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.
Six Hans Wegner Dining Chairs, Model CH34 for Carl Hansen
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Pawtucket, RI
Rare set of six CH34 armchairs designed by Hans Wegner and manufactured by Carl Hansen of Denmark, circa 1960s. Sculpted teak and adjustable backs. Original black leather seats (one ...
Leather, Teak
Set of 8 Hans Wegner Model W1 Oak Dining Chairs, 1950s
By C.M. Madsen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in London, England
Hans Wegner - Model W1 Dining Chairs A set of 8 Model W1 dining chairs designed by Danish master Hans Wegner in the early 1950s. This design was produced by cabinetmakers C. M. Mad...
Leather, Oak
$7,924 / set
H 29.53 in W 20.48 in D 19.69 in
Hans Wegner CH30 Dining Chairs Carl Hansen, Denmark, 1950
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Stunning set of 6 dining chairs model CH30 designed by Hans J. Wegner and manufactured by Carl Hansen & Son, Odense Denmark 1950. These chairs are an early design by Wegner as they w...
Faux Leather, Oak, Teak
Hans Wegner W2 Dining Chairs for C.M. Madsen
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Set of six Danish modern dining chairs designed by Hans Wegner. Beautiful organic lines with designer stamp. Please confirm location.
Teak
Set of 10 Hans Wegner Model W1 Oak Dining Chairs, 1950s
By Hans J. Wegner, C.M. Madsen
Located in London, England
Hans Wegner - Model W1 Dining Chairs A set of 10 Model W1 dining chairs designed by Danish master Hans Wegner in the early 1950s. This design was produced by cabinetmakers C. M. Ma...
Leather, Oak
Set of 8 Hans Wegner W2 Oak and Leather Dining Chairs
Located in London, England
Hans Wegner - Model W2 Dining Chairs, 1953 A set of 8 Model W2 dining chairs designed by Danish master Hans J. Wegner in 1953 and produced by cabinetmakers C. M. Madsen in Haarby, D...
Leather, Oak
$9,649 / set
H 29.14 in W 21.66 in D 20.87 in
Hans J. Wegner Set of Early Production Carl Hansen & Sons Wishbone Chairs, 1960s
By Carl Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Odense, DK
A rare set of 6 model "CH-24" / "Wishbone" chairs from the early years of the Carl Hansen & Sons production of Hans J. Wegner iconic chair. The chairs have an amazing deep patina to ...
Papercord, Oak
4 Early Hans Wegner for Johannes Hansen JH-503 Chairs in Teak
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
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
Set of Six W2 Dining Chairs by Hans Wegner
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Barcelona, ES
Set of six W2 chairs designed in 1953 by Hans Wegner for C. M. Madsen, Denmark. Solid teak wood and new upholstery with tan leather.
Leather, Teak
$14,121 / set
H 31.11 in W 21.26 in D 19.69 in
Hans Wegner Dining Chairs by Cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen in Denmark
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Very rare dining chairs designed by Hans Wegner. Produced by cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen in Denmark.
Fabric, Oak
Set of 8 W2 Dining Chairs by Hans J Wegner
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in San Francisco, CA
A set of eight W2 oak dining chairs featuring an inset black upholstered seat and tapered legs. Stamped C M Madsens, made in Denmark, Hans J Wegner.
Upholstery, Oak
Set of Five Hans J Wegner W2 Chairs
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in San Francisco, CA
A set of five stained oak and cane dining chairs. Each chair frame is branded with the manufacturer's mark; [C.M. Madsen Fabriker Haarby Danmark Made in Denmark Design: Hans J. Wegne...
Cane, Oak
Teak W2 Dining Chairs by Hans Wegner
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in San Francisco, CA
A set of four teak W2 dining chairs by Hans J. Wegner. Made for CM Madsen factory. Sometimes referred to as "Heart Chair" and as W2. Draft of 1953, fra...
Leather, Teak
Hans Wegner Pair of Armchairs, Model PP-201
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in San Francisco, CA
Hans J. Wegner pair of oak armchairs, model PP-201. Oak with papercord seats, top rails with wengé inlays. Designed in 1969. Produced by PP Møbler, model PP 201. Literature: 'Wegner's 100 chairs...
Papercord, Oak
Set of 6 "Pirkka" Chairs by Ilmari Tapiovaara
By Ilmari Tapiovaara
Located in San Francisco, CA
A set of 6 "Pirkka" chairs by Ilmari Tapiovaara A set of Ilmari Tapiovaara design dining chairs, from the series "Pirkka". The sculptural design, is made in pine and black lacquered...
Pine
Ole Wanscher Lounge Chair
By Ole Wanscher
Located in San Francisco, CA
An easy chair with frame of rosewood. Seat and back upholstered with patinated black leather. Made by cabinetmaker A. J. Iversen, Copenhagen. The model was presented at the 1962 Cope...
Leather, Rosewood
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.
