I just purchased a Kai Kristiansen kidney desk through a local CL posting (Toronto). The sellers were an older couple who were downsizing - they obviously didnt know it was designer piece and told me that they had originally purchased it in the late 1950's. Original owners.
Now that i have the desk temporarily moved into my garage, I realized two oddities. The first being that the drawers are not dove tail constructed. Secondly, there is a 'Made in Canada' ink stamp on the bottom.
I know that Danish furniture makers often contracted the assembly of their products to overseas manufacturers. A shelf that I had once owned was identified as 'Product of Denmark / assembled in Canada'. But this desk says 'Made in Canada'.
I did a bit of research on the internet (to compare) and other than the drawer assembly, everything about the desk appears to be authentic. The design, the workmanship and all the measurements are correct.
Has anyone ever seen this before? Could the drawers not be original? Just trying to make sense of this - thanks!!! 
<img class="wpforo-default-image-attachment wpforoimg" src=" http://old.designaddict.com/sites/default/files/forum 
drawer construction
I'm wondering if the drawer joineries on my desk are mortise and tenon. If you look at dovetail joinery, you'll see it's completely different (photo below).
I just noticed something else that's off - the drawer handles on the photo below are a different design but it's the same desk (found online). I'm certain kai Kristiansen only designed one style of handle - The handles on my drawers are the same as many other photos i've come across so maybe the original drawers were not dovetail joined? This just adds more confusion!
Exactly, Heath.
The drawer fronts in our custom kitchen cabinets (1963) are constructed of veneered lumbercore, like those in Scandiman's desk, and the sliding dovetail joints are as solid and sturdy today as they were when new.
For production runs of sufficient size to justify its use, or for the right applications, I think the stopped sliding dovetail joint is in some ways preferable and in no way an inferior technique.
I have never seen
any piece of Canadian made furniture made with those slot head screws which are always always used on Danish furniture. The Robertson head screw is what you will find on Canadian made furniture as Robertson screws are a Canadian invention.
I would say that that pine support piece is a structal addition applied to the desk in Canada upon assembly.
All other signs point to Danish made. Also, the lock key is identical to that used in several Danish desks I have had as well as in CADO units.
Maybe the only stamp they had is one that said 'made in Canada' or it was already on the wood they grabbed from the scrap pile to make that piece.
Those handles are correct for other desks by Kai Kristiansen and there is no reason they wouldnt be use on that one as well. A quick google image search will confirm this. Also there are several images of your desk with those handles.
http://www.danish-homestore.com/acatalog/SOLD_DESKS.html
here is is 2/3 of the way down the page...
If you need any help, please contact us at – info@designaddict.com