Kai Kristiansen Eight Fully Restored Teak Dining Chairs inc. Custom Reupholstry
About the Item
- Creator:Kai Kristiansen (Designer),Schou Andersen Møbelfabrik (Cabinetmaker)
- Design:
- Dimensions:Height: 29.14 in (74 cm)Width: 21.26 in (54 cm)Depth: 18.12 in (46 cm)Seat Height: 18.12 in (46 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 8
- Style:Scandinavian Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:Teak,Woodwork
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Refinished. Repaired: Frames have been fully restored, surface been sanded and refinished to ensure that the chairs are in very good condition with only few and minor signs of use during the last more than 50 years and seats will be reupholstered. Reupholstered. Wear consistent with age and use. choice of Kvadrat fabric / standard leathers from Sorensen Leather for the reupholstery without additional cost.
- Seller Location:Knebel, DK
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2713322827382
Chair #42
A radical, simple piece of furniture, Kai Kristiansen's (b. 1929) Chair #42 perfectly exemplifies Danish modern design’s meld of form, space and functionality.
Produced in 1956 for Danish manufacturer Schou Andersen, the functional and modest properties of Kristiansen’s minimalist dining chair are emphasized when viewed from the front. Admiring Chair #42 from the side tells a different story, however, as the focus shifts from its sharply inclined rear legs and joined armrests to a tilting, floating backrest.
The chair’s profile is dramatic and radical, and examining the frame from this perspective helps clarify why Chair #42 earned the nickname “Z Chair” over the years. Kristiansen’s elegant piece is both simple and technically difficult, its soft lines belying the expert craftsmanship therein while referencing earlier artisan furniture that influenced the Danish modern movement as well as Kristiansen himself.
Trained as a cabinetmaker, Kristiansen studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen under Kaare Klint, who is widely recognized as one of the founders of modern Danish design. The young Kristiansen established his practice soon after, focusing mostly on seating and storage for prominent Danish manufacturers such as Andersen, Fritz Hansen and Magnus Olesen. While he’s largely known for the quality of his designs, Kristiansen was equally comfortable designing chairs, desks, sideboards and wall units.
Kristiansen designed the Model 31 chair shortly after Chair #42 — a similar model, with inlaid arms — as well as the popular Paper Knife series of sofas and chairs. As a designer, he favored teak and rosewood, and garnered major renown for his dark-wood FM modular wall unit in 1957 for Feldballes Møbelfabrik. The customizable shelving system was popular throughout Europe and in the United States, and remains one of the best-known examples of modular shelving, predating Dieter Rams’s 606 Universal Shelving System for Vitsoe by several years. Many of Kristiansen’s designs fell out of production due to their manufacturing challenges, although some collections have recently been reissued by Japan’s Miyazaki Chair Factory.
The stripped-down, spare Chair #42 is one of the earliest modern ergonomic chairs, specifically designed to support the sitter. Suitable for a dining room or as a reading chair, it is Kristiansen’s best-known chair. The piece has effectively remained in production since the 1950s and is currently available from Miyazaki.
Kai Kristiansen
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Knebel, Denmark
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
- Four Restored Kai Kristiansen Teak Dining Chairs Custom Reupholstry IncludedBy Kai Kristiansen, Schou Andersen MøbelfabrikLocated in Knebel, DKSet of 4 model 42 teak dining chairs with swivel backrest by Kai Kristiansen for Schous Møbelfabrik. The chairs have Kai Kristiansens typical light and elegant yet daring design tha...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Teak
- Kai Kristiansen Six Restored Teak Dining Chairs Custom Reupholstry IncludedBy Kai Kristiansen, Schou Andersen MøbelfabrikLocated in Knebel, DKKai Kristiansen Six Restored Teak Dining Chairs Custom Reupholstry Included. The chairs have Kai Kristiansens typical light and elegant design that make them fit in easily where you...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Fabric, Teak
- Eight Restored Kai Kristiansen Teak Dining Chairs Custom Reupholstery IncludedBy Kai Kristiansen, Schou Andersen MøbelfabrikLocated in Knebel, DKKai Kristiansen set of eight fully restored teak dining chairs by Schou Andersens Møbel Fabrik including custom upholstery. The A-frame model 31 dining chairs were designed by Kai Kristiansen in 1956 for Schou-Andersens Møbelfabrik and the A-frame chair is one of the most well-known chairs designed by Kai Kristiansen - a true Classic with its modest appearence but advanced design with curved backrest, crooked angles, straight yet at the same time curved and bended lines... and on top of that as all of Kai Kristiansens chairs very comfortable in use. The chairs have been fully restored by our skilled cabinetmakers - all joints checked and reglued if needed which it often is, frames sanded by hand 2 - 3 times and waxed to bring out the natural warm glow in the teak wood in order to insure that they are in very good condition with only minimal signs of age and use. The chairs will be reupholstered with out additional cost in fabric of your choice from a wide list of "Kvadrat" or "Romo" fabrics or standard leathers from "Sorensen Leather" / "Camo Leather" before they are shipped. Kai Kristiansen who is still alive was born in 1929 and raised in Thy, North Denmark. Originally a carpenter, Kristiansen was educated as a building architect at the Royal Academi of Arts in Copenhagen and graduated from here in 1954. His father was the propritetor of at furniture production company, so his interest in furniture was founded early. Kristiansen was one of the last pupils of the famous architect Kaare Klint who died in 1959 and is considered the founder of modern Danish design. During the years 1958-1978 Kristiansen worked in his business in Aarhus owned jointly by himself and designer and cabinetmaker Illum Wikkelsø (1919-1999). Kristiansens works met their most intense demand during a few decades from 1950, then production of them was discontinued. However, several of the are now being produced again by the Japanese furniture producer Miyazaki Chair Mill in Tokushima. An Australien producer has also included Kristiansen production in their portfolio. Kai Kristiansen might have been the originator of mass produced furniture, had he accepted an offer from Ikea-founder Ingvar Kamprad. He declined to let himself enroll in the Ikea staff. Kristiansen exhibitions include numerous participations in furniture and design shows in Milano, Paris, Cologne and London. Among his most cherished works is the Paper Knife collection...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsTeak
- Kai Kristiansen Ten Fully Restored Teak Dining Chairs Custom Upholstery IncludedBy Schou Andersen Møbelfabrik, Kai KristiansenLocated in Knebel, DKSet of ten fully restored, 1960s teak dining chairs by Kai Kristiansen for Schous Møbelfabrik. The chairs have Kai Kristiansens typical light and elegant design that make them fit i...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Fabric, Teak
- Kai Kristiansen Twelve Fully Restored Dining Chairs in Teak - Custom UpholsteryBy Kai Kristiansen, Schou Andersen MøbelfabrikLocated in Knebel, DKSet of twelve fully restored, 1960s teak dining chairs by Kai Kristiansen for Schous Møbelfabrik. The chairs have Kai Kristiansens typical light and elegant design that make them fit in easily where you want them in your home - a design that was so uniqe that his colleague the famous designer Hans J. Wegner characterized model 42 as beautiful from all angles when the chair with it´s unique backrest swivel function was revealed in 1956. The chairs are in very good condition as they have been fully restored, sanded by hand and refinished by our experienced workshop to insure that they are in very good condition with only minimal signs of age and use and will be reupholstered without additional cost in fabric of your choice from "Kvadrat" / standard leathers from "Sorensen Leather" or for additional price luxury leathers (Elegance, Vegetal, Rustic, Pure and Royal Nubuck). Kai Kristiansen was one of the last pupils of the famous architect Kaare Klint who founded modern Danish design and laid the foundation for the "Danish Modern" style. During the years 1958-78 Kristiansen worked in his business in Aarhus owned jointly by himself and furniture maker Illum Wikkelsø (1919-99). Kristiansens works met their most intense demand during a few decades from 1950, then production of them was discontinued. However, several of them are now being produced again by the Japanese furniture producer Miyazaki Chair Mill in Tokushima. An Australien producer has also included Kristiansen production in their portfolio. Kai Kristiansen might have been the originator of mass produced furniture, had he accepted an offer from Ikea-founder Ingvar Kamprad. He declined to let himself enroll in the Ikea staff. Kristiansen exhibitions include numerous participations in furniture and design shows in Milano, Paris, Cologne and London. Among his most cherished works is the Paper Knife collection...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Teak, Leather
- Six Fully Restored Kai Kristiansen Teak Dining Chairs Custom Upholstery IncludedBy Kai Kristiansen, Schou Andersen MøbelfabrikLocated in Knebel, DKKai Kristiansen set of six fully restored teak dining chairs by Schou Andersens Møbel Fabrik including custom upholstery. The A-frame model 31 dining chairs were designed by Kai Kri...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsTeak
- Kai Kristiansen Set of Four Dining Chairs in Teak for K.S. Mobler Denmark, 1960sBy Niels Otto Møller, Kai Kristiansen, K.S. MoblerLocated in Bridgeport, CTFantastic set of four dining chairs in teak with wool seats designed in the 1960s by Kai Kristiansen for K.S. Mobler of Denmark. The style of these Kai Kristiansen chairs is often mi...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsTeak
- Kai Kristiansen Ivory Tweed Curved Back Teak Chair, Danish, 1960sBy Kai KristiansenLocated in New York, NYBeautiful midcentury chair, Kai Kristiansen’s iconic curved back chair Silhouette. Teak frame, seat and curved back reupholstered with ivory tweed. Structurally sound, in good vintag...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Upholstery, Teak
- Kai Kristiansen Set of 4 "Universe 301" Dining Chairs, 1960, DenmarkBy Magnus Olesen, Kai KristiansenLocated in The Hague, NLMid-Century Modern set of 4 model "universe 301" dining chairs Made in Denmark, 1965. Designed by Kai Kristiansen for Magnus Olesen (marked on bottom of each chair). Seats are newl...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsTeak, Fabric
- Dining Chairs by Kai Kristiansen Model 42By Kai Kristiansen, Schou Andersen MøbelfabrikLocated in Vienna, ATDining 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...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsHardwood, Teak
- Kai Kristiansen Style Reupholstered Curved Back Gray Teak Chair, Danish, 1960sBy Kai KristiansenLocated in New York, NYBeautiful midcentury chair in the style of Kai Kristiansen’s iconic Model 31 chair. Teak frame, new foam padding and reupholstered with grey tweed on the seat and grey velvet at the ...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Upholstery, Teak
- 6 Kai Kristiansen Danish Dining Chairs in Original FabricBy Kai Kristiansen, Schou Andersen MøbelfabrikLocated in Oakland, CAKai Kristiansen walnut dining chairs, model 31 for Schou Andersen, circa 1955, Denmark. These dining chairs offer exceptional comfort and back support. The seat frames are constructe...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Walnut