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 Wegner GE-240 Sofa by GETAMA, Oak & Teak, Scandinavian Modern
By Hans J. Wegner, GETAMA
Located in Buffalo, NY
Hans Wegner GE-240 Sofa by GETAMA, Oak & Teak, Scandinavian Modern..Amazing design.. lines. Retains its original finish / patina as well as its original spring cushions and original...
Fabric, Oak, Teak
Hans Wegner Style Mid Century Danish Teak 4 Seater Sofa
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Hans Wegner Style Mid Century Danish Teak 4 Seater Sofa This sofa measures: 95.5 wide x 32 deep x 28.5 inches high, with a seat height of 14.75 and arm height of 20.5 inches Good V...
Upholstery, Teak
GE-236/3 Sofa in Teak by Hans J. Wegner 1960s
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Handewitt, DE
GE-236 / 3 sofa in solid teak, designed by Hans J. Wegner in 1955. Manufactured by Getama in 1960s. Original cushions in creme / green stripes wool fabric,
Teak
$5,254
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 yellow fabric. Model 290, made by GETAMA.
Wool, Oak
Hans J. Wegner 2-seater Sofa GE290/2 by GETAMA, Oak Frame, 1950
By GETAMA, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Los Angeles, CA
wonderful Danish Modern 2-seater sofa, model GE290/2 designed by Hans J. Wegner for GETAMA, 1950, with a solid oak frame and original spring loaded cushions with patterned upholstery...
Upholstery, Oak
$4,397
H 29.53 in W 49.22 in D 31.5 in
Mid-Century Two-Seat Sofa, Senator Series, Teak Couch by Ole Wanscher
By Ole Wanscher, France & Søn
Located in München, BY
Elegant Mid-Century modern two-seater sofa by Ole Wanscher, produced by France & Son (Cado) as part of the iconic Senator series. Made in Denmark during the 1960s, it is a refined ex...
Fabric, Upholstery, Teak
$5,654
H 30.32 in W 72.05 in D 32.68 in
Danish Design Classsic GE 290 Three Seater Sofa by Hans Wegner for GETAMA, 1960s
By Hans J. Wegner, GETAMA
Located in Renens, CH
One of the most recognized designs by Hans Wegner and probably the whole danish mid-century modern period is the GE 290 sofa and arm chair produced by Getama....
Wool, Oak
$5,254
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 J. Wegner, Three-Seat Sofa, Model 290, Oak
By Hans J. Wegner, GETAMA
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Hans J. Wegner three-seat sofa made of black lacquered oak. Upholstered with striped fabric. Model 290, made by GETAMA.
Wool, Oak
$5,026
H 30.32 in W 71.66 in D 32.68 in
GE290 Three-Seater Sofa in Oak by Hans J. Wegner for Getama, 1960s
By GETAMA, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Nørre Aaby, DK
Iconic GE290 three-seater sofa designed by Hans J. Wegner and produced by Getama in Denmark during the 1960s. Crafted in solid oak with Wegner’s signature angled frame and armrests, ...
Fabric, Oak
1950s Kofod-Larsen Brazilian Rosewood Danish Pickett Lounge Chair Mid-Century
By Selig, Ib Kofod-Larsen
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Missing Back Cushion. Soiled Seat Cushion included. All original with original finish. The Frame is Excellent, Strong, Level and Sturdy. Original seat cushion a bit dingy. Imported ...
Rosewood
Vintage 1960s Hans Wegner 6-Leg Long Slatted Teak Xl Bench Danish Midcentury
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Hyattsville, MD
This is the largest Model JH-574 Bench. In the original finish. Showing wear from use. All joinery is tight, and this bench is ready to use. Also has a nice neat full burnished label...
Teak
Rare Smilow Walnut Slat Bench Architect Designed Vintage Mid-Century
By Mel Smilow
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Rare Mel Smilow Walnut Slat Bench. Wonderful, Strong and straight not warped! A sparsely engineer walnut hardwood bench, architect designed by Mel Smilow or Walker Weed. But no maker...
Walnut
1950s Walnut Slat Bench
By Mel Smilow
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Well engineered walnut hardwood slat bench by Mel Smilow. Stained and well loved by its original owner. Presented in as-found, unrestored condition. W 60 x D 18 x H 14 in
Walnut
1960s Arne Norell Rosewood Leather Sling Sirocco Safari Lounge Chair Mid-Century
By Scanform, Arne Norell
Located in Hyattsville, MD
The Sirocco safari chair designed by Arne Norell in 1966. This example is in camel-colored leather; with two cushions and slings with brass fittings. Designed to breakdown for flat p...
Leather
Rare 1960s Walnut Adrian Pearsall Sculptural Stool Bench Ottoman
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Adrian Pearsall for Craft Associates Inc. from the 'Stingray' Series. Can be matched with the Model 2466-C Lounge Armchair. Tight and sturdy frame. Architectural form, with staved A...
Walnut
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.
