Kai Kristiansen desk

This is a rare freestanding desk, model 70, designed by Kai Kristiansen and produced by Feldballes Møbelfabrik in Denmark in 1958. The desk is a distinctive example of early Danish modernism, featuring clean lines, refined detailing, and a balanced interplay between function and form.

Constructed entirely in teak, the desk exhibits a warm reddish-brown tone with a visible straight grain throughout. The rectangular top has slightly beveled edges and rests on a frame composed of tapering legs joined at the base to solid side stretchers, forming a geometric sled-like support. The floating drawer units on each side are suspended beneath the top, providing visual lightness and structural clarity. Each pedestal includes three drawers with sculpted horizontal pulls carved directly from the wood, maintaining the streamlined silhouette and material continuity.

The rear of the desk features two cabinet compartments with hinged doors, allowing for open display or closed storage, underscoring its freestanding versatility. This dual-sided function makes the piece suitable for positioning in the center of a room, allowing it to serve both practical and architectural roles in an interior setting.

Kai Kristiansen (b. 1929) is regarded as one of Denmark’s key modernist designers, known for his precise, functional furniture that often incorporates modularity and adaptability. Feldballes Møbelfabrik, active during the 1950s and 60s, produced many of Kristiansen’s most iconic designs, marked by high-quality craftsmanship and modernist clarity. Model 70 remains one of Kristiansen’s most refined desk designs, notable for its architectural proportions and elegant storage integration.

The desk measures 172 cm in width, 85 cm in depth, and 72 cm in height, corresponding to approximately 67.7 inches wide, 33.5 inches deep, and 28.3 inches high. The piece is in good vintage condition, showing signs of use and a developed patina consistent with age. It has been professionally restored, retaining the integrity of the original finish while enhancing its presentation.