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.
Hans J. Wegner GE-300/4 Sofa Getama Denmark 1960s
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Handewitt, DE
GE-300 / 4 sofa, designed by Hans J. Wegner in 1960s for Getama Denmark. Legs in solid oak and original blue Kvadrat wool fabric. Needs a new upholstery/fabric. Ask for price (if int...
Oak
Hans. J.Wegner 3-Seater Sofa GE236
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Shibuya-ku, 13
Hans J. Wegner. It is said that he designed over 500 chairs during his lifetime, making him one of the most influential masters in the history of Danish furniture design. Among his w...
Fabric, Oak
Hans J. wegner GE-236/4 Sofa Getama Denmark 1960s
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Handewitt, DE
In very good vintage condition, ready for use.
Fabric, Oak
$5,714
H 30.71 in W 92.52 in D 29.14 in
Hans J. Wegner Model 235/4 Sofa, Wool Upholstery, Oak Frame, Denmark
By GETAMA, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Hans J. Wegner four-seat sofa new upholstered with Halligdal wool from Kvadrat Frame in solid soap treated oak. Model 235/4, produced by GETAMA.
Wool, Oak
Hans J. Wegner Three-Seat Sofa
By GETAMA, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Hans J. Wegner three-seat sofa upholstered with light grey wool. Frame in solid oak. Model 236/3, produced by GETAMA.
Wool, Oak
$3,999Sale Price|50% Off
H 28 in W 83 in D 30 in
Vintage 1960s Danish Three-Seat Sofa Model GE-300/3 by Hans Wegner for GETAMA
By Hans J. Wegner, GETAMA
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage 1960s Danish three-seat sofa Rare model GE300/3 designed by Hans Wegner for GETAMA Manufacturer solid light oak solid wood frame and legs with original patina has original sp...
Upholstery, Oak
Hans Wegner AP33 Four-seater Sofa for A.P. Stolen
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Winnipeg, MB
Monumental and rare four-seater AP33 sofa designed by Hans Wegner for AP Stolen, Denmark. This piece features angled oak legs and the original wool upholstery. It has a streamlined a...
Wool, Upholstery, Oak
Hans J. Wegner Three-Seat Sofa
By GETAMA, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Hans J. Wegner three-seat sofa new upholstered with Hallingdal from Kvadrat. Original Epeda cushions. Frame in solid oak. Model 236/3, produced by GETAMA.
Wool, Oak
$4,514
H 27.56 in W 70.87 in D 33.47 in
Mid Century Modern Hans J. Wegner Model GE-290 for Getama Gedsted Denmark Sofa
By GETAMA, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Kramfors, SE
Vintage Hans J. Wegner sofa model GE-290 for Getama Gedsted, Denmark. The sofa is a mid century classic by one of the most famous names of the time, Hans J. Wegner (Denmark, 1914-200...
Fabric, Oak
$5,257
H 28.75 in W 70.87 in D 36.23 in
Hans J. Wegner Model 290 Three-Seat Sofa, Oak & Wool, Mid-Century
By GETAMA, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Hans J. Wegner three-seat sofa made of solid soap treated oak. New upholstered with Hallingdal 180 from Kvadrat Model 290, made by GETAMA.
Wool, Oak
Hans Wegner Sofa Model AP-64 Produced by AP-Stolen in Denmark
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Very rare sofa model AP-64 designed by Hans Wegner. Produced by AP-Stolen in Denmark.
Leather, Oak
Bernt Petersen Sofa Produced by Wørts Møbelsnedkeri in Denmark
By Bernt Petersen
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Very rare sofa designed by Bernt Petersen. Produced by Wørts Møbelsnedkeri in Denmark. Easy chair is also available.
Leather, Cane, Oak
Ole Wanscher Sofa Model 116 / Senator Produced by France & Son in Denmark
By Ole Wanscher
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare sofa model 116 / Senator designed by Ole Wanscher. Produced by France & Son in Denmark.
Leather, Teak
Børge Mogensen Sofa Model 2213 by Fredericia Stolefabrik in Denmark
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Sofa model 2213 designed by Børge Mogensen. Produced by Fredericia Stolefabrik in Denmark.
Leather, Teak
Arne Jacobsen Sofa Produced by Cabinetmaker Otto Meyer in Denmark
By Arne Jacobsen
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Unique freestanding sofa designed by Arne Jacobsen. Produced by cabinetmaker Otto Meyer in Denmark. Provenance: Publisher Fergo, hence by descent in th...
Brass
Rare Scandinavian Modern Sofa, Wool & Mahogany, Finland, 1960s Design
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare sofa by unknown designer. Probably produced in Finland.
Wool, Mahogany
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.
