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.
Kai Kristiansen Teak Bookcase for FM furniture, 1960’s
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in LYON, FR
Modular Danish bookcase by designer Kai Kristiansen in teak, FM furniture edition. Circa 1960. Set comprising 4 cabinets and 2 shelves that can be attached without tools to teak-pla...
Teak
Danish Modern Teak Bookcase, 1960s.
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Modern Teak Bookcase, 1960s. Danish Mid-Century Modern bookcase and cabinet in teak. Manufactured in Denmark in the 1960s. In the style of Carlo Jensen/Hundevad/Børge Mogensen...
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
Kai Kristiansen Danish Teak Chest of Drawers
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Oakland, CA
Danish tall dresser crafted in richly grained teak with gently curved, pattern-matched drawer fronts and recessed circular pulls. The top drawer fe...
Teak
Kai Kristiansen Teak Dresser, 1960’s
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Chest of drawers designed by Kai Kristiansen and produced by Feldballes Møbelfabrik, Denmark in the 1960s. This cabinet is made of teak and has beautiful detailed lines with his sign...
Teak
1960s Wall shelf, Kai Kristiansen, FM Møbler
By FM Møbler, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Neuss, NW
Classic shelving system from the 1960s. The high-quality containers and shelves are veneered in teak. The system consists of six shelves, a writing surface, one container with two do...
Aluminum
1960s Wall shelf, Kai Kristiansen, FM Møbler
By FM Møbler, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Neuss, NW
Classic shelving system from the 1960s in teak veneer with four shelves and two aluminium ladders veneered in teak. Quality Features: accomplished design: perfect proportions a...
Aluminum
$641
H 6.11 in W 20.08 in D 9.06 in
Danish Floating Teak Shelf by Kai Kristiansen for Aksel Kjersgaard, 1960s.
By Kai Kristiansen, Aksel Kjersgaard
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Floating Teak Shelf by Kai Kristiansen for Aksel Kjersgaard, 1960s. Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern wall mounted two tier shelf in teak. Designed by Kai Kristiansen and manuf...
Teak
$1,575
H 78.75 in W 33.86 in D 13.78 in L 59.06 in
Danish Vintage Reol Shelve Wall Unit by Kai Kristiansen for Fm Møbler, 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen, FM Møbler
Located in Breda, Netherlands
Meet a true icon of Danish modern: the reol (shelving) system by Kai Kristiansen. Clean lines, clever proportions, and that effortless Scandinavian cool—this modular system is everyt...
Rosewood
$320 / item
H 3.15 in W 33.67 in D 7.09 in
1960s Narrow Version Teak Shelves for Kai Kristiansen Wall Unit Feldballe Møbler
By Kai Kristiansen, Feldballes Møbelfabrik
Located in Knebel, DK
Narrow version of 1960s teak shelves for Kai Kristiansen ´wall unit by Feldballe Møbler Additional teak shelves for Kai Kristiansens FM wall...
Teak
Wall System by Kai Kristiansen for FM Møbler, 1960s, Set of 9
By FM Møbler, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Rødekro, DK
A commanding and complete three-bay teak wall shelving system by Kai Kristiansen, produced by Feldballes Møbelfabrik (FM Møbler), Denmark, in the 19...
Teak
$19,717
H 78.75 in W 203.94 in D 18.12 in
Large Rosewood Wall Unit by Kai Kristiansen for FM Møbler, Denmark 1960s 1
By FM Møbler, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Rosendahl, DE
An impressive and highly functional modular wall unit designed by Kai Kristiansen for FM Møbler, Denmark, in the 1960s. Executed in beautifully figured Brazilian rosewood, this extensive shelving system exemplifies the clean lines and exceptional craftsmanship of Danish Modern design. Its flexible construction allows the arrangement of shelves and cabinets to be adapted to a variety of interiors while offering generous display and storage space. The composition includes four lower storage cabinets, a glazed display cabinet with sliding glass doors, and two rare Hi-Fi cabinets with lift-up doors, originally designed to accommodate a turntable, amplifier, and other audio equipment. Numerous adjustable shelves complete the system, making it equally suitable as a library, media wall, or living room storage solution. Large, complete Kai Kristiansen wall units...
Glass, Rosewood
$1,845
H 29.53 in W 33.86 in D 17.72 in
Danish 1960s Chest Of Drawers In Rosewood By Kai Kristiansen For Fm Mobler
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Shepperton, Surrey
A beautiful chest of drawers by Kai Kristiansen for FM Mobler. Dimensions: Width: 86cm, Height: 75cm, Depth: 45cm Of 1960s vintage, it is veneered in florid Rio rosewood. The four...
Hardwood
Sold
H 59.06 in W 170.67 in D 16.54 in
Danish Modular 5-Bay Rosewood Wall Unit by Kai Kristiansen for FM, 1960s.
By Feldballes Møbelfabrik, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Modular 5-Bay Rosewood/Palisander Wall Unit by Kai Kristiansen for FM, 1960s. Large and impressive Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern shelving system, Model FM Reolsystem, that ...
Rosewood
Sold
H 78.75 in W 103.15 in D 18.12 in
Danish Vintage Wall Mounting Shelving System by Kai Kristiansen
By FM Møbler, Kai Kristiansen
Located in London, GB
A superb Danish vintage wall mounting shelving system by Kai Kristiansen. This was made in Denmark by FM Mobler, it dates from the 1960’s. This ingenious shelving system is very sty...
Wood
Sold
H 78.75 in W 103.15 in D 18.12 in
Danish Vintage Wall Mounting Shelving System by Kai Kristiansen
By FM Møbler, Kai Kristiansen
Located in London, GB
A superb Danish vintage wall mounting shelving system. This was made in Denmark by FM Mobler, it dates from the 1960’s. This ingenious shelving system is very stylish, versatile and...
Wood
Sold
H 76.78 in W 101.19 in D 17.72 in
Kai Kristiansen MidCentury Scandinavian Dark Wood Shelves System Fm Møbler 1960s
By FM Møbler, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Scandinavian mid-century moder design dark wood wall system designed by Kai Kristiansen and produced by FM Mobler, consisting of 9 shelves of different depths, 1 lectern shelf, 2 co...
Wood
Sold
H 89.77 in W 68.9 in D 16.15 in
Danish 2-Bay Rosewood Wall Unit with Desk in by Kai Kristiansen for FM, 1960s
By Feldballes Møbelfabrik, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish 2-Bay Rosewood Wall Unit with Desk in by Kai Kristiansen for FM, 1960s. Vintage Danish modular rosewood/palisander wall unit by Danish architect Kai Kristiansen for Feldballe...
Rosewood
Sold
H 95.28 in W 136.62 in D 17.72 in
Large Kai Kristiansen Rosewood Bookcase by FM furniture, 1960’s
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in LYON, FR
Kai Kristiansen Bookcase in Rio Rosewood, FM furniture edition Large modular Danish bookcase by designer Kai Kristiansen in rosewood, FM furniture edition. Circa 1960. Many elements...
Rosewood
Sold
H 77.76 in W 170.48 in D 13.19 in
Danish Modular 5-Bay Teak Wall Unit by Kai Kristiansen for FM, 1960s.
By Feldballes Møbelfabrik, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Modular 5 Bay Teak Wall Unit by Kai Kristiansen for Feldballes Møbelfabrik, Denmark, 1960s. Large and impressive Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern shelving system, Model FM Re...
Teak
Sold
H 86.62 in W 101.19 in D 12.6 in
Kai Kristiansen MidCentury Scandinavian Dark Wood Shelves System Fm Møbler 1960s
By FM Møbler, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Midcentury modern design scandinavian dark wood shelving system designed by Kai Kristiansen for FM Mobler consisting of 12 shelves with different depths, manufacturer’s adhesive labe...
Metal
Sold
H 69.3 in W 68.9 in D 16.34 in
Vintage Danish Modular Teak Wall Unit by Kai Kristiansen for FM, 1960s.
By Feldballes Møbelfabrik, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Asaa, DK
Vintage Danish modular teak wall unit by Kai Kristiansen for Feldballes Møbelfabrik, Denmark, 1960s Vintage modular 2 bay shelving system model FM Reolsystem. This set consist of: ...
Teak
Sold
H 78.75 in W 66.93 in D 11.62 in
Kai Kristiansen MidCentury Scandinavian Dark Wood Shelves System Fm Møbler 1960s
By FM Møbler, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Libreria Scandinava in legno scuro disegnata da Kai Kristiansen per FM Mobler composta da 10 mensole con due profondità posizionabili a piacere, produzione Danimarca 1960. Etichetta ...
Wood
Sold
H 98.43 in W 169.3 in D 15.75 in
Modular Dark wooden Wall System from Kai Kristiansen - FM Møbler
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Oirlo, LI
Modular Dark wooden Wall System from Kai Kristiansen - FM Møbler Dark wood wall system, designed by the renowned Kai Kristiansen for FM Møbler. This versatile piece of furniture is ...
Wood
Sold
H 59.06 in W 102.37 in D 13 in
Danish Modern Rosewood 3-Bay Wall Unit by Kai Kristiansen for FM, 1960s
By Feldballes Møbelfabrik, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Modern Rosewood 3-Bay Wall Unit by Kai Kristiansen for FM, 1960s. Kai Kristiansen for Feldballes Møbelfabrik, Denmark, 1960s. Floating modular 3 bay shelving...
Rosewood