Kai Kristiansen Entre 2D Two Door Entry Chest / Credenza
View Similar Items
Kai Kristiansen Entre 2D Two Door Entry Chest / Credenza
About the Item
- Creator:Kai Kristiansen (Designer),GETAMA (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 26.5 in (67.31 cm)Width: 47.25 in (120.02 cm)Depth: 14.15 in (35.95 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:Walnut,Lacquered
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Contemporary
- Production Type:New & Custom(Current Production)
- Estimated Production Time:6-7 weeks
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Berkeley, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1353223205232
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.
GETAMA
The story of how GETAMA got its name is perhaps as unique as the range of subdued but sophisticated Scandinavian modern furniture for which the manufacturer is known (thanks to a partnership with Hans Wegner).
In the late 1890s in the Danish town of Gedsted, a young cabinetmaker by the name of Carl Pedersen opted to use seaweed — rather than the traditional heather or straw — as mattress stuffing. Pedersen named his new factory Gedsted Tang-og Madrasfabrik (the “Gedsted Seaweed and Mattress Factory”), which he abbreviated to GETAMA. Seaweed’s fire-retardant properties make it an excellent and safe upholstery material for mattresses, chairs and sofas. Pedersen leveraged this quality as a selling point — the abundance of seaweed on the shores of Denmark and its weightlessness added to its appeal as an economical but durable upholstery filling for all kinds of furnishings. The crowning quality was its softness.
GETAMA’s seaweed mattresses proved so popular for their comfort and durability that Pedersen had to expand into a larger factory within the first year. He felt almost obligated to launch a line of bedroom furniture to accompany his much-loved mattresses.
The working relationship established in 1959 between Hans Wegner and GETAMA afforded the company the opportunity to break into the international market. Wegner — a legendary Danish carpenter and furniture designer revered by mid-century modern collectors everywhere — became one of the brand’s principal designers and often spent a great deal of time at the factory — refining and adjusting each new piece until he felt satisfied that it was ready for production. For decades, Wegner’s impressive contributions to GETAMA’s daybeds, lounge chairs, sofas and dining room tables became the backbone of the company’s sales.
Over the years, other designers entered into working agreements with GETAMA, including Nissen & Gehl, OM Design, 2R Design, Blum and Balle, and Jørgen Gammelgaard. Copenhagen native Nanna Ditzel, a Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts alum who trained under Kaare Klint, designed GETAMA’s Mondial coffee table. Alongside her husband, Jørgen Ditzel, she also created the sensuously curvy and wildly popular Ring chair.
Today, the sleek modern furniture that GETAMA manufactures is still inclusive of their lauded mattresses.
On 1stDibs, find vintage GETAMA seating, tables, storage cabinets and other furniture.
- Mini Teak Credenza / Entry Chest by Omann JunBy Omann Jun Møbelfabrik, Gunni OmannLocated in Berkeley, CAOrigin: Denmark Designer: Gunni Omann Manufacturer: Omann Jun Era: 1960s Materials: Teak Measurements: 33.5? wide x 14.5? deep x 23.25? tall Condition: In excellent original ...Category
20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsTeak
- Cherner 4 Door CredenzaBy The Cherner Chair Company, Norman ChernerLocated in Berkeley, CAMultiflex casegoods are lightweight, strong and made entirely from laminated, cross-ply and molded plywood. Clear or Classic finish on American Walnut veneers are complimented by the...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsWalnut
$3,479 / item - Small Rosewood Credenza by Kai WindingBy Willy Beck, Kai WindingLocated in Berkeley, CAOrigin: Denmark Designer: Kai Winding Manufacturer: Willy Beck Era: 1960s Materials: Rosewood Measurements: 47? wide x 16.5? deep x 28? tall. Condition: In excellent original...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsRosewood
- Danish Modern Two Door Sliding Credenza With Floating Oak BaseLocated in Berkeley, CAOrigin: Denmark Designer: Unknown Manufacturer: Unknown Era: 1960s Materials: Teak, Oak Measurements: 75" wide x 17.5" deep x 32" tall Condition: In excellent original condition wi...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsOak, Teak
- Cherner 2 Door 2 Drawer CredenzaBy The Cherner Chair Company, Norman ChernerLocated in Berkeley, CAMultiflex casegoods are lightweight, strong and made entirely from laminated, cross-ply and molded plywood. Clear or Classic finish on American walnut veneers are complimented by the...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsWalnut
$3,839 / item - Small Sliding Door Teak CredenzaLocated in Berkeley, CAOrigin: England Designer: Unknown Manufacturer: Unknown Era: 1960s Materials: Teak Measurements: 54" wide x 17.5" deep x 30.5" tall Condition: In excellent original condition with ...Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsTeak
- Kai Kristiansen Teak Chest of Drawers DresserBy Kai Kristiansen, Feldballes MøbelfabrikLocated in Oakland, CAMidcentury Danish teak low dresser designed by Kai Kristiansen, 1955, Denmark. The dresser is crafted of teak with six book-matched drawers and...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dressers
MaterialsTeak
- Mid-Century Kai Kristiansen Sideboard, Scandinavian ModernBy Kai KristiansenLocated in Brooklyn, NYLong teak server by Kai Kristiansen featuring four drawers and three doors with adjustable shelving makes the perfect storage piece for any modern home. Midcentury design is evidence...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
MaterialsMetal
$3,920 Sale Price30% Off - Danish Sideboard 60s Design Kai Kristiansen for Fedeballes MøbelfabrikBy Kai Kristiansen, Feldballes MøbelfabrikLocated in None, ITRosewood sideboard, with two front doors and one upper flap door, inside a top and three drawers. Design Kai Kristiansen for Feldballes Møbelfabrik, 1960s. Condition: In excellent...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Credenzas
MaterialsRosewood
$1,716 Sale Price20% Off - Argyle Rustic Two Door CredenzaLocated in Westwood, NJReclaimed pine stone grey painted cabinet with two argyle inlaid wood doors. With a molded edge frame and square plinth base. Dimensions: 37" W x 18" D x 30" HCategory
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Rustic Credenzas
MaterialsWood
$4,190 / item - Kai Kristiansen for Aksel Kjersgaard Entre 3B Model 385 Dresser Chest of DrawersBy Aksel Kjersgaard, Kai KristiansenLocated in Berlin, DEKai Kristiansen for Aksel Kjersgaard Entre 3B / Model 385 Dresser or Chest of Drawers, Denmark - 1960s.Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsWood
- Walnut Mid-Century Modern Accordion Door Entry Hall Cabinet Console CredenzaBy Adrian PearsallLocated in Rockaway, NJMid-Century Modern entry one accordion door compartment petit credenza cabinet shelf.Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsWalnut