Kai Kristiansen, Paper Knife chairs for Magnus Olesen

KAI KRISTIANSEN (Denmark, 1929) by produced by Magnus Olesen, Dyrup.
A pair of armchairs, model 121, Paper Knife.
Teak wood frame, with loose cushions new upholstered in fabric.
Chairs with minimum marks and signs of use.
Produced by Magnus Olesen, Dyrup.
Measurements: 73 x 74 x 76 cm. Seat height 41 cm.

The Paper Knife (Paperknife or Paper-knife) designed by Kai Kristiansen is an iconic classic of mid-century Danish furniture design. Although the name originally refers to a paper knife, it is world-famous for its application to a chair model that has become a collector's item.

Kai Kristiansen is one of the most prominent designers of the Scandinavian scene of the mid-twentieth century, and his creations are very representative of the Danish furniture of the time. He created all kinds of furniture objects, including desks, tables, sideboards, chairs, bar furniture and TV stands, using mainly teak, rosewood and rosewood. One of his best-known and most widespread designs is the "Fm reolsystem", a shelving system that was conceived to offer maximum flexibility, as it allows endless possibilities for combining wall shelves and cabinets to fit seamlessly into any wall in any home. Kai Kristiansen was trained in Copenhagen, and worked for furniture designer Kaare Klint until 1950, before setting up on his own. He would later collaborate with the most prominent creators of contemporary Scandinavian design, such as Kjaersgaard and Fritz Hansen.