Mid-century makers

Kai Kristiansen furniture

Danish designer Kai Kristiansen trained as a cabinetmaker under Kaare Klint and worked with about 60 furniture makers, from Fritz Hansen to IKEA. His chairs and wall units are collected worldwide.

Get an offer on yours

How to tell if it's Kai Kristiansen

  • Look for the maker's mark. Listings cite an original FM mark on the back of Feldballes Møbelfabrik wall units and cabinets.
  • Know the factories. His designs were made by Feldballes (FM), Schou Andersen, Fritz Hansen, Vildbjerg, Magnus Olesen, Fornem Møbelkunst, Aksel Kjersgaard and others.
  • Expect teak, rosewood or oak.
  • New reissues of some designs, including the No. 42 chair, have been made in Japan since 2014. They are new production, not vintage.

About Kai Kristiansen

Kai Kristiansen, born in 1929, trained as a cabinetmaker and studied under Kaare Klint at the Royal Danish Academy. He opened his own studio at 26 and designed for about 60 firms.

His FM Reolsystem of 1957, a modular wall system for Feldballes, and his No. 42 chair of 1956 for Schou Andersen are his best-known designs. Many of his designs went out of production, which is part of their collector appeal.

Pieces to know

  • No. 42 dining chair (1956, Schou Andersen)
  • FM Reolsystem modular wall system (1957, Feldballes)
  • No. 121 lounge chair (Magnus Olesen)
  • No. 394 sideboard (Aksel Kjersgaard; listings describe five-sided legs)

What makes one worth more

  • A confirmed maker's mark, such as FM on a wall unit
  • Rosewood over teak
  • Complete wall-system sections with original hardware
  • Vintage production rather than a modern reissue

We price every piece from what comparable pieces have actually sold for, its condition and the work it needs. Damage is fine: we restore everything in our Edmonton shop.

Buying Kai Kristiansen

Nothing by Kai Kristiansen in the shop right now. New pieces go up every Thursday at 7 pm: see the shop or join the drop list there.

Questions

Is my piece Kai Kristiansen?

Look for a maker's mark (FM on Feldballes wall units, for example) and compare the design with his known models. Send us photos of the mark and the whole piece.

What is a Kai Kristiansen piece worth?

It depends on the piece, its condition and recent sales of the same model. Send photos with the form on this page, including any label, and we will give you a real offer, usually within one business day.

Do you buy Kai Kristiansen furniture?

Yes. We buy Kai Kristiansen pieces anywhere in Alberta, damaged or not, and pick them up. We pay by e-transfer or cash before it leaves your home.

Other makers

R. Huber · RS Associates · Deilcraft · Jan Kuypers · Arne Vodder

Sources

Designindex: Kai Kristiansen · Decorative Arts Society: Kai Kristiansen, An Industrious Designer