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.
Oak Armchair with Upholstered Seat Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Crafted in Denmark, this elegant armchair features clean Scandinavian lines and a sturdy solid oak frame. The warm natural wood grain complements the neutral upholstered seat and bac...
Oak
Teak Beige Lounge Armchair Danish Mid-Century Modern 1970s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This inviting lounge seating features a robust sled base frame with gently curved supports and a generous profile. The substantial form offers a highly comfortable lounging experienc...
Teak
Hans Wegner FDB Møbler Beechwood High Back Rocking Chair Danish Mid-Century Mode
By Hans J. Wegner, FDB Møbler
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This classic rocking chair features a tall spindle back and sweeping curved armrests. Its timeless aesthetic highlights clean Scandinavian functionalism. Crafted in Denmark, this pie...
Beech
Brown Upholstered Lounge Armchair with Wooden Frame Mid-Century Modern 1960s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This vintage lounge armchair features an angled frame with sculptured armrests and a tufted backrest. The design incorporates clean lines and subtle details, capturing classic Mid-Ce...
Fabric
Beechwood Upholstered Armchair Mid-Century Modern Vintage
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This comfortable armchair showcases a clean wooden frame paired with textured fabric upholstery. The organic lines and sturdy construction offer a classic retro aesthetic suited for ...
Beech
Blue Upholstered Beechwood Lounge Chair Danish Mid-Century Modern 1960s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This highback lounge chair features contoured armrests and a sculpted high back. Its refined organic frame offers great comfort and Scandinavian style. A fine example of Vintage Dani...
Beech
Hans Wegner Danish Teak Rocking Chair for Tarm Stole, 1960s
By Tarm Stole, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegant Danish Modern teak rocking chair designed by Hans J. Wegner for Tarm Stole-og Møbelfabrik A/S, Denmark, circa 1960s. A quintessential example of Wegner’s mastery of form and ...
Fabric, Teak
Danish Modern Oversized Teak Rocking Chair by Hans Wegner for Tarm Stole
By Tarm Stole, Hans J. Wegner
Located in San Diego, CA
Danish Modern oversized teak rocking chair / rocker by Hans Wegner for Tarm Stole, circa 1970s This chair is even more impressive in person....
Upholstery, Teak
High-Back Teak Armchair by Hartmut Lohmeyer, Mid-Century Modern, 1950s
By Coco Chanel, Wilkhahn, Hans J. Wegner, Finn Juhl, Hartmut Lohmeyer
Located in Grand Cayman, KY
A superb high-back Mid-Century Modern lounge armchair designed by Hartmut Lohmeyer and produced in Germany by Wilkhahn. A contemporary of works by Finn Juhl, Grete Jalk and Hans J. W...
Fabric, Upholstery, Teak
Vintage Danish Mid-Century Modern Solid Teak Armchair, 1950s
Located in Store Heddinge, DK
This exquisite vintage design armchair, crafted during the Art Deco or Mid-Century Modern era, showcases a blend of elegance and structural innovation. The chairs armrest and legs i...
Fabric, Teak
Danish Mid-Century Teak High Back Lounge Chair by Gustav Thams.
By Vejen Polstermøbelfabrik, Gustav Thams
Located in Hamburg, DE
Danish Mid-Century Teak High Back Lounge Chair by Gustav Thams. The designer chair is designed as a high-backed chair and the model is called: Condor. The upholstery is from around t...
Upholstery, Teak
Armchair in teak, Denmark-1960s
Located in Uccle, Bruxelles
Magnificent Scandinavian armchair designed in the 1960s. With its sleek and refined design, delicate lines, and exquisite finish, this armchair will suit any space. It is free of a...
Fabric, Wood
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.
