N/A Kai Kristiansen Desk

Kai Kristiansen desk by Kai Kristiansen for Preben Schou Anderson, c. 1960.

Kristiansen is relatively unknown outside of Denmark, though his work is well respected in his home nation.

He trained as a cabinet-maker and following graduation in 1948 went on to the Danish Academy of Fine Arts, under the tutorage of Kaare Klint. Thereafter he opened his own office and worked for a host of respected furniture manufacturers including Fritz Hansen and Magnus Olesen.

His designs for shelving and case furniture utilised a geometric relationship inspired by Klint’s work, and his seating designs, such as the No.42 chair, captured the spirit of Denmark’s post-war golden period of design.

The rosewood desk produced by Preben Schou Anderson displays a simple and timeless outline. The arrangement of twin pedestals and shadow-gap delineation between drawers and top creates a striking elevation. The use of inset aluminium drawer pulls and sabots on the legs create a very individual appearance and reflect the high-quality cabinet-making employed in the desk’s manufacture.

The desk is veneered all round and the rear-side has open storage.