Best known for his chairs and other seating pieces — though a master of many furniture types like sofas and tables — Hans Wegner was a prolific designer whose elegant, often ebullient, forms and devotion to the finest methods in joinery made "Danish Modern" a popular byword for stylish, well-made furniture in the mid-20th century.
Wegner considered himself a carpenter first and a furniture designer second. Like his peers Arne Jacobsen and Finn Juhl, Wegner believed that striking aesthetics in furniture were based on a foundation of practicality: a chair must be comfortable and sturdy before it is chic.
In keeping with that tenet, several of Hans Wegner’s best chair designs have their roots in traditional seating forms. The Peacock chair (designed in 1947) is a throne-like adaptation of the Windsor chair; pieces from the China chair series (begun in 1944) as well as the 1949 Wishbone chair, with its distinctive Y-shaped back splat, are derived from 17th-century Ming seating pieces, as is the upholstered Ox chair (1960). Wegner’s comfy Papa Bear chair (1951) is an almost surreally re-scaled English wingback chair.
Wegner’s most representative piece, the Round chair (1949), gained a footnote in political history when it was used on the TV stage of the first Kennedy-Nixon debate of 1960. That chair, along with Wegner’s more bravura designs — for example, the 1963 Shell chair, with its curved surfboard-shaped seat — bring a quietly sculptural presence to a room.
Wegner was a designer who revered his primary material — wood — and it shows. His wood gathers patina and character with age; every Hans Wegner piece testifies to the life it has led.
Find vintage Hans Wegner lounge chairs, armchairs, daybeds and other furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Erik Wørts Model 112 Lounge Chair Rosewood and Vegetable-Tanned Leather, Denmark
Located in Egå, DK
Erik Wørts Model 112 Lounge Chair Rosewood and Vegetable-Tanned Leather, Denmark An elegant and highly refined Model 112 lounge chair, designed by Erik Wørts and produced in Denmark...
Leather, Rosewood
Hans J. Wegner Dining Set in Cherry Wood with China Chairs, Denmark, 1980s
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Egå, DK
Hans J. Wegner Dining Set in Cherry Wood with China Chairs, Denmark, 1980s An exceptional and highly desirable dining set designed by Hans J. Wegner, Denmark, dating from the 1980s....
Wood, Cherry
Hans J. Wegner CH31 dining chairs
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Egå, DK
HANS J. WEGNER (Denmark, 1914 - 2007). 4 CH31 chairs. Oak wood. New restored wood and new braiding. Measurements: 80 x 52 x 42 cm ; 44 cm (seat height) Set of four chairs designed b...
Oak, Braid
Finn Juhl – Unique “Kokfeldt Table”, 1953 (1/1) - cabinetmaker Niels Vodder
Located in Egå, DK
Finn Juhl – Unique “Kokfeldt Table”, 1953 An exceptionally rare and unique 1/1 “Kokfeldt Table”, designed by Finn Juhl and executed in 1953 by master cabinetmaker Niels Vodder. The t...
Nickel
Poul Kjærholm PK20 EKC
Located in Egå, DK
Rare Poul Kjærholm PK20 Lounge Chair E. Kold Christensen, Denmark, 1960s An exceptional and early example of the PK20 lounge chair, designed by Po...
Metal
Peder Moos “The A Shelf” in Teak, Denmark, 1950s
Located in Egå, DK
Peder Moos “The A Shelf” in Teak, Denmark, 1950s A rare and sculptural “A Shelf” designed by Peder Moos, Denmark, circa 1950s. This iconic wall-mounted shelf is crafted in solid te...
Teak
China Chair Model FH 4283 In Cherry Wood & Cognac Leather By Hans J. Wegner
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Lejre, DK
China Chair FH4283 by Hans J. Wegner for Fritz Hansen. Cherry wood with cognac leather seat. Danish design icon. MORE IN STOCK. — Designer: Hans J. Wegner — Manufacturer: Fritz Hans...
Leather, Wood
1960s Wegner Armchair in Patinated Oak and Leather by Johannes Hansen
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Knebel, DK
1960s Hans J. Wegner armchair model 713 in tanned patinated oak and leather made by Johannes Hansen. The chair is evidence of suprime design...
Oak
“Un-Chair” Armchair in Teak and Original Leather by Jacob Kjær, 1949
By Jacob Kjaer
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
“Un-Chair” Armchair in Teak and Original Leather by Jacob Kjær, 1949 Additional Information: Material: Teak and original leather Style: Mid century, Scandinavian Rare armchair “UN-C...
Teak, Leather
HANS J. WEGNER. Armchair, Teak/leather, Model CH-35, Carl Hansen & Son, Denmark.
Located in Berlin, DE
HANS J. WEGNER. Armchair, Teak/leather, Model CH-35, Carl Hansen & Son, Denmark. Very rare chair by Hans Wegner, manufactured by Carl Hansen and Son, model CH35. An absolute de...
Leather, Teak
Hans Wegner FH-4283 Rosewood China Chair, C1960s
By Fritz Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in London, England
Hans J. Wegner FH 4283 China chair, 1944. Produced by Fritz Hansen in Denmark this version in exquisite Brazilian rosewood is an incredibly rare version of this iconic design made in very limited quantities in the 1960s. The chair retains its original, patinated black leather seat cushion. The China chair was designed by Hans J. Wegner in 1944 and marked a significant departure for producer Fritz Hansen as the only solid wood chair in their collection. Wegner found inspiration for this timeless Classic in antique Chinese armchairs...
Leather, Rosewood
1960s Hans Wegner for Johannes Hansen #957 Armless Side Chair in Teak w/ Leather
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a #957 Armless Side Chair, initially designed by Hans Wegner for Johannes Hansen in 1955. This example dates to the 1960s and was produced in Denmark. The design features a t...
Teak, Leather
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
If anyone is brave, humble and adept enough to recolor these mid-century masterpieces, it’s Ilse Crawford. Here, she gives us the details on her five earthy paint choices and tells us how she feels about design collaborations.
