Fredrik A. Kayser
(1924-1968)
Fredrik A. Kayser is a well-loved furniture designer from the Scandinavian Design period of the mid-twentieth century. He was born in the Norwegian town Bergen, grew up in a musical family, and played both the cello and the mandolin. He found a lot of inspiration in music. His father Trygve Kayser had a furniture agency and a large network in the industry. Fredrik began his carpentry apprenticeship right after the middle school exam. At the age of 15, he had already drawn his first dining room, which was put into production at Viken Møbelfabrikk. Kayser got his diploma at the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry in Oslo in 1945, the same year he started his career at the Rastad & Relling Tegnekontor.
His furniture is characterized by elegant design and material sensitivity, with a rare sense of proportions and composition. In his most famous design, “Krysset”, the front and back legs are fixed together by four wood nails that in a refined way emphasize the construction. Kayser was inspired by the trends of the time, but always managed to give his creations a unique personal touch, with elegance that made them instant classics.
