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.
$58,841
H 27.96 in W 82.68 in D 36.03 in
Hans Wegner Desk Produced by Cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen in Denmark
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Very rare freestanding desk designed by Hans Wegner. Produced by cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen in Denmark.
Steel
$3,840Sale Price|20% Off
H 28 in W 60 in D 32 in
Mid century Hans Wegner desk model 156 GETAMA Solid Oak
By Hans J. Wegner, GETAMA
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage 1960s Danish solid white oak desk Model 156 with (2) drawers designed by Hans J. Wegner for GETAMA Manufacturer. The Solid Oak desk with Brass key lock with key on (1) drawer...
Wood, Oak
$75,210
H 28.75 in W 76.78 in D 35.44 in
Desk model JH571 Designed by Hans J. Wegner for Johannes Hansen
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Stockholm, SE
The Architect’s Desk, model JH571, designed by Hans J. Wegner for the Copenhagen cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen in 1953, represents one of the most refined and architecturally minded w...
Metal
Hans J. Wegner GE125 Oak Writing Desk for GETAMA, Denmark
By Hans J. Wegner, GETAMA
Located in Praha, CZ
Exceptional Danish modern writing desk designed by Hans J. Wegner for GETAMA, model GE125, produced in Denmark during the 1970s. This highly collectible Scandinavian desk features el...
Wood, Beech, Oak, Plywood
$8,900
H 29 in W 55 in D 30 in
Hans J. Wegner Drop Leaf Desk or Table Model "AT-305" for Andreas Tuck, 1955
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Buffalo, NY
Classic Danish Modernist drop-leaf table/desk by Danish designer Hans J. Wegner can be used both as a work desk and as a dining table. The design is from 1955 and this particular tab...
Oak, Teak
Hans Wegner Desk Danish Mid Century Table
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Dublin, IE
The Hans Wegner Desk Model No. PP305, designed in 1955 and crafted by PP Mobler, is a beautiful example of Danish modernism. Constructed from solid ash throughout, the desk showcases...
Beech
$2,900
H 29 in W 49.5 in D 26 in
Classic Teak and Oak Modernist Desk att to Hans Wegner , made in Denmark
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Buffalo, NY
Classic Teak and Oak Modernist Desk att to Hans Wegner , made in Denmark..Superior quality and construction, 3 drawers and pull out shelf.. Locking top drawer (original key). Doveta...
Oak, Teak
Mid modern danish standing desk in teak Hans Wegner style
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Courbevoie, FR
Mid modern danish standing desk in teak attriduted to Hans Wegner. 3 drawers in the apron and two flip-down leaves
Teak
$76,493
H 29.14 in W 59.06 in D 29.53 in
Hans Wegner Desk Model JH-563 by Cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen in Denmark
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Very rare freestanding desk model JH-563 designed by Hans Wegner. Produced by cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen in Denmark.
Brass
Hans Wegner Drop Leaf Desk AT-305 for Andreas Tuck, 1955
Located in Savannah, GA
A Hans Wegner drop leaf desk or table, model AT-305 for Andreas Tuck, 1955. The top with custom finish for an artist in a thick white water-resistant poly coating (perfect for kitch...
Wood
Arne Jacobsen Danish Modern "DJOB" Desk
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Arne Jacobsen Danish Modern "DJOB" Desk. 60w 30d 27.5
Plastic, Wood
Mid Century Modern Kidney Shaped Desk
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Rare Mid Century Modern Kidney Shaped Desk. Finished back. 74.5w 21d 30h
Wood
Danish Modern Secretary Desk or Cabinet
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Danish Modern Secretary Desk with Pull out shelf. Small drawers on top and big drawers on bottom. Height of pull out desk is 29h
Wood
1950s Mølgaard & Hvidt AX Coffee Table Teak and Beech for Fritz Hansen
By Hvidt & Mølgaard, Fritz Hansen
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
AX coffee table by Peter Hvidt & Orla Mølgaard. 1950s. Teak with inlaid beech wood. Manufactured by Fritz Hansen A/S.
Wood
Danish Modern Teak Vanity or Desk
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Danish Modern Vanity or Desk. Drawers on back side. Drawer with vanity mirror inside. 43.5w 25d 28.5h
Wood
Danish Modern Kurt Ostervig Dining Folding Teak Table
By Kurt Østervig
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Kurt Ostervig Dining Folding Table. 39-78 Long 39.5d 29h. Easy to slide back and forth lenghts.
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.
