Mid-Century Modern AT-305 Desk by Hans J. Wegner for Andreas Tuck, 1950s

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.

CFC Silkeborg, also known as C. F. Christensen Silkeborg, exemplifies the refreshingly simple beauty of mid-century modern Danish design. Established in the early 1950s in Silkeborg, Denmark, the furniture manufacturer was known for its clean-lined, functional and refined hardwood furniture. In partnership with talented Danish designers, CFC Silkeborg created many exquisite coffee tables, lounge chairs, credenzas and other types of furniture for the 20th-century home.

One of the most prominent and prolific CFC Silkeborg collaborations was with acclaimed designer Johannes Andersen, who worked with the company in the 1950s and 1960s. Anderson’s elevated Scandinavian modern designs were practical and compact yet characterized by organic curves and graceful lines. Some of Anderson’s most popular creations for CFC Silkeborg include his nesting tables and the playful Smile coffee table, which features a center pocket shelf that looks like an upturned mouth.

In the 1960s, CFC Silkeborg worked with designer Henning Korch. Korch captured Danish design sensibilities with his thoughtfully built furniture, which had a distinctive flair from details like beveled edges and brass drawer handles. For CFC Silkeborg, Korch designed furniture such as cocktail tables, bar carts, bar cabinets and dressers.

CFC Silkeborg also had a long collaborative relationship with Danish furniture designer Illum Wikkelsø. Wikkelsø was inspired by the straight lines of modern style and the curves of the Danish landscape. From the 1950s to the 1980s, he created many tables, armchairs and sofas for CFC Silkeborg. Comfortable and inviting elegance characterizes this upholstered leather seating.

Vintage CFC Silkeborg furniture by Andersen, Korch and Wikkelsø continues to be sought after due to its exceptional build quality and timeless appeal.

On 1stDibs, find CFC Silkeborg tables, seating, case pieces and more.