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.
Papa Bear Stool in Teak by Hans J. Wegner, 1960s
By Hans J. Wegner, A.P. Stolen
Located in Lejre, DK
Teak framed stool with fabric seat - Designed by Maa. Hans J. Wegner and made by A.P. Stolen Denmark. The ideal stool for the Papa Bear chair or other lounge chairs in the style. Ori...
Fabric, Teak
$1,390
H 16.5 in W 24.5 in D 16.5 in
Classic Modernist Hans Wegner Style 'PAPA BEAR" Ottoman / Foot Stool
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Buffalo, NY
Classic Modernist Hans Wegner Style 'PAPA BEAR" Ottoman / Foot Stool.. Superior quality and construction,, Perfect companion to your modernist lounge chair,, or jst a great stand - a...
Fabric, Teak
Hans J. Wegner, Papa Bear Ottoman, 1950's
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Toronto, ON
The classic AP-29 stool to accompany the iconic Papa Bear chair in teak wood by : -Hans J. Wegner (1914-2007). - Manufactured by A.P.Stolen, Denmark Circa 1959 -Original as found fa...
Fabric, Teak
$9,728
H 20.28 in W 27.56 in D 16.54 in
AP-30 Piano Stool in Oak and Original Fabric by Hans J. Wegner, 1957
By A.P. Stolen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
AP-30 Piano Stool in Oak and Original Fabric by Hans J. Wegner, 1957 Additional Information: Material: Oak and Fabric Style: Mid Century, Scandinavian Stool Produced by A.P. Stolen...
Fabric, Oak
1970s Mid Century Papa Bear Ottoman Styled After Hans J. Wegner
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Mid Century papa bear ottoman designed and manufactured in the United States circa 1970s. This stunning stool exudes elegance and sophistication with its sleek black leather upholste...
Leather, Walnut
Mid Century Hans Wegner Papa Bear Footstool
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in PRAHA 5, CZ
Attractive ottoman based on Hans Wegner design. Made of beech wood and velour upholstery. In very good original condition.
Wool, Beech
$2,200
H 15.36 in W 23.23 in D 18.51 in
Hans J. Wegner for Getama 'Cigar' Stool in Solid Oak with Green Cushion
By Hans J. Wegner, GETAMA
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Hans J. Wegner for Getama, 'Cigar' ottoman, model 'GE240S', oak, fabric, Denmark, design 1955 Designed in 1955, this Cigar ottoman is a creation by Danish master Hans J. Wegner for ...
Fabric, Oak
Mid Century Danish Modern Walnut Papa Chair Ottoman
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Mid Century Danish Modern Walnut chair ottoman, similar to Hans Wegner design chair ottomans minus the hand hold sides. Circa 1950's, this piece shows it was well cared for and reuph...
Upholstery, Walnut
AP 30 - Piano stool in oak by Hans J. Wegner
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Copenhagen, DK
AP 30 - Piano stool in oak with seat in patinated black leather. Stamped from manufacturer AP Stolen.
Leather, Oak
$1,480
H 45 in W 58 in D 50 in
Eivind A. Johansen, Oak Footstool with Light Lambswool Upholstery for FDB Møbler
By Ejvind A. Johansson, FDB Møbler
Located in Odense, DK
A refined stool designed by Eivind Johansen for FDB Møbler, crafted with a solid oak frame and newly upholstered in soft lambswool in a light cream/beige tone. This piece reflects th...
Lambskin, Wool, Oak
Hans Wegner Ap-29 Papa Bear Ottoman in Oak and Boucle
By A.P. Stolen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in London, England
Hans J. Wegner AP-29 Papa Bear Ottoman, 1953 The Papa Bear chair is one of Danish master Hans J. Wegner's most iconic designs and is perfectly complimetned by the matching AP-29 ottoman. Produced by A.P. Stolen in Denmark this piece features beautifully aged and patinated oak handles and legs that have been sensitively restored. This example has been reupholstered in luxurious Dedar Karakorum...
Wool, Bouclé, Oak
Hans Wegner AP-30 Teak Piano Stool c1950s
By Hans J. Wegner, A.P. Stolen
Located in London, England
Hans J. Wegner AP-30 Piano Stool Produced by A.P. Stolen in Denmark, this model is based on the AP-29 Papa Bear ottoman. The rarely seen piano stool has an additional cross-bar and...
Leather, Oak
Hans Wegner Teak Piano Stool c1950s
By Hans J. Wegner, A.P. Stolen
Located in London, England
Hans J. Wegner - AP-30 Piano Stool Produced by A.P. Stolen in Denmark, this model is based on the AP-29 Papa Bear ottoman. The rarely seen piano stool has additional stretchers and longer legs. This example has an oiled teak frame and has been reupholstered on Pierre Frey fabric. Hans Wegner's output in the 1950s was quite remarkable, even by his own high standards. Several Danish factory producers benefited from the founding of the Salesco group - the brainchild of Wegner and entrepreneur Ejvind Kold Christensen. Several factories were selected to share Wegner's designs tailored for their specific expertise. Amongst them was A.P. Stolen, founded in 1944 at the tail end of the German occupation by upholsterer Anker Peterson in Copenhagen. Petersen was assigned Wegner best traditionally upholstered armchairs, including the era-defining Papa Bear Chair. Most of their frames were supplied on Wegner's direction by Ejnar Pedersen's workshop PP Mobler. This combination of fine upholstery and joinery workshops produced some of Wegner's most successful designs in his golden decade. The Papa Bear Chair (AP-19) was launched together with the AP-29 foot stool. Later, the AP-30 Piano stool was introduced and made in small numbers. This version added elegant stretchers and taller legs to the Papa Bear stool...
Fabric, Teak
Hans Wegner AP-30 Oak & Leather Piano Stool c1950s
By Hans J. Wegner, A.P. Stolen
Located in London, England
Hans Wegner - AP-30 Piano Stool, 1957 Produced by A.P. Stolen in Denmark, this model was an evolution of the AP-29 Papa Bear ottoman. The rarely seen piano stool has an additional c...
Leather, Oak
Hans Wegner Boucle, Teak & Oak Papa Bear Chair 1950s
By A.P. Stolen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in London, England
Hans J. Wegner - AP-19 Papa Bear Chair, 1952 Vintage, original 1950s production of one of Danish master Hans Wegner's most iconic designs. The Papa Bear is rightly considered one of...
Oak, Wool, Bouclé, Cotton, Teak
Hans Wegner Rosewood Papa Bear Chair in Boucle Fabric
By Hans J. Wegner, A.P. Stolen
Located in London, England
Hans J. Wegner - AP-19 Papa Bear Chair, 1953 Vintage, original 1950s production of one of Danish master Hans Wegner's most iconic designs. The Papa Bear is rightly considered one ...
Fabric, Wool, Rosewood
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.
