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.
Dining Chairs by Kai Kristiansen Model 42
By Kai Kristiansen, Schou Andersen Møbelfabrik
Located in Vienna, AT
Dining chairs, model 42, designed by Kai Kristiansen and manufactured in Denmark by Schou Andersen Møbelfabrik. The chairs are made from solid teak, featuring tapered legs, curved ar...
Hardwood, Teak
Dining Chair by Niels Otto Møller Model 71
By Niels Otto Møller, J.L. Møllers Møbelfabrik
Located in Vienna, AT
Dining chair made of solid teak, designed 1951 by Niels Otto Møller and produced by J. L. Møller Møbelfabrik, model number 71. Original condition. Delivery time 3-4 weeks. Up to 12 a...
Teak
Dining Chair by Niels Otto Møller Model 71
By Niels Otto Møller, J.L. Møllers Møbelfabrik
Located in Vienna, AT
Dining chair made of hardwood, designed 1951 by Niels Otto Møller and produced by J. L. Møller Møbelfabrik, model number 71. Excellent original condition. New upholstery in price inc...
Hardwood
Dining Chair by Niels Otto Møller Model 71
By Niels Otto Møller, J.L. Møllers Møbelfabrik
Located in Vienna, AT
Dining chair made of hardwood, designed 1951 by Niels Otto Møller and produced by J. L. Møller Møbelfabrik, model number 71. Excellent restored with new upholstered. (Another fabric ...
Hardwood
Teak Dining Chairs by Kai Kristiansen Model 42
By Schou Andersen Møbelfabrik, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Vienna, AT
Dining chairs, model 42, designed by Kai Kristiansen and manufactured in Denmark by Schou Andersen Møbelfabrik. The chairs are made from solid teak, featuring tapered legs, curved ar...
Hardwood, Teak
$1,417
H 30.32 in W 20.48 in D 18.51 in
Danish dining chairs by Kai Kristiansen for Schou Andersen Model 170, 1960s
By Schou Andersen Møbelfabrik, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Gaggenau, DE
Mid Century Danish dining chairs by Kai Kristiansen for Schou Andersen Model 170 , 1960s, The chair frames are made from solid teak, Seated teak structure covered with Green fabric...
Teak
Dining Chair by Niels Otto Møller Model 78
By Niels Otto Møller, J.L. Møllers Møbelfabrik
Located in Vienna, AT
Dining chairs made of solid hardwood, designed in the 1950s by Niels Otto Møller and produced by J. L. Møller Møbelfabrik, model number 78. Original condition. Delivery time about 1-...
Upholstery, Hardwood, Leather
$4,500 / set
H 30.5 in W 20 in D 17 in
Niels O. Møller Dining Chairs Model 71 by J.L. Møllers Møbelfabrik
By Niels Otto Møller
Located in Highland, IN
A handsome set of four model 71 dining chairs designed by Niels O. Møller and made by J.L. Møllers Møbelfabrik. The sculptural teak frames and woven paper cord seats have a beautiful...
Papercord, Teak
Dining Chair by Niels Otto Møller Model 71
By Niels Otto Møller, J.L. Møllers Møbelfabrik
Located in Vienna, AT
Dining chair made of hardwood, designed 1951 by Niels Otto Møller and produced by J. L. Møller Møbelfabrik, model number 71. Excellent restored with glossy finish new upholstered. (A...
Hardwood, Bouclé
Henning Kjærnulf Model 255 Dining Chair for Bruno Hansen
By Bruno Hansen, Henning Kjærnulf
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Dining chair from Henning Kjaernulf, produced by Bruno Hansen. Constructed in teak and oak, with a woven paper cord seat and a curved backrest with angled supports, reminiscent of Ha...
Teak, Papercord, Oak
Set of 6Dining Chairs 'Model 78'by Niels O. Møller for J.L. Møllers, 1960s
By J.L. Møllers Møbelfabrik, Niels Otto Møller
Located in Ranst, VAN
Set of six 'Model 78' dining chairs designed by Niels Otto Møller for J.L. Møllers Møbelfabrik, Denmark 1960s. The chairs have a teak frame and a fabric in blue. The chairs are marke...
Teak
Set of 4 Juliane Dining Chairs by Johannes Andersen for Uldum Mobelfabrik, 1960s
By Johannes Andersen, Uldum Møbelfabrik
Located in Ranst, VAN
Designed by Johannes Andersen for Uldum Møbelfabrik, Denmark. Classic Scandinavian lines meet warm teak wood. Each chair has been reupholstered in a grey fabric, giving them a fresh ...
Fabric, Teak
Vintage Dining Chairs by Niels Koefoed for Koefoeds Hornslet, 1960s, Set of 12
By Niels Koefoed, Koefoeds Hornslet
Located in Ranst, VAN
Set of 12 vintage dining chairs, model “Eva”, designed by Niels Koefoed for Koefoeds Hornslet, Denmark. These iconic mid-century modern chairs feature a solid teak frame and retain t...
Fabric, Teak
Easy chair by Ole Wanscher for CADO Møbelfabrik, Denmark
By Ole Wanscher, France & Søn
Located in Ranst, VAN
Danish vintage easy chair designed by Ole Wanscher and manufactured by CADO Møbelfabrik, Denmark. The frame of the armchair is in solid teak and the cushions are in beige wool. Very ...
Fabric, Wool, Teak
Danish lounge chair by Schou Andersen
By Schou Andersen Møbelfabrik
Located in Ranst, VAN
This very comfortable vintage armchair is crafted from teak and is attributed to Schou Andersen. The wood is in excellent condition, and the cushions have been reupholstered in a bro...
Bouclé, Teak
FD144 Easy Chairs by Peter Hvidt & Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen for France & Søn
By France & Daverkosen, Hvidt & Mølgaard, Peter Hvidt
Located in Ranst, VAN
Beautiful set of two FD144 armchairs in designed by Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard Nielsen for France & Daverkosen in 1953. The frame of the armchairs is in oak and teak with the orig...
Fabric, Oak, Teak
