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 Model J16 Rocking Chair, 1961
By Hans J. Wegner, FDB Møbler
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wonderful model J16 rocking chair by Hans Wegner for FDB Møbler, designed in 1944, in light-gray painted beech with woven paper cord seat. This example was produced in 1961, features...
Papercord, Beech
The J 16 Shaker Rocking Chair by Hans J. Wegner for FDB
By Hans J. Wegner, FDB Møbler
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A Shaker Style Scandinavian Modern rocking chair designed by Hans Wegner in beech wood with a woven paper cord seat. Made in Denmark by FDB, circa 1970s.
Papercord, Beech
$1,895 / item
H 42.5 in W 24.75 in D 32 in
Classic Hans Wegner Danish "J16" Rocking Chair for FDB Mobler
By Hans J. Wegner, FDB Møbler
Located in Peabody, MA
Hans Wegner “J16” rocker in beech with corded seat for FDB Mobler, Denmark. Created in 1944, this has been one of Wegner’s most widely recognized designs. Marked with a production da...
Papercord, Beech
$3,122
H 42.13 in W 24.81 in D 36.62 in
Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Rocking Chair Model J16 by Hans Wegner, 1960s
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian rocking chair Model J16 by Hans Wegner. Designer Biography : "Best known for his chairs and 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 Wegner’s best chair designs, seen in dealer listings below, have their roots in traditional seating...
Wood
$695Sale Price|66% Off
H 42.13 in W 24.81 in D 31.5 in
Totally Original J16 Rocking Chair by Hans J. Wegner for Fredericia
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Markington, GB
Trully original J16 Rocking Chair by Hans J. Wegner for Fredericia, 1940s A beautiful example of mid-century Danish design, this J16 rocking chair was designed by Hans J. Wegner in ...
Beech
Rocking chair 'J16' by Hans J. Wegner, Denmark, 1960s
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Eskilstuna, SE
Classic rocking chair model 'J19' designed by Hans J. Wegner, Denmark, during the 1960s.
Seagrass, Beech
J16 rocking chair by Hans Wegner for FDB Mobler, 1960s
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Mid century beech wooden and papercord rocking chair designed by Hans J Wegner for FDB Mobler in the 1960s. Beautifully crafted chair by one of the best scandinavian designer from t...
Papercord, Beech
$2,295
H 42 in W 25 in D 36 in
Scandinavian Modern Rocking Chair Model J16 by Hans Wegner Beechwood & Cord Seat
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Topeka, KS
Handsome vintage Scandinavian Modern rocking chair Model J16 by Hans Wegner composed of a beechwood frame, hand twisted natural cord seat, & a clear lacquered finish. This piece ...
Cord, Wood, Beech, Lacquer
$1,915
H 42 in W 25 in D 31 in
Hans Wegner FDB Møbler Beechwood High Back Rocking Chair Danish Mid-Century Mode
By Hans J. Wegner, FDB Møbler
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This classic rocking chair features a tall spindle back and sweeping curved armrests. Its timeless aesthetic highlights clean Scandinavian functionalism. Crafted in Denmark, this pie...
Beech
$3,924
H 42.13 in W 24.81 in D 36.62 in
Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Rocking Chair Model J16 by Hans Wegner for Fred
By Fredericia, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Courbevoie, FR
Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian rocking chair model J16 by Hans Wegner for Fredericia. New edition. Finish: Beech, Black lacquered or oak. Natural or black paper cord seat. Price is ...
Beech
Danish Modern Rocking Chair in Oakwood by Kaare Klint at Rud. Rasmussen, 1942
By Kaare Klint, Rud Rasmussen
Located in Odense, DK
Early and important rocking chair designed by Kaare Klint in 1942 and manufactured in very low numbers at Rud Rasmussen cabinetmakers. The chair is made in solid oakwood and the seat...
Oak
Scandinavian Modern Hans J. Wegner Rocking Chair, Red Lacquer, 1960s, Denmark
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Odense, DK
Rare early rocking chair model J16 by Hans J. Wegner manufactured by FDB in the 1960s. This rare red lacquered version were made in few numbers for a limited time-period and are a ra...
Papercord, Beech, Lacquer
Scandinavian Modern Windsor Chair in Patinated Ash and White Bouclé, 1940s
By Hans J. Wegner, Frits Henningsen
Located in Odense, DK
Amazing "windsor" armchair made by a Danish cabinetmaker in the 1940s. The chair is made from solid ash and is sublimely built with many wonderful details showing great craftsmanship...
Bouclé, Ash
1950s Rocking Chair in Oak & Wool Fabric by Henry Kjærnulff, Danish Modern
By Henning Kjærnulf
Located in Odense, DK
Vintage rocking chair in solid patinated Scandinavian oak tree and original "Olmerdug" wool upholstery. This model was designed in the 1950s and is ascribed to Henry Kjærnulff, Denma...
Oak
Swedish Modern "Anders" Lounge Chair, Yngve Ekström, Birch & Saddle Girth, 1945
By Yngve Ekström
Located in Odense, DK
Rare "Anders" lounge chair by Yngve Ekström made in the late 1940s at his own workshop Swedese. The chair is made from solid birchwood with a beautiful warm patina and the original strong saddle girth. Designed in 1945 and produced in low numbers. Yngve Ekström was one of Sweden's most prominent furniture designers. He also worked as an architect and sculptor and designed logos, catalogs, and advertisements. Yngve Ekström began his career working in furniture factories, where he learned to work with wood. His furniture is characterized by straight, tight lines in bendable wood. Several of his designs are now considered design classics, such as the Lamino armchair, the Arka chair, and the Pinocchio chair...
Birch
Hans J. Wegner Early Stamped Carl Hansen & Son CH-24 "Wishbone" Chair, 1950s
By Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen
Located in Odense, DK
Rare model "CH-24" / "Wishbone" chairs from the very early years of the Carl Hansen & Sons production of Hans J. Wegner's iconic chair. The condition of both chairs is amazing and th...
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.
