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.
Dining Table With Leaves Model AT 319 In Rosewood & Steel Legs By Hans J. Wegner
By Andreas Tuck Møbelfabrik, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Lejre, DK
An original dining table model AT 319 by Hans J. Wegner for Andreas Tuck. Rio rosewood with steel legs and 2 extension leaves. Danish design from the 1960s. — Designer: Hans J. Wegn...
Steel
Hans J. Wegner Dining Table Model AT 318 In Rosewood For Andreas Tuck From 1960s
By Andreas Tuck Møbelfabrik, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Lejre, DK
Hans J. Wegner dining table model AT 318 in rosewood with brushed steel frame. An rare early model made by Andreas Tuck, with brand mark. Fully restored.
Steel
Hans J. Wegner Teak and Oak Dining Table with Extensions by Andreas Tuck Denmark
By Andreas Tuck Møbelfabrik, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Lejre, DK
Dining table designed by Hans J. Wegner and manufactured by Andreas Tuck in Denmark. The table is crafted with a teak tabletop and oak legs. It includes two extension leaves of 50 cm...
Oak, Teak
Scandinavian Modern Spinal Dining Table, Paul Leroy in Oak
Located in Lejre, DK
The Spinal dining table, a masterpiece designed by Paul Leroy, featuring an oak tabletop and a sleek matt chromed steel frame meticulously crafted by Paustian. This dining table emb...
Steel
Dining Table With Extension Leaves By Ole Wanscher For Poul Jeppesen From 1960s
By Ole Wanscher, Poul Jeppesens Møbelfabrik
Located in Lejre, DK
Dining table designed by Ole Wanscher and produced by Poul Jeppesen Møbelfabrik in Denmark during the 1960s. The table reflects the balanced proportions and refined craftsmanship typ...
Mahogany
Coffee Table Made In Oak Designed By Hans J. Wegner From 1960s
By Hans J. Wegner, PP Møbler
Located in Lejre, DK
This oak coffee table, designed by Hans J. Wegner and crafted by PP Møbler in the 1960s, epitomizes Danish design excellence. Characterized by clean lines and organic forms, it seaml...
Oak
Hans J. Wegner 'CH002' Dining Table in Oiled Beech for Carl Hansen & Son
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hans J. Wegner 'CH002' Dining Table in Beech Oil for Carl Hansen & Son The story of Danish Modern begins in 1908 when Carl Hansen opened his first workshop. His firm commitment to b...
Beech
Large Hans Wegner 'CH327' Dining Table in Oiled Beech for Carl Hansen & Son
By Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen & Søn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large Hans Wegner 'CH327' Dining Table in Oiled Beech for Carl Hansen & Son The story of Danish Modern begins in 1908 when Carl Hansen opened his firs...
Wood, Beech
Hans J. Wegner 'CH327' Dining Table in Beech and Soap for Carl Hansen & Son
By Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen & Søn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hans J. Wegner 'CH327' Dining Table in Beech and Soap for Carl Hansen & Son The story of Danish Modern begins in 1908 when Carl Hansen opened his first workshop. His firm commitment...
Wood, Oak
Large Hans J Wegner 'CH327' Dining Table in Oiled Oak for Carl Hansen & Son
By Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen & Søn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large Hans J Wegner 'CH327' Dining Table in Oiled Oak for Carl Hansen & Son The story of Danish Modern begins in 1908 when Carl Hansen opened his first workshop. His firm commit...
Wood, Oak
Hans J. Wegner 'CH006' Dining Table in Oiled Beech for Carl Hansen & Son
By Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen & Søn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hans J. Wegner 'CH006' Dining Table in Oiled Beech for Carl Hansen & Son The story of Danish Modern begins in 1908 when Carl Hansen opened his first workshop. His firm commitment to...
Beech
Hans J. Wegner CH327 Dining Table 190 x 95 cm Oak Oil for Carl Hansen
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. Wegner
Located in New York, NY
Hans J. Wegner’s CH327 6-person dining table from 1962 has an unusual design where the tabletop appears almost to be floating. It has a solid wood tableto...
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.
