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 "the Chair" Early Version Teak and Cane JH-501 Chair Johannes Hansen
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Studio City, CA
Iconic in design and aesthetic. Designed in 1949 by famed Danish designer Hans Wegner and known universally as "The Chair", the JH501 chair is perhaps the mo...
Cane, Teak
Hans Wegner Set of Four Mid-Century Modern Classic CH23 Dining Chairs
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Studio City, CA
Iconic in design and aesthetic. First introduced in 1950 by famed Danish designer Hans Wegner, these CH23 chairs features refined styling and masterful craftsmanship and are immediately recognizable with their curved seat backs and "+" shaped oak inlays. In good vintage condition with the original paper cord (two chairs need some light seat restoration and cleaning. Please see photos). All chairs...
Oak, Teak, Papercord
Hans Wegner Original Danish JH-501 Chairs by Johannes Hansen for Knoll, Set of 4
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Studio City, CA
Iconic in design and aesthetic. Designed in 1949 by famed Danish designer Hans Wegner and known universally as "The Chair", the JH501 chair is perhaps the mo...
Cane, Teak
Niels Otto Møller Set of 4 Mid-Century Modern Model 71 Paper Cord Dining Chairs
By Niels Otto Møller
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautiful set of four cleanly designed dining chairs by famed 20th century Danish designer Niels Otto Møller. Simple, yet elegant. Originally designed in 1951. This set still retai...
Papercord, Teak
Arnold Mesches Signed Chair Series Large Color Lithograph, 1969
Located in Studio City, CA
A very engaging and somewhat scarce work by the Bronx, NY-born controversial American artist Arnold Meches. This piece is one of his from his most recognizable works the chair series that he did in the 1950s/60s and perhaps a bit of a precursor to Andy Warhol's 1967 "Electric Chair" image albeit somewhat less provocative. Signed and dated (1969) in pencil by the artist in the lower right margin. Arnold Mesches...
Paper
Melia Made to Order Customizable Modern Sofa
By Dwell Floor Five
Located in Studio City, CA
Sleek and midcentury scaled the Melia sofa is stylish and hip. The sofa can be customized to your liking with plenty of fabric colors and options to choo...
Chrome
Hans Wegner, Folding Lounge Chair model JH-512, circa 1960, by Johannes Hansen
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
Hans J Wegner (1914-2007), Folding Lounge Chair, model JH-512, original design 1949, this example possibly produced circa 1960. Produced by Johannes Hansen, Copenhagen Denmark, an...
Brass
Mid Century Scandinavian Vintage Folding Armchair in the Manner of Hans Wegner
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Basel, BS
Beautifully made, substantial folding Danish rope armchair. High quality original vintage. Additional information: Materials: Caning, Oak Color: Brown Styles: Danish Modern Item Ty...
Oak
Pair of Vintage Hans Wegner CH 27 Easy Chairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of matching vintage Hans Wegner CH 27 Easy Chairs, circa 1950s-60s and originating from Denmark. The wood frame and caning are in a condition co...
Cane, Wood
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...
Cane, Oak
Hans Wegner JH-512 Oak Folding Chair, c. 1950s
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in London, England
This classic folding chair in oak and cane was one of Danish master Hans J. Wegner's most important and iconic works. The model 512 chair was produced by master cabinetmaker Johannes...
Rattan, Oak
Hans J. Wegner 1950s Folding Chair, Oak Frame with Cane, Scandinavian
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Designed in 1949 by Hans Wegner and produced c.1950s for Johannes Hansen. The cane chair features an oak frame with the original cane. The seat of the chair sits at a slant offering ...
Cane, 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.
