Fm System
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves
Wood
Vintage 1970s Islamic Musical Instruments
Wood
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Wood
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Rosewood, Wood
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
Rosewood
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Bookends
Rosewood
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Bookends
Rosewood
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Bookends
Rosewood
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Bookcases
Teak
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Hardwood
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Rosewood
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Rosewood
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Rosewood
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Teak
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves
Teak
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
Glass, Teak
Late 20th Century German Industrial Musical Instruments
Metal, Aluminum
Vintage 1960s Canadian Space Age Musical Instruments
Metal, Chrome
1990s Danish Other Musical Instruments
Aluminum, Other
20th Century Danish Other Nesting Tables and Stacking Tables
Palisander
Vintage 1910s American Posters
Paper
People Also Browsed
Vintage 1970s Italian Cabinets
Metal, Brass, Enamel
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
Metal
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Shelves
Metal
Antique 1850s English Victorian Shelves
Other
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Aluminum
Vintage 1950s Danish More Candle Holders
Rosewood
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Bookcases
Teak
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Oak, Plywood
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
Cane, Teak
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Teak
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Bookcases
Teak
Early 20th Century Japanese Showa Shelves
Cedar
Vintage 1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Sideboards
Teak
Vintage 1960s European Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Rosewood
Vintage 1960s French Other Bookcases
Wood
Early 20th Century Japanese Cabinets
Rattan, Glass, Wood
Recent Sales
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
Glass, Wood
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Glass, Teak
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Wood, Fabric
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
Rosewood
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
Rosewood
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
Rosewood
Mid-20th Century European Wardrobes and Armoires
Wood
Vintage 1960s European Shelves
Teak
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves
Rosewood
Antique 1660s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves
Metal
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves
Metal
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves
Metal
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves
Metal
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves
Metal
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves
Metal
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves
Metal
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves
Metal
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves
Metal
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves
Wood
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves
Metal
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves
Metal
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves
Wood
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves
Wood
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves
Wood
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Bookcases
Teak
Vintage 1960s Danish Shelves
Aluminum
Vintage 1960s Danish Bookcases
Aluminum
Vintage 1960s Danish Cabinets
Teak
Vintage 1960s Danish Shelves
Aluminum
Vintage 1950s Danish Cabinets
Wood
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Teak
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Metal
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
Teak
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
Hardwood
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
Hardwood
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
Hardwood
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
Rosewood
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
Teak
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves
Wood
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves
Wood
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Rosewood
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
Mirror, Wood
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Rosewood
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Rosewood
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Rosewood
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
Teak
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
Teak
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Rosewood
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
Teak
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
Teak
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Rosewood
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Rosewood
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
Teak
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
Wood
20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
Metal
Late 20th Century German Industrial Musical Instruments
Metal, Aluminum
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves
Metal
Vintage 1960s Scandinavian Bookcases
Rosewood
Fm System For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Fm System?
Kai Kristiansen for sale on 1stDibs
With a passion for math and engineering, Kai Kristiansen has created high-quality wood furniture for decades. Beginning in the 1950s, his 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.