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.
$4,500
H 29 in W 61 in D 28 in
Expertly Restored - Danish Modern Floating-Top Desk by Peter Lovig Nielsen
By Peter Løvig Nielsen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
________________________________________ Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing history back to life, and we take this journey with passion and precisi...
Wood, Teak
Danish Modern Floating-Top Teak Desk with Bookcase by Dyrlund
By Dyrlund
Located in Miami, FL
A stylish and modern teak executive desk with floating top designed and made in Denmark by Dyrlund. The Scandinavian writing table features three drawers on the left, an open filing ...
Teak
Danish Vintage Model 54 Desk by Kai Kristiansen
By Kai Kristiansen, Feldballes Møbelfabrik
Located in London, GB
An absolutely spectacular Danish vintage model 54 desk by Kai Kristiansen. Designed in 1954, this was made in Denmark by Feldballes Mobelfabrik in the 1950-60’s. It is of amazing qu...
Wood
$3,107
H 27.96 in W 59.06 in D 28.35 in
Desk Made In Teak By Svend Aager Madsen For Sigurd Hansen From 1960s
By Sigurd Hansen Møbelfabrik
Located in Lejre, DK
Modern 1960s teak wood desk with 3 drawers on each side designed by Svend Aage Madsen and manufactured by Sigurd Hansen from around the 1960s. High quality desk with shelf at the bac...
Teak
Large Vintage Danish Desk by Kai Kristiansen
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in London, GB
A magnificent and very large vintage Danish desk by Kai Kristiansen, dating from the 1960’s. It is of outstanding quality, this is the very rare extra large version, it has a gorgeo...
Wood
$3,950
H 29.53 in W 61.03 in D 29.53 in
Teak Desk, Eigil Petersens Mobelfabrik, Denmark, 1960s. After renovation.
By Georg Petersens Møbelfabrik
Located in Chorzów, PL
Teak Desk, Eigil Petersens Mobelfabrik, Denmark, 1960s. After renovation. This freestanding desk is fully veneered in teak, with solid wood legs. The front features six spacious dra...
Teak
$2,560Sale Price|20% Off
H 28 in W 59 in D 29 in
Mid Century Danish Modern Teak Desk by G.V. Møbler, 1960s
By G.V. Møbler
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid century Danish modern G.V. Møbler teak desk boasts a striking floating top with three dovetail drawers on the left and a deep file drawer on the r...
Birch, Teak
$5,896
H 31.11 in W 40.16 in D 27.56 in
Danish desk by Svend Aage Madsen and produced by Sigurd Hansen in the 1950s
By Svend Åge Madsen
Located in Vigevano, PV
"Model 200" teak desk with asymmetrical top and two drawers, without keys. Designer: Svend Aage Madsen for Sigurd Hansens Møbelfabrik, Denmark, 1950. This desk will be delivered fu...
Wood, Teak
Desk Made In Teak Designed By Omann Junior From 1960s
By Omann Jun Møbelfabrik
Located in Lejre, DK
The desk in teak, designed by Omann Junior in the 1960s, is a prominent example of Danish furniture design from that time. With its characteristic teak wood design, the desk radiate...
Teak
Scandinavian Danish desk in teak
By Arne Vodder
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Danish desk from the 60s in the taste of Arne Vodder's work. Structure in solid wood and veneer. This Scandinavian desk features two columns of drawers suspended from the front and b...
Wood
Scandinavian Modern Teak Executive Desk by Goran Strand for Lelangs Mobelfabrik
By Lelangs Mobelfabrik, Göran Strand
Located in North Hollywood, CA
An exceptional example of Swedish modern design, this Model 15 executive desk was designed by Goran Strand for Lelangs Mobelfabrik in Sweden during the 1960s. Celebrated for its bala...
Teak
Danish Modern Floating Top Teak Executive Desk by G.V. Mobler
By G.V. Møbler
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Danish modern teak executive desk manufactured by G.V. Mobler in Denmark during the 1960s. Showcasing the refined craftsmanship and thoughtful proportions that define Scandinavian de...
Teak
Danish Modern Teak Executive Desk by Ib Kofod Larsen
By Ib Kofod-Larsen, Faarup Møbelfabrik
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Amazing Danish teak executive desk designed by Ib Kofod Larsen for Faarup Møbelfabrik in Denmark, circa 1960s. This desk has a versatile and functional design where the fine attentio...
Teak
Danish Modern Floating Top Rosewood Desk Modern 75 by Gunni Omann
By Omann Jun Møbelfabrik, Gunni Omann
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Designed by renowned Danish furniture designer Gunni Omann for Omann Jun Mobelfabrik in Denmark during the 1960s, this exceptional Model #75 desk showcases the refined craftsmanship ...
Rosewood
Danish Modern Teak Executive Desk with Bookcase, 1960s
Located in North Hollywood, CA
This Danish modern teak executive desk embodies the thoughtful craftsmanship and functionality that made Scandinavian furniture of the 1960s so enduring. Beautifully constructed in D...
Brass
Danish Modern Teak Desk with Bookcase by Erik Brouer for Brouer Mobelfabrik
By Erik Brouer, Brouer Mobel
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Mid-century modern teak desk designed by Erik Brouer for Brouer Mobelfabrik, Denmark, circa 1960s. Showcasing the refined craftsmanship that defined Danish furniture during the perio...
Brass
