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.
Pair of Wegner PP66 "Chinese Chairs" for PP Mobler in Oak and Papercord
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Seattle, WA
At the Cabinetmakers' Guild's Autumn Exhibition in 1943, Wegner presented his first version of a chair inspired by an old Chinese chair, which he had...
Papercord, Oak
Set of Four Niels Otto Moller Model 78 chair in Rosewood and Papercord
By Niels Otto Møller
Located in Seattle, WA
Iconic set of four Brazillian rosewood dining chairs model 78, designed by Niels Otto Moller for JL Møller Møbelfabrik in 1954. This set is in original condition, with new papercord....
Papercord, Rosewood
Set of eight Niels Otto Moller dining chair Model 77 in Rosewood and Papercord
By Niels Otto Møller
Located in Seattle, WA
Set of 8 Brazilian rosewood dining chairs Model 77 designed by Niels O. Moller for J.L. Moller Mobelfabrik, Denmark, 1959. Newly re-papercorded seats, the maker's mark is on the bott...
Papercord, Rosewood
Niels Moller chairs, eight Model 77, two Model 57 , Rosewood and Papercord
By Niels Otto Møller
Located in Seattle, WA
One of the less common Moller designs, especially in solid rosewood, this expansive set of 10 dining chairs features two Carver model 57 chairs and 8 dining chair model 77 chairs. ...
Rosewood, Papercord
A pair of Niels Otto Moller Armchair Model 57, Rosewood and Papercord
By Niels Otto Møller
Located in Seattle, WA
One of the less common Moller designs, especially in solid rosewood, this pair of Moller 57 armchairs was made by J.L. Moller Møbelfabrik, Denmark, in 1959. ...
Papercord, Rosewood
Niels O. Møller Armchair Model 62 by J.L. Møllers Møbelfabrik in Rosewood
By Neils O. Möller
Located in Seattle, WA
Possibly the most sought-after and rare Moller chair, especially in rosewood. This armchair model 62, designed by Niels Otto Møller. Produced by J.L Møllers møbelfabrik in Denmark, i...
Papercord, Rosewood
Hans J. Wegner Armchairs Model PP201 Made In Oak & Wenge For PP Møbler
By PP Møbler, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Lejre, DK
Set of armchairs, model 201 made of oak with wenge wood inlay with backrest and seat made of paper yarn designed in 1969 by Hans J. Wegner at PP Møbler. The chairs are in very nice u...
Oak, Wenge
Hans J. Wegner Model PP201 Dining Chairs in Oak and Papercord seats, PP Møbler
By PP Møbler, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Beautiful set of 4 vintage Hans J. Wegner Model PP201 dining chairs for PP Møbler, Denmark, 1970s. Solid oak frame with wenge details in the backrests and hand-woven papercord seats....
Papercord, Oak, Wenge
Oak and Papercord Armchairs or Dining Chairs, Denmark 1960s.
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Almelo, NL
Oak and Papercord Armchairs or Dining Chairs, Denmark 1960s. These chairs are made of solid oak and handwoven paper cord seats. The chairs are in good vintage condition and can be used as dining or side chairs. These chairs would be an eye-catching addition to any interior, such as the living room, family room, screening room, or office. It also perfectly fits hospitality or corporate areas like a boutique hotel lobby, cocktail bar, members club, or luxury loft. When you choose for used mid...
Papercord, Oak
Dining Chairs Oak and New Papercord by Hans J. Wegner for Carl Hansen CH37
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Oirlo, LI
The dining chair by Hans J. Wegner is made with great attention to detail in a simple and functional design. This design from 1962 demonstrates the influence that American Shaker fur...
Papercord, Oak
Hans J Wegner Pair of Armchairs PP 62 of Solid Oak by PP Møbler in Denmark 1990s
By Børge Mogensen, PP Møbler, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
Pair of armchairs model no. PP 62 by the Danish architect and cabinetmaker Hans J. Wegner (1914-2007) designed especially for the DFDS ferries in 1975. This pair of chairs are made b...
Papercord, Oak
Set of four Wishbone Chairs in Oak model "CH24" By Hans J. Wegner & Carl Hansen
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Lejre, DK
Set of CH24 Wishbone Chairs designed by Hans J. Wegner and produced by Carl Hansen & Søn in the 1960s. Made in oak with natural paper cord seats. One of Wegner’s most iconic desi...
Papercord, 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.
