Kai Kristiansen stool

This stool was designed by Danish furniture designer Kai Kristiansen and produced by Aksel Kjersgaard in Odder, Denmark. It reflects the clean geometry and refined proportions characteristic of Kristiansen’s work, where functionality and visual lightness are balanced through precise craftsmanship and material harmony. The piece belongs to the mid-century period of Scandinavian design, where an emphasis on simplicity, fine joinery, and honest use of materials defined a generation of Danish furniture makers.

The frame is constructed from solid teak, showcasing a warm reddish-brown tone with a straight, fine grain. The surface has been carefully finished to enhance the natural depth and texture of the wood, creating a smooth and tactile character. The seat has been newly reupholstered in black leather, offering a subtle contrast to the wood while preserving the understated elegance of the original design. The leather upholstery is fitted with precision, slightly rounded at the edges to follow the seat’s contour and soften its overall appearance.

The stool’s structure is distinctly rectilinear yet softened by the rounded inner corners of the frame, a detail that speaks to Kristiansen’s architectural sensibility and attention to proportion. The design allows the piece to serve both as a footstool or as an occasional seat, integrating seamlessly within domestic or professional interiors typical of mid-century Danish aesthetics. The markings underneath confirm its authenticity, with the branded stamp “Aksel Kjersgaard, Odder, Made in Denmark, No. 381” and the Danish Furnituremakers Control seal.

Measuring 60 cm in length, 36 cm in width, and 35 cm in height (23.6 x 14.2 x 13.8 inches), this example remains in excellent condition with minimal signs of age and use. The combination of teak and leather, alongside the disciplined simplicity of form, makes this stool an exemplary representation of Danish modernism and the enduring quality of Aksel Kjersgaard’s workshop production.