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 The Chair Model JH501 in Teak with Original Cane Seat
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A beautiful example of Hans Wegner's timeless The Chair or Round Chair built by cabinetmaker, Johannes Hansen, in solid teak with its original cane seat. The caning is 95% intact and...
Cane, Teak
One Hans Wegner for Johannes Hansen JH501 "The Chair" in Teak & Cane
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Seattle, WA
A single JH501 with cane seat and back, designed by Hans J. Wegner for Johannes Hansen. This iconic Danish modern design is best known as "The Chair.” The more common version with le...
Cane, Teak
$13,222
H 29.93 in W 24.81 in D 18.9 in
Midcentury Modern "The Chair" in teak by Hans J. Wegner, Denmark, 1950s
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Beautiful teak and leather “The Chair” armchair by Hans J. Wegner. Smoothly sculpted wooden details and decorative joinery. “The Chair” was designed in 1949 and quickly became a huge...
Leather, Teak
$8,814
H 30.12 in W 24.81 in D 20.48 in
Hans Wegner Armchair Model JH-501 / The Chair Produced by Johannes Hansen
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare armchair model JH-501 / The Chair designed by Hans Wegner. Produced by Johannes Hansen in Denmark.
Cane, Teak
Hans Wegner Vintage JH-501 Chair in Oak and Cane c1950s
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in London, England
Hans J. Wegner - Model JH-501: "The Chair", 1949 This early version of Hans Wegner's most iconic design was simply known as the 'The Chair' when it was first produced or fondly as '...
Rattan, Oak
$5,895
H 30.25 in W 24.75 in D 20.5 in
Hans Wegner for Johannes Hansen Mid Century Danish Teak The Chair
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Hans Wegner for Johannes Hansen Mid Century Danish Teak The Chair This chair measures: 24.75 wide x 20.5 deep x 30.25 inches high, with a seat height of 18.5 and arm height/chair cl...
Upholstery, Teak
$7,500 / item
H 30 in W 24.5 in D 20 in
10 Hans Wegner for Johannes Hansen JH-503 Chairs in Teak and Leather
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
We are excited to offer 4 early Hans Wegner JH-503 chairs designed in 1949 and Produced by Johannes Hansen. Fully restored solid old growth teak construction. Stamped with the maker'...
Leather, Teak
$8,180Sale Price|24% Off
H 30.71 in W 24.81 in D 20.48 in
JH-501 Armchair by Hans J. Wegner, Teak, Mid-Century Modern, Denmark
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in PARIS, FR
JH-501 armchair by Hans Wegner, 1949, Wegner's most emblematic armchair in its first version by cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen, fire-marked. It is this armchair that made Scandinavian ...
Teak
$5,499
H 30 in W 25 in D 21 in
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
$8,814
H 29.93 in W 24.81 in D 20.48 in
Hans Wegner Armchair Model Jh-501 / the Chair by Johannes Hansen in Denmark
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare armchair model JH-501 / the chair designed by Hans Wegner. Produced by Johannes Hansen in Denmark.
Cane, Teak
JH 507 - Rare armchair in solid teak by Hans J. Wegner
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Copenhagen, DK
JH 507 - Rare armchair in solid teak, upholstered in 'Old America' aniline leather. Designed by Hans J. Wegner and made by Johannes Hansen.
Leather, Teak
JH 518 - Rare 'Bull Chair' by Hans J. Wegner
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Copenhagen, DK
JH 518 - Rare 'Bull Chair' in solid oak and with seat of new, braided cane. Original label from manufacturer. Designed in 1961. Hans J. Wegner / Johannes Hansen
Oak
W2 - Dining chair by Hans J. Wegner
By C.M. Madsen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Copenhagen, DK
W2 dining chair in oak with patinated wicker. Designed by Hans J. Wegner and made by cabinetmaker C.M. Madsen. The wicker differs from each chair - contact for individual pictures.
Wicker, Oak
FD 136 - 'France Chair' easy chair in teak by Finn Juhl
By France & Daverkosen, Finn Juhl
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Model FD 136 - 'France Chair' easy chair in solid teak with new textile 'Cassia Aqua'. Labelled from manufacturer.
Fabric, Teak
Model 9662 - Faaborg chair in mahogany by Kaare Klint
By Kaare Klint, Rud Rasmussen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Model 9662 - ‘Faaborg Chair’ in mahogany with seat in patinated natural leather. Designed by Kaare Klint made by Rud Rasmussen.
Leather, Mahogany
GE 240 - 'Cigar' easy chair in oak by Hans J. Wegner
By Hans J. Wegner, GETAMA
Located in Copenhagen, DK
GE 240 - 'Cigaren' armchair in patinated oak with cushions in light upholstery. Designed by Hans J. Wegner and made by GETAMA.
Fabric, 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.
