Kai Kristiansen Paper-Knife Chair, Easy Chair Teak
View Similar Items
Kai Kristiansen Paper-Knife Chair, Easy Chair Teak
About the Item
- Creator:Magnus Olesen (Manufacturer),Kai Kristiansen (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 26.78 in (68 cm)Width: 25.2 in (64 cm)Depth: 28.35 in (72 cm)Seat Height: 16.54 in (42 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1950-1960
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Hamburg, DE
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU3958312435671
Kai Kristiansen
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.
- Mid-Century Chair by Horst Romanus Wanke, 1960sLocated in Hamburg, DEThis chair by Horst Romanus Wanke is a really special and rare piece. The high backrest makes the chair almost a throne. Horst Romanus Wanke not only use...Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsWood
- 1 Set Purple an Orange Balloon Chairs from Lusch & Co., Germany, 1960sBy Lusch & CoLocated in Hamburg, DE2 wonderful balloon chairs from the company Lusch & Co. The well-known 60s armchairs consist of a black tubular steel frame, foam padding and suede cover. One of the covers is purple...Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsSteel
$1,214 Sale Price30% Off - Boho Style Upholstered Wicker Rattan Armchair, 1970sLocated in Hamburg, DEThis upholstered wicker armchair made of rattan weave is from the 1970s and not only a real eye-catcher, but also incredibly comfortable. Because th...Category
Vintage 1970s Bohemian Armchairs
MaterialsWicker, Rattan
$676 Sale Price20% Off - Danish Mid-Century Teak High Back Lounge Chair by Gustav Thams.By Gustav Thams, Vejen PolstermøbelfabrikLocated in Hamburg, DEDanish Mid-Century Teak High Back Lounge Chair by Gustav Thams. The designer chair is designed as a high-backed chair and the model is called: Condor. The upholstery is from around t...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Teak
- Le Klint Sax 234 Vintage Scissor Lamp, Erik Hansen, TeakBy Erik HansenLocated in Hamburg, DEIntroducing the Le Klint Sax 234 Vintage Scissor Lamp, a timeless piece hailing from the 1980s with a design originating in the 1950s by Erik Hansen, the then chief developer of Le Klint. This model showcases the distinctive craftsmanship that has made Le Klint a hallmark of lighting design. In 1952, Erik Hansen crafted the first scissor wall lamps, which quickly became synonymous with Le Klint. Among the diverse family of Sax lamps...Category
Vintage 1980s Danish Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsTeak
- Antique French Art Nouveau Paper Powder Box "Poudre Lt Piver Pompeia"Located in Hamburg, DEAntique French Art Nouveau paper powder box "Poudre Lt Piver Pompeia" This is an extremely rare and stunning antique French Lt Piver Pompeia Powder box from the late 1800s to very...Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Art Nouveau Decorative Boxes
MaterialsPaper
$242 Sale Price20% Off
- Kai Kristiansen Paper Knife Teak Easy Chair for Magnus Olesen Set of 2By Kai Kristiansen, Magnus OlesenLocated in Munich, BavariaKai Kristiansen Modell 121 paper knife easy chair in teak wood. Produced by Magnus Olesen. The fabric is original made of polyurethan and beautiful Lambs wool. Great condition. ...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsWool, Teak
- Kai Kristiansen Paper Knife Lounge ChairsBy Kai Kristiansen, Magnus OlesenLocated in London, GBKai Kristiansen Pair of 'Paper Knife' model 121 lounge chairs, 1955. Produced by Magnus Olesen, Denmark. New cushions upholstered in Kvadrat Hallingd...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsWool
$12,361 / set - Set of Kai Kristiansen Paper Knife Easy Chairs 1950s DenmarkBy Kai Kristiansen, Magnus OlesenLocated in St-Brais, JUA set of Kai Kristiansen’s most celebrated design: two ‘Paper knife’ chairs crafted from solid teak wood. One of the most graceful and beautiful chairs of the Danish Modern period. T...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsTeak, Wool
- Kai Kristiansen Paper Knife Chair in Teak for Magnus OlesenBy Kai Kristiansen, Magnus OlesenLocated in Fort Lauderdale, FLVintage 'Paper Knife' chair in teak by Kai Kristiansen for Magnus Olesen. Cushions have been newly upholstered in a vintage grey Maharam Hallingdal wool textile by Nana Ditzel. Marke...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Wool, Teak
- Pair of 'Paper Knife' Easy Chairs by Kai Kristiansen for Magnus Olesen, 1956By Kai Kristiansen, Magnus OlesenLocated in Antwerpen, VANMagnificent pair of ‘Model 121’ easy chairs designed in 1956 by Kai Kristiansen and produced by Magnus Olesen in Denmark. Beautifully crafted solid teak frames with the signature arm...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Teak
$5,636 Sale Price20% Off - Midcentury Teak Paper Knife Armchair by Kai Kristiansen for Magnus OlesenBy Kai Kristiansen, Magnus OlesenLocated in Lisboa, LisboaSet of two Midcentury Teak "Paper Knife" Armchairs designed by Kai Kristiansen for Magnus Olesen. These iconic pieces are a testament to the sleek, organic design that typifies mid-c...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Teak
$6,503 Sale Price / set20% Off