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.
Model 869 Lounge Chair by Ico Parisi for Cassina, Italy 1960's
By Cassina, Ico Parisi
Located in Hellouw, NL
A chair with an architectural frame and a calm, low-slung posture, Model 869 reflects Ico Parisi’s interest in structure, comfort and visual rhythm. Design Designed by Ico Parisi fo...
Wood
Arm Chair by Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig and Gino Maggioni, Italy 1940s
By Gino Maggioni, Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig
Located in Hellouw, NL
A clear expression of Italian Rationalist design, this rare armchair by Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig and Gino Maggioni combines architectural clarity with remarkable comfort. Designed...
Bentwood
Armchair In Walnut And Burgundy Upholstery, Italy 1960's
Located in Hellouw, NL
Dynamic and asymmetrical shapes in combination with simplicity in design make this armchair an attractive eye-catcher and a typical mid-century chair which makes it an eyeful piece. ...
Upholstery, Walnut
Easy Chair by John de Haard in Pinewood and Canvas with Hocker, the Netherlands
Located in Hellouw, NL
Dutch furniture design from the 1970s is known for its functional approach and honest use of materials. This rare lounge chair with matching ottoman, designed by John de Haard for Ge...
Canvas, Pine
Easy Chair by John De Haard in Pinewood with Hocker, the Netherlands 1960s
By Gebroeders Jonker Noordwolde
Located in Hellouw, NL
Unique Dutch Design lounge chair in pinewood, metal, and canvas with matching hocker. This chair is designed by John de Haard for 'Gebroeders Jonkers'. T...
Metal
Amsterdam School Reclining Armchair in Oak, The Netherlands 1930s
Located in Hellouw, NL
Furniture from the Amsterdam School carries a sculptural presence that moves beyond mere function. Emerging in the Netherlands in the early twentieth century, this movement sought ex...
Fabric, Oak
Ib Kofod Larsen "Seal" Lounge Armchair, Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Teak
By Ib Kofod-Larsen, OPE Möbler
Located in Kramfors, SE
Scandinavian modern “Seal” armchair designed by Ib Kofod Larsen, Denmark. Made by OPE, Olof Persson Möbler, Jönköping Sweden. “Sälen”, as is the original...
Teak
Arne Vodder, Lounge Chair, Teak, Fabric, Denmark, 1950s
By Bovirke, Arne Vodder
Located in High Point, NC
A teak and beige fabric lounge chair, designed by Arne Vodder and produced by Bovirke, Denmark, 1950s. Seat Height (inches): 15.5" Arm Height (inches): 21.75" All items ship from ...
Fabric, Teak
Kurt Olsen Model 221 Wingback Lounge Chair in Teak
By Slagelse Mobelvaerk, Kurt Olsen
Located in Berkeley, CA
Origin: Denmark Designer: Kurt Olsen Manufacturer: Slagelse Møbelfabrik Era: 1955 Materials: Teak, Wool Measurements: Inquire for dimensions. Condition: In excellent original...
Wool, Teak
Yngve Ekström, Lounge Chair, Oak, Fabric, Sweden, 1960s
By Swedese, Yngve Ekström
Located in High Point, NC
An oak, leather and beige red striped fabric lounge chair designed by Yngve Ekström and produced by Swedese, Sweden, c. 1960s. Wear consistent with age and use. Reupholstered in bra...
Fabric, Oak
Model VP 37 Oak and Teak Lounge Chair by Georg Thams, Denmark 1950's
By Georg Thams
Located in Culver City, CA
An exceptionally sculptural Mid-Century Modern high-back wing chair designed by Georg Thams for Vejen Polstermøbelfabrik, Denmark, circa 1950s. Defined by its striking, architectura...
Velvet, Oak, Teak
Kurt Olsen Highback Lounge Chair in Teak
By Slagelse Mobelvaerk, Kurt Olsen
Located in Berkeley, CA
Origin: Denmark Designer: Kurt Olsen Manufacturer: Slagelse Møbler Era: 1950s Materials: Teak, Wool Measurements: 26.75″ wide x 25″ deep x 41″ tall, Seat Height 17.75″ tall
Wool, Teak
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.
