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 Pair of RY8 Oak Bookcases, Denmark, c.1960s
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in London, GB
A refined pair of RY8 bookcases designed by Hans J. Wegner in Denmark during the 1960s. Crafted from oak, each bookcase displays the understated elegance, precise proportions and exc...
Oak
Mogens Koch Bookcases for Rud. Rasmussen
By Rud Rasmussen, Mogens Koch
Located in Copenhagen, DK
A cabinet and two bookcases in ash. Executed by Rud. Rasmussen. Reverse with paper labels ‘RUD. RASMUSSENS/SNEDKERIER/COPENHAGEN/DENMARK.
Ash
Pair of Hans J. Wegner Oak & Teak Bookshelves RY8
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Handewitt, DE
Pair of mid century bookshelves in oak and teak. Design by Hans Wegner. Manufactured by RY. Model RY8. Denmark 1960s. One shelf with 5 boards and one with 3 boards. H. 181.5 cm / W. ...
Oak, Teak
Hans Wegner for Ry Mobler Oak Shelf Cabinet or Bookcase
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Hans Wegner for RY Møbler Cabinet RY100 in Oak. Top sits on bottom. Rattan fronts.
Rattan, Oak
Mogens Koch Two Bookcases for Rud. Rasmussen
By Mogens Koch, Rud Rasmussen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Mogens Koch two bookcases in elm. Executed by Rud. Rasmussen. Reverse with paper labels ‘RUD. RASMUSSENS/SNEDKERIER/KØBENHAVN/DANMARK'.
Elm
Mogens Koch Bookcases for Rud, Rasmussen
By Mogens Koch, Rud Rasmussen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Mogens Koch two wall-mounted bookcases of mahogany. Executed by Rud Rasmussen. Reverse with paper labels ‘RUD. RASMUSSENS/SNEDKERIER/KØBENHAVN/DENMARK.
Mahogany
Single Mid-Century Bookcase
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Listing is for a single bookcase (2 available) in walnut with black bamboo style trim. Four deep shelves on top with a two door wicker front base. ** Please advise which unit you are...
Walnut
Mogens Koch Pair of Bookcases for Rud. Rasmussen
By Rud Rasmussen, Mogens Koch
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Mogens Koch pair of bookcases in mahogany. Executed by Rud Rasmussen. Reverse with paper labels ‘RUD. RASMUSSENS/SNEDKERIER/KØBENHAVN/DANMARK.
Mahogany
Mogens Koch Bookcases in Elm for Rud, Rasmussen
By Rud Rasmussen, Mogens Koch
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Mogens Koch two bookcases in elm with plinths. Executed by Rud Rasmussen. Reverse with paper labels ‘Rud. Rasmussen/ Snedkerier / København / Denmark.
Elm
$5,035
H 46.66 in W 42.52 in D 11.62 in
Danish Mid-Century Bookcase by Grete Jalk for P. Jeppesen, Denmark 1950s
By Grete Jalk, Poul Jeppesen
Located in Utrecht, NL
This lovely bookcase designed by Grete Jalk for P. Jeppesen reflects the Danish designer’s aesthetic—clean and highly functional, yet creative. Danish mid-century pieces were often ...
Wood
Vintage Ulferts Bookcase, Oak Wood, Swedish Design, 1960s
By Ulferts Swedish
Located in Lemmer, NL
vintage bookcase oak 1960s Ulferts period 1960s design Ulferts Sweden condition good light signs of use/chip on back side; size 189 x 120 x 43 (hxwxd) details oak; item...
Oak
vintage wall unit cabinet 1960s Danish
Located in Lemmer, NL
vintage wall unit cabinet 1960s Danish period 1960s design unknown Denmark condition good minor signs of wear lock missing size 155 x 70 x 32 (hxwxd) details rosewood; ...
Wood
vintage filing cabinet bookcase Kinnarps Swedish
By Kinnarps
Located in Lemmer, NL
vintage filing cabinet bookcase Kinnarps Swedish period 70s design Kinnarps Sweden condition good minor signs of use size 181 x 104 x 41 (hxbxd) details oak; metal; ite...
Metal
Vintage Swedish Filing Cabinet Bookcase by TVA, Wood & Chrome, 1970s
Located in Lemmer, NL
vintage filing cabinet bookcase Swedish period 1970s design TVA Sweden condition good light signs of use size 147 x 83 x 42 (hxwxd) details wood; chrome; item number 3092
Chrome
Vintage Wall-Mounted Bookcase, Bentwood and Chrome, Netherlands, 1980s
Located in Lemmer, NL
vintage wall unit wall-mounted cabinet bookcase period 1980s design unknown condition good minor signs of use dimensions 108 x 113 x 25 (h x w x d) details wood; chrome; i...
Chrome
vintage oak cabinets
Located in Lemmer, NL
vintage wall unit cabinets 1960s Danish High-quality Danish wall unit consisting of four cabinet modules that can be arranged as desired. Finished on all sides, allowing it to al...
Oak
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.
