960'sCategory
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsTeak
- Vintage Danish Mid Century Teak Bullet Desk in the Manner of Kai KristiansenBy Kai KristiansenLocated in San Marcos, CAHere is a beautiful scandinavian modern desk in teak manufactured in Denmark in the 1960's which design is reminiscent of Kai Kristiansen. This special desk, recently imported from E...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsTeak
