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.
Iconic Jens Risom Lounge Chair for Knoll, Model 652-W, Mid-Century Modern
By Jens Risom, Knoll
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Classic Jens Risom Model 652-W lounge chair for KnollStudio, originally designed in 1941 and still celebrated as one of the icons of mid-century modern design. This timeless piece fe...
Cotton, Wood
Vintage Armchair by Maurice Bailey for Monteverdi Young
By Maurice Bailey, Monteverdi-Young
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Introducing the Vintage Armchair by Maurice Bailey for Monteverdi Young - a true masterpiece of furniture design. This stunning armchair boasts a Classic, timeless aesthetic that is ...
Wood
Vintage Lounge Chair by Phyllis Morris, California 1950's
By Phyllis Morris
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A classic Mid-Century Modern club chair by Phyllis Morris Originals, Los Angeles. This piece features a boxy silhouette with tailored button-tufted back cushion, loose seat cushion, ...
Wood
Art Nouveau Bentwood Rocking Chair by Jacob & Josef Kohn, Wien. Austria 1911
By Jacob & Josef Kohn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A graceful and historically significant bentwood rocking chair by renowned Viennese furniture makers Jacob & Josef Kohn, dating to circa 1900. Crafted in Austria, this sculptural pie...
Bentwood
Set of 4 First Cabin Dining Chairs by Kipp Stewart for Summit Furniture
By Kipp Stewart
Located in Los Angeles, CA
We have 12 chairs in total or 3 sets of 4. Introducing the Set of 4 First Cabin Dining Chairs by Kipp Stewart for Summit Furniture, the perfect addit...
Teak
Charles Hollis Jones Sling Chair, Signed and Dated
By Charles Hollis Jones
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Introducing the Charles Hollis Jones Sling Chair, Signed & Dated, USA 1969 – an extraordinary piece of mid-century design that effortl...
Chrome
Danish Modern Oversized Teak Rocking Chair by Hans Wegner for Tarm Stole
By Hans J. Wegner, Tarm Stole
Located in San Diego, CA
Danish Modern oversized teak rocking chair / rocker by Hans Wegner for Tarm Stole, circa 1970s This chair is even more impressive in person....
Upholstery, Teak
Vintage Danish Erik Ole Jorgensen Teak Rocking Chair for Tarm Stole
By Tarm Stole
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Jorgensen Danish Rocking Chair. Smaller scale perfect for a tight corner or childs bedroom. Solid structure. Comes with seat cushion as seen in pics.
Teak
1970s Hans Wegner for Tarm Stole of Denmark Rocking Chair in Teak
By Tarm Stole
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Teak Rocking Chair, designed by Hans Wegner for Tarm Stole of Denmark. This example dates to the 1970s. The frame of the chair is composed of teak, and the seat and backres...
Steel
Restored Mid-Century Danish Modern Teak Rocker Rocking Chair
By Frank Reenskaug
Located in West Chester, PA
Danish modern solid teak rocker attributed to Frank Reeenskaug. Frame restored with a fresh teak oil finish and new webbing. Seat and back cushions brand new custom made by our exper...
Upholstery, Teak
Newly Refinished - Danish Modern Teak Rocking Chair by Frank Reenskaug
By Frank Reenskaug
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Condition: Expertly Refinished, Newly Reupholstered With over 15 years of experience, our workshop has followed a careful process of restoration, showcasing our passion and creativit...
Fabric, Bentwood
Rocking Chair in Solid Teak & Bouclé, Yngve Ekström for Swedese, Sweden, 1960s
By Yngve Ekström
Located in Deland, FL
This elegant Mid-Century Modern rocking chair, designed by Yngve Ekström for Swedese in the 1960s, exemplifies Scandinavian design with its solid teak frame and newly custom upholste...
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.
