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 Wegner Wing Lounge Chair for Carl Hansen & Søn
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. Wegner
Located in San Antonio, TX
Hans Wegner Wing Lounge Chair CH445 for Carl Hansen & Son. Hans J. Wegner’s CH445 chair, also known as the Wing Chair, is a fully upholstered easy chair t...
Stainless Steel
Hans J. Wegner wing chair in original leather, model CH445
By Carl Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Hans J. Wegner lounge chair / wing chair original upholsterd with aniline leather. Frame of brushed steel. Model CH448, made by Carl Hansen
Stainless Steel
2022 Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen CH468 Oculus Chair For Reupholstery
By Carl Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a CH468 Oculus Lounge Chair, originally designed by Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen in 1960. This particular piece was produced in Denmark in 2022. The chair is comprised of a so...
Steel
$3,500
H 40.6 in W 34.5 in D 34.5 in
2015 Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen & Son Wing Lounge Chair Model CH445 Fabric
By Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen & Søn
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Wing chair by Carl Hansen, model CH445, originally designed in 1960 by Hans J. Wegner. At the time of its inception, only a few examples were produced. Carl Hansen & Søn re...
Stainless Steel
$6,000
H 41.3 in W 37 in
2018 CH468 Oculus Lounge Chair by Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen in Melange Fabric
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a Oculus Lounge Chair designed by Hans Wegner, produced by Carl Hansen & Son in Denmark. The chair is made with a stainless steel frame and Divina Melange light...
Stainless Steel
$5,200 / item
H 40.6 in W 35.4 in
2018 CH445 Wing Lounge Chair by Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen 2x Available
By Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen & Søn
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is one (two chairs are available, the the price listed is for each chair) CH445 Wing Lounge Chair made with a stainless steel frame and red fabric with a floral patte...
Stainless Steel
Hans J. Wegner Jh-515 Armchair for Johannes Hansen
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Hans J. Wegner model JH 515 oak armchair. Seat and back upholstered with canvas. Executed by cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen, Denmark.
Fabric, Oak
Børge Mogensen Wingback Chair
By Børge Mogensen, Fredericia
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Børge Mogensen wingback chair new upholstered with canvas and cognac aniline tubings. Legs in teak. Model 2204, made by Fredericia ...
Leather, Teak, Canvas
Hans Wegner Carl Hansen & Son CH07 Lounge Chair
By Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen & Søn
Located in New York, NY
It is not an overstatement to describe this chair as iconic, the Hans Wegner model CH07 has firmly established its position in the hierarchy of 20th century design. This example was ...
Upholstery, Plywood
$7,500
H 41.3 in W 37 in D 37 in
2022 CH468 Oculus Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen
By Carl Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a CH468 Oculus Lounge Chair, originally designed by Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen in 1960. These particular pieces were produced in Denmark in 2022. The chairs are comprised of...
Steel
Finn Juhl Armchair BO-46 - 1st. Original Savak Fabric Upholstery
By Finn Juhl, Bovirke
Located in Utrecht, NL
A rare and early example of armchair model BO-46 by Finn Juhl for Bovirke Denmark. Arm chair model BO-46 was designed by Finn Juhl in 1953 based upon his earlier designed chair model...
Fabric, Beech
Tulip chair by Erwin and Estelle Laverne
By Erwine & Estelle Laverne
Located in Utrecht, NL
Rare moulded fibre glass arm chair on steel base by American designer couple Estelle and Erwin Laverne, 1958, for Laverne International. Outer shell structured, inner shell smooth. ...
Steel
Getama Hans Wegner Daybed & Lounge Chair Model GE1 - NO LONGER MADE / AVAILABLE
By GETAMA, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Utrecht, NL
Daybed model GE1 by Hans Wegner in solid oak with oil finish and a bespoke fine bouclé fabric upholstery in seafoam-green from a premium Italian textile brand DEDAR. Hans J. Wegner'...
Stainless Steel
BO611 Swivel Desk Chair by Jorgen Kastholm & Preben Fabricius - Bo-Ex, Denmark
By Jørgen Kastholm & Preben Fabricius
Located in Utrecht, NL
Rare model BO611 swivel chair by Jorgen Kastholm & Preben Fabricius, manufactured by Bo-Ex Denmark from 1968. Fibreglass reinforced polyester shell upholstered in a beautiful hea...
Steel
Finn Juhl Japan Sofa by France & Son, All New Premium Upholstery
By France & Søn, Finn Juhl
Located in Utrecht, NL
"Japan" series sofa by Finn Juhl, designed in 1957 made by France & Son Denmark. The sublime simplicity of the "Japan" series is inspired by traditional Japanese construction techni...
Fabric, Teak, Wool, Linen
Cognac PK 31 /2 Sofa by Poul Kjærholm for E. Kold Christensen
By Poul Kjærholm
Located in Utrecht, NL
PK 31 /2 sofa settee by Poul Kjærholm, manufactured by first manufacturer Ejvindt Kold Christensen Denmark (marking on last photo). Sofa comes with original upholstered frame panels...
Steel, Chrome
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.
