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.
1960s Narrow Version Rosewood Shelves Kai Kristiansen Wall Unit FM Møbler
By Kai Kristiansen, Feldballes Møbelfabrik
Located in Knebel, DK
Narrow version of 1960s rosewood shelves for Kai Kristiansen ´wall unit by Feldballe Møbler Additional rosewood shelves for Kai Kristiansens FM wall unit shelf system. The shelves ...
Rosewood
Danish cabinet by Kai Kristiansen for FM Møbler, 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Oirlo, LI
Danish dresser cabinet by Kai Kristiansen for FM Møbler, 1960s Special chest of drawers designed by the Dane Kai Kristiansen for the Feldballe Møbelfabrik. Vintage cabinet made of...
Wood
1960s Kai Kristiansen Rosewood Cabinet Wall Unit by Feldballe Mobelfabrik
By Kai Kristiansen, Feldballes Møbelfabrik
Located in Knebel, DK
1960s Kai Kristiansen cabinet wall unit in teak by Feldballe Mobelfabrik Teak cabinet for Kai Kristiansens classic iconic shelving system with intact original mounting hooks for the...
Teak
Restored Kai Kristiansen Rosewood Cabinet Wall Unit by FM in Excellent Condition
By Kai Kristiansen, Feldballes Møbelfabrik
Located in Knebel, DK
1960s Kai Kristiansen cabinet wall unit in teak by Feldballe Mobelfabrik Teak cabinet for Kai Kristiansens classic iconic shelving system with intact original mounting hooks for the...
Teak
Kai Kristiansen sideboard in rosewood PSA Furniture Denmark 1960
By Kai Kristiansen, PSA Furniture
Located in Etten-Leur, NL
Fantastic sideboard designed by Kai Kristiansen for PSA Furniture, Denmark, 1960. Crafted in beautifully figured rosewood, this elegant sideboard features four doors with striking bo...
Metal
Kai Kristiansen Four Drawer Chest by FM Mobler, Denmark
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful 1960s four drawer chest in rosewood by Kai Kristiansen for Fm Møbler, Denmark. This chest is in good vintage condition with only some very minor wear to the top in the fo...
Rosewood
Scandinavian 1960s chest of drawers by Kai Kristiansen for FM Møbler
By Kai Kristiansen, FM Møbler
Located in Brescia, IT
1960s rosewood chest of drawers with four drawers and sculptural handles, designed by Kai Kristiansen. Scandinavian chest of drawers from the 1960s designed by Kai Kristiansen for F...
Rosewood
Kai Kristiansen chest of drawers in rosewood Feldballes Denmark 1960
By Feldballes Møbelfabrik, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Etten-Leur, NL
Well-crafted chest of drawers by Kai Kristiansen produced by Feldballes Møbelfabrik in Denmark in the 1960s. It is a refined example of Danish modern design defined by clean lines an...
Rosewood
10 Kai Kristiansen Teak Bookend Set. Denmark 1960 by Feldballe Møbelfabrik
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Genève, GE
10 pices Kai Kristiansen Teak Bookend Set — Denmark, 1960s An elegant set of Mid-Century Modern bookends designed by Kai Kristiansen and crafted in the 1960s by Feldballe Møbelfabr...
Teak
Kai Kristiansen Wall Unit for FM Møbler, 1960s
By FM Møbler, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Puslinch, ON
Condition: Great Vintage Condition Dimensions: 68.75” L x 11” D x 79.5” H Description: A vintage oak wall unit by Kai Kristiansen for FM Møbler. Freshly imported from Denmark. Comp...
Metal
Small Danish teak sideboard model 42 by Kai Kristiansen, Feldballes Mobelfabrik.
By Kai Kristiansen, Feldballes Møbelfabrik
Located in JOINVILLE-LE-PONT, FR
Superb small Scandinavian sideboard or bar cabinet. Two large sliding doors, known as "roller doors," made of thin wooden slats that allow the doors to retract into the cabinet. They...
Teak
Kai Kristiansen for Torring / HJN Mobler Model 63 Danish Modern Teak Secretary
By Kai Kristiansen, Torring Mobelfabrik
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Beautiful sculptural Danish modern secretary. Design by Kai Kristiansen for Torring / HJN Mobler. Model 63 in teakwood. A beautiful minimalistic sculptural secretary in excellent design and craftmanship. It was build without using keys. The desk surface drops down to expose three small drawers and paper dividers. Pullout desk...
Teak
Sideboard / Credenza In Rosewood By Kai Kristiansen From 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Lejre, DK
Sideboard in rosewood designed by Kai Kristiansen for Feldballes Møbelfabrik. Danish design from the 1960s with aluminum handles and feet. — Origin: Denmark — Designer: Kai Kristian...
Aluminum
Sideboard by Kai Kristiansen in teak with retractable doors, Denmark, 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Torino, IT
Designed by Kai Kristiansen and manufactured in Denmark in the 1960s, this sideboard perfectly embodies the designer’s quest for a balance between technical innovation, functionality...
Teak
Kai Kristiansen Rosewood Cabinet For Feldballes Möbelfabrik, Denmark
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Shepperton, Surrey
A particularly nice Model 41 cabinet designed by Kai Kristiansen for Feldballes Mobelfabrik, Denmark. Very beautiful rosewood veneers throughout. To the right a set of three green b...
Rosewood
Kai Kristiansen Rosewood Cabinet For Feldballes Möbelfabrik, Denmark
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Shepperton, Surrey
A particularly nice Model 41 cabinet designed by Kai Kristiansen for Feldballes Mobelfabrik, Denmark. Very beautiful rosewood veneers throughout. To the right a set of three green b...
Rosewood
Kai Kristiansen Model 394 Rosewood Chest, 1960s
By Aksel Kjersgaard, Kai Kristiansen
Located in London, England
Kai Kristiansen Model 394 Low Chest, c1960. A low, 4-drawer chest made from highly figured rosewood, produced by Aksel Kjersgaard in Odder, Denmark, c1960....
Rosewood
$2,331Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Mid-Century Danish Modern Rosewood Chest of Drawers by Kai Kristiansen
By Feldballes Møbelfabrik, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Warszawa, Mazowieckie
This elegant chest of drawers was designed during the 1960s by Kai Kristiansen for the Danish manufactory Feldballes Møbelfabrik. It is made of high-quality, noble rosewood with rich...
Wood, Rosewood
Small Rosewood Dresser by Kai Kristiansen for FM Møbler, 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen, FM Møbler
Located in Breda, Netherlands
Danish Design by Kai Kristiansen This stylish chest of drawers was designed by Kai Kristiansen and produced by Feldballes Møbelfabrik in the 1960s. This cabinet is made of rosewood...
Rosewood
Kai Kristiansen Bureaus Model Nr 50 by Feldballes Møbelfabrik in Denmark
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare pair of bureaus model nr 50 designed by Kai Kristiansen. Produced by Feldballes Møbelfabrik in Denmark.
Rosewood
Danish Rosewood chest of drawers by Kai Kristiansen/Feldballe Møbelfabrik 1960.
By Feldballes Møbelfabrik, Kai Kristiansen
Located in JOINVILLE-LE-PONT, FR
Superb little Scandinavian chest of drawers. Four large drawers and a light base. This piece of furniture features a sleek, elegant, and functional design. Excellent craftsmanship. L...
Rosewood