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.
Teak Desk by Børge Mogensen, Scandinavian Modern, Denmark, 1950s
By Børge Mogensen, P. Lauritsen & Son 1
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Beautiful teak desk by Børge Mogensen. Two sets of drawers with inset brass pulls and extendable leaves just underneath the tabletop. The top right drawer has an insert with compartm...
Brass
Midcentury Modernist “Architect's Desk”, Hans J. Wegner, Denmark, 1960s
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Amazing “Architect’s Desk”, model #JH571, by Hans J. Wegner, made from teak in a generous size. Subtly tapering oak legs supported by brass stretchers. Deep drawers with custom made ...
Metal
Scandinavian Modern Free Form Teak Desk, Denmark, 1950s
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Amazing Danish midcentury modern desk. Tabletop in a sleek and organic shape made from teak with legs in brass and contrasting feet ends, also made in teak. A large desk that feels a...
Brass
Vintage Modernist Desk by Ib Kofod Larsen, Sweden, 1960s
By Ib Kofod-Larsen
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Stylish teak desk by Ib Kofod Larsen, with a spacious table top and two drawers. The open sides give a lightness to the design.
Teak
Danish Modern Desk by Ernst Kühn, Lysberg, Hansen & Therp, Danmark, 1930s
By Ernst Kühn, Lysberg, Hansen & Therp
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Rare Danish Modern desk by Ernst Kühn, made from mahogany with unusual lines and proportions. Hidden handles for the drawers make them easy to pull out, the key is missing.
Mahogany
Teak Dining Table by Børge Mogensen, Denmark, 1960s
By Søberg Møbler, Børge Mogensen
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Teak dining table by Børge Mogensen, model 162, in a rare edition with steel legs. Elegant, light expression. Clever, decorative mechanism for folding out th...
Steel
Vintage Danish Oak Desk by Henning Jensen & Torben Valeur for Dyrlund, 1960s
By Henning Jensen & Torben Valeur
Located in Nørre Aaby, DK
This elegant oak desk, designed by Henning Jensen and Torben Valeur, showcases beautiful detailing and solid craftsmanship, produced by Dyrlund. A perfect example of timeless Danish ...
Oak
Early Hans J. Wegner teak desk model AT-305, 1955
By Andreas Tuck, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Early Hans J. Wegner teak desk with three integrated drawers and two drop leaves. Designed 1955 and manufactured by cabinetmaker Anders Tuck, Denmark. Marked by maker. Dimension:...
Teak
Hans J. Wegner Model 305 Drop-Leaf Desk, Oak & Teak, 1960
By Hans J. Wegner, Andreas Tuck
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Hans J. Wegner Model 305 Writing Desk with two 18.75 drop-leaves on both ends. Iconic, beautiful and elegant design that functions beautifully! Oak body with Teak Top and drop-leaf...
Brass
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
Midcentury Danish Design Desk in Teak by Svend Aage Madsen, 1950s
By Svend Åge Madsen
Located in Lejre, DK
Great looking desk in teak with cane details on the frame and the handles. Designed by Svend Aage Madsen. Made in Denmark in the 1950s. Nice original condition.
Cane, Teak
Desk “AT 305” Designed by Hans J. Wegner for Andreas Tuck, Denmark, 1955
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Stockholm, SE
Desk “AT 305” designed by Hans J. Wegner for Andreas Tuck, Denmark. 1955. Oak. Stamped by cabinetmaker Andreas Tuck. Dimensions: H: 73 cm / 2' 5" W: 75,5 cm / 2' 7" L: 139 cm / 4...
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.
