Hans J. Wegner Seating
Danish, 1914-2007
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.
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Creator: Hans J. Wegner
Search Within: Wishbone
Mid-Century Modern Set of 4 Chairs by Hans Wegner, Black Wood and Rope, Denmark
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Set of 4 Chairs by Hans Wegner, Black Wood and Rope, Denmark, 1950
Hans J. Wegner (Danish, 1914–2007) was a renowned furniture designer associated with Organic Fu...
Category
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Hans J. Wegner Seating
Materials
Rope, Wood
Set of Four Hans Wegner for PP Møbler PP 209 Chairs in Oiled Oak and Papercord
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Seattle, WA
A rare set of four PP209 Hans Wegner arm chairs in oiled oak and paper-cord, produced by PP Møbler (for DSB ferries), between 1974 and 2004. Unlike th...
Category
1990s Danish Hans J. Wegner Seating
Materials
Papercord, Oak
$4,997 Sale Price
50% Off
20th Century Danish Set of Three Carl Hansen
Søn Y Chairs by Hans J. Wegner
By Carl Hansen
Søn, Hans J. Wegner
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A light-brown, vintage Mid-Century Modern Danish set of three Wishbone chairs made of hand carved Oakwood, designed by Hans J. Wegner and produced by Carl Hansen & Søn, in good condition. The Scandinavian Y-shaped, armchairs have a curved slim backrest with arched arms, supported by four rounded wooden legs. At least hundred steps are required to design, produced each side chair. The seat cover is made of original hand woven paper rope. Minor fading, scratches due to age. Wear consistent with age and use. Circa 1950 - 1960, Denmark, Scandinavia.
Seat: 18.5" H x 19" W x 19.5" D
Hans Jorgensen Wegner was born in 1914, in Tonder, Denmark and passed away in 2007 Denmark. He was a world-renowned Danish furniture designer. Wegner finished his apprenticeship at 17, he developed his skills from the master cabinetmaker H.F. Stahlberg. In 1951, Wegner received a major design prizes, from the Lunning prize and the Grand Prix of the Milan Triennale.
Carl Hansen & Søn is a family-owned Danish furniture manufacturer, founded in 1908, in Odense, Denmark by the Danish master cabinet maker Carl Hansen. The Y Chair...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Hans J. Wegner Seating
Materials
Rope, Oak, Paper
$3,900 Sale Price
20% Off
Folding chair model JH 512 designed by Hans J. Wegner for Johannes Hansen, 1949
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Stockholm, SE
Hans J. Wegner is the father of Danish design and is well known for creating some of the most iconic chairs of the past 100 years. The son of a cobbler, Wegner brought Danish design to the international stage through his deep understanding and enjoyment of wood as well as an eye for beautiful and ergonomic design that had hitherto existed.
Wegner is seen as the most influential designer within the Danish movement and his early innate ability with wood matured into the gift of an unprecedented amount of over 500 beautiful and functional gifts to the pantheon of design. Hans J Wegner brought Danish furniture to a world stage through his simple, elegant and ergonomic chairs. His CH24 models still litter the offices of design and architectural practices globally and his earliest pieces have become rare design milestones in museums and galleries. Hans J Wegner is certainly one of the most important designers of the 20th Century.
Wegner’s first renowned chair came though his work with the Chairmen of the Danish Cabinetmaker’s Guild; Johannes Hansen. Through their intellectual relationship Wegner was able to design a chair he christened “the round one” in 1949 and would go on to be called the defining name; “the chair”. This elegant, restrained, yet organic chair was a pivotal design for Wegner and signalled the beginning of his own unique reign over seat furniture worldwide. This chair also illustrated the point at which the wider world took proper notice of Scandinavian design with it triggering the first American editorial spotlight on Danish Design. The influence and fame of this design can again be recognised in the fact that it was chosen as the seating for the 1960 American Presidential Election debates and shipped from Denmark especially for the occasion. Thus giving the “no.501” its occasional name: “the Kennedy...
Category
1940s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Hans J. Wegner Seating
Materials
Cane, Oak
Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Rocking Chair Model J16 by Hans Wegner, 1960s
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian rocking chair Model J16 by Hans Wegner.
Designer Biography :
"Best known for his chairs and 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 Wegner’s best chair designs, seen in dealer listings below, have their roots in traditional seating...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Hans J. Wegner Seating
Materials
Wood
Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Armchair in Oak Model CH 25 by Hans Wegner
By Carl Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Courbevoie, FR
Mid-Century Modern CH 25 armchair by Hans Wegner. New product. Designed in 1950, the CH25 lounge chair was one of the first four chairs Hans J. Wegner created especially for Carl Han...
Category
1950s Scandinavian Vintage Hans J. Wegner Seating
Materials
Oak
FULLY RESTORED
STAMPED 1960
s HANS J WEGNER CH 35 BROWN LEATHER ARMCHAIR
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this super rare, highly collectable, fully restored, circa 1950-1960 Hans J Wegner, Carl Hansen & Son Denmark stamped CH 35...
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Hans J. Wegner Seating
Materials
Leather, Teak
Hans J. Wegner seating for sale on 1stDibs.
Hans J. Wegner seating are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Hans J. Wegner seating, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 839 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 308 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original seating by Hans J. Wegner were created in the Scandinavian Modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider seating by Fritz Hansen, Arne Jacobsen, and Børge Mogensen. Prices for Hans J. Wegner seating can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $170 and can go as high as $110,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $5,160.
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Questions About Hans J. Wegner Seating
- Is Hans Wegner real?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Hans Wegner is indeed a real person. He was a prolific furniture designer affectionately referred to as “the master of the chair”. Throughout his lifetime, he created 500 chairs, all considered masterpieces. Shop a collection of Hans Wegner’s furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- How do I pronounce Hans Wegner?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022To pronounce Hans Wegner, say "Hans VEG-ner." His last name is Danish. Native speakers of the language may say the surname like "VAY-ner," but "VEG-ner" is the standard in English. Find a selection of Hans Wegner furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022To identify a Hans Wegner chair, look for hallmarks of his style. Most joints feature mortise and tenon construction, and armrests and seat supports are often hand-sculpted. Nearly all of his chair frames are solid wood. A piece fashioned out of wood composites is unlikely to be genuine. Find a collection of expertly vetted Hans Wegner chairs on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 4, 2024To identify Hans Wegner furniture, familiarize yourself with the Danish designer's pieces by conducting some online research. He is particularly well known for his chairs, including the Peacock chair, a throne-like adaptation of the Windsor chair, and the Wishbone chair, which has a distinctive Y-shaped back splat.
Wegner’s comfy Papa Bear chair (1951) is an almost surreally rescaled English wingback chair, while his 1963 Shell chair has a curved surfboard-shaped seat.
Wegner's primary material was wood, so pieces crafted out of composites, plastics or metals are less likely to be by Wegner. Some of his pieces do bear his signature, but not all do. As a result, experts generally recommend having a certified appraiser or experienced antique dealer assist with the identification process.
On 1stDibs, shop a variety of Hans Wegner furniture. - 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Whether or not Hans Wegner chairs are comfortable is largely a matter of personal opinion. The Danish furniture designer did design his pieces with functionality in mind, striving to craft chairs that users would enjoy sitting in. Many of his chairs built upon traditional designs, such as the Peacock chair inspired by the classic Windsor chair. On 1stDibs, find a large selection of Hans Wegner chairs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Hans J. Wegner was famous for creating chairs and other types of seating. Some of the Danish designer's most well-known pieces include the Papa Bear chair, the Round chair, the Wishbone chair and the China chair. Find a collection of Hans J. Wegner chairs on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022You can cord a Hans Wegner peacock chair in a number of ways. Traditionally, the chair featured an over-under weave created by first wrapping the seat with vertical pairs of cord running from the back to the front. Then, artisans worked horizontally, pulling the cord through the vertical pairs. However, you can find many other patterns to try online. On 1stDibs, shop a range of Hans Wegner peacock chairs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022What pairs well with the CH07 chair by Hans Wegner is largely a matter of personal preference. To keep the eye focused on its dramatic curves, some interior decorators pair it with simple boxy sofas and tables. Feel free to experiment and create your own furniture layouts using the CH07 or shell chair. Find a collection of Hans Wegner CH07 shell chairs on 1stDibs.
Read More
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Design Icon Ilse Crawford on Her Colorful New Hans Wegner Chairs
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.
Hans Wegner’s Wishbone Chair Still Feels Fresh, 70 Years after Its Debut
To celebrate the Wishbone’s 70th anniversary, Carl Hansen & Søn’s third-generation CEO, Knud Erik Hansen, shares some of the secrets behind the beloved chair.
113 Chairs That Prove Danish Design Isn’t Limited to Denmark
In an innovative display, the Designmuseum Danmark is permanently exhibiting the 20th century's most iconic seats.
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