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.
$5,400
H 28 in W 28 in D 23 in
1951 HANS WEGNER Lounge chair, model no. CH-22 by Carl Hansen & Son, Denmark.
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1951 HANS J. WEGNER Lounge Chair, model no. CH-22 manufactured by Carl Hansen & Søn, Denmark. Oak frame with rush seat. Underside of arm branded with designer. In good vintage condi...
Rush, Oak
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
Hans Wegner Sawbuck Chair
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in New York, NY
A Danish oak and leather armchair. Designed by Hans Wegner Name - Sawbuck chair Model Number - CH-28 armchair was designed by Hans Wegner in 195...
Oak, Leather
$8,853
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
Midcentury "Yoke" Armchair by Hans J. Wegner, Denmark, 1960s
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
“Yoke” armchair by Hans J. Wegner, made from oak with a black leather back and seat. Striking silhouette with cool details and beautiful woodgrain.
Oak, Leather
Hans Wegner Danish Lounge Chair CH28 Sawback, 1950s Scandinavian
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Original CH28 sawback lounge chair designed by Hans Wegner, Denmark, for Carl Hansen & Sons in massive teak. Minor sign.
Leather, Teak
CH25 Chair by Hans J Wegner for Carl Hansen & Søn
By Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen & Søn
Located in Little Burstead, Essex
We have had quite a few of these over the last 25 years, but this one is particularly good it's a nice early example in great condition with the makers stamp and the Danish furniture...
Papercord, Oak
$8,853
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
$4,592
H 27.96 in W 24.02 in D 18.12 in
Rare armchair 'CH-34' by Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen & Son, Denmark, 1960s
By Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen & Søn
Located in Eskilstuna, SE
Rare oak and leather armchair model 'CH-34' designed by Hans J. Wegner and produced by Carl Hansen & Son, Denmark, 1960s. Made in solid oak with tapered legs. Original black leather upholstery. Great original patina. Makers mark on bottom...
Leather, Oak
Vintage Hans Wegner Armchair
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Hans Wegner armchair, located in NY.
Leather, Oak
Hans Wegner for Getama Lounge Chairs
By GETAMA, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Denton, TX
Rare Hans Wegner lounge chairs constructed in oak with grey upholstery by GEMTANA. Danish modern styling with the rustic quality of oak.
Upholstery, Oak
Rosewood Swivel Lounge Chair by Hans Brattrud for Georg Eknes
By Hans Battrud
Located in Denton, TX
Hans Brattrud Scandia rosewood lounge chair by Georg Eknes, Norway, circa 1970, Scandia rosewood slatted lounge chair.
Chrome
Don Shoemaker Sling Chair
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Denton, TX
The iconic beautiful mexican modern Don Shoemaker "sling" chair. Made for Señal S.A. Made from solid Cocobolo Wood with original black leather. Made in the 1960s
Leather, Cocobolo
Pair of Hans Wegner Lounge Chairs in Oak
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Denton, TX
Great pair on Danish modern in white oak with gray fabric by Hans Wegner.
Upholstery, Wood
Danish Modern Petit Hoop Chairs
By Ib Kofod-Larsen
Located in Denton, TX
Solid Beech wood spindle back hoop chairs in the style Kofed Larsen with original vinyl seats.
Beech, Upholstery
Pair of Danish Modern Style Armchairs
Located in Denton, TX
Very comfortable curved back solid teak dining / armchairs in the style of Danish modern.
Upholstery, 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.
