How do I identify an original Wishbone chair?

To identify an original Wishbone chair, first look at the backrest. Originals feature bentwood frames, so the backrest will be a single piece of wood. Most later reproductions are composed of two or three pieces of wood and will display noticeable seams. Next, look at the seat. Authentic originals will have perfect 90-degree angles at all four corners and many lines in the center with a tight weave. Imperfect corners, a few central lines and loose weaving are all signs of a reproduction. Finally, measure the distance between the bottom of the Y on the backrest and the seat. On originals, the distance is 10 millimeters. Any variations will usually indicate that a chair is a reproduction. When in doubt, consult a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer. Shop a variety of Hans J. Wegner Wishbone chairs on 1stDibs.

Hans Wegner Wishbone

Teak Wishbone

Carl Hansen And Son Chair

Dining Chair Paper Cord Denmark

Danish Cushion

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Wishbone Chair Set Of 6

Carl Hansen Set Of Six

Hans Wegner, Wishbone Desk, Oak, Teak, Denmark, 1950s

$36,000

Hans Wegner, Wishbone Desk, Oak, Teak, Denmark, 1950s

By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner

Located in High Point, NC

A dark-stained oak and teak "Wishbone" desk designed by Hans Wegner and produced by Johannes Hansen, Denmark, c. 1950s.

Category

Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak, Teak

Set of Four Hans Wegner Wishbone Dining Chairs by Carl Hansen & Søn

$2,600 / set

Set of Four Hans Wegner Wishbone Dining Chairs by Carl Hansen & Søn

By Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. Wegner

Located in Sacramento, CA

Set of four Wishbone dining chairs, designed by Hans Wegner in 1949 and manufactured by Carl Hansen & Søn, Denmark.

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

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$91 / item

Hans J. Wegner Cushion for Wishbone Chair CH24

Located in Esbjerg, DK

Hans J. Wegner cushions for wishbone chair model CH24.

Category

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Hans J. Wegner Cushion for Wishbone Chair CH24

$108 / item

Hans J. Wegner Cushion for Wishbone Chair CH24

Located in Esbjerg, DK

Hans J. Wegner cushions for wishbone chair model CH24.

Category

2010s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Leather

Recent Sales

Four Black Wishbone Chairs by Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen & Søn

Unavailable

H 28.75 in W 22.05 in D 19.3 in

Four Black Wishbone Chairs by Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen & Søn

By Hans J. Wegner

Located in Grenoble, FR

Four black wishbone chairs by Hans Wegner. Wishbone chair (1949), also known as the Y chair; produced by the Danish firm Carl Hansen & Søn since 1950.

Category

Vintage 1940s Danish Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Oak

WISHBONE CHAIRS BY HANS WEGNER

Unavailable

H 28 in Dm 22 in

WISHBONE CHAIRS BY HANS WEGNER

By Hans J. Wegner

Located in California, LA

3 CHAIRS DESIGNED FOR CARL HANSEN

Category

Vintage 1950s Danish Chairs

Hans Wegner Four Wishbone Chairs In Original Condition

Unavailable

H 29.14 in W 19.3 in D 17.72 in

Hans Wegner Four Wishbone Chairs In Original Condition

By Hans J. Wegner

Located in Mexico City, MX

Hans Wegner Four Wishbone Chairs In Original Condition

Category

Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Leather, Oak

10 Hans Wegner Wishbone Chairs

Sold

10 Hans Wegner Wishbone Chairs

Located in San Francisco, CA

Original set of ten Hans Wegner wishbone chairs in excellent original condition.

Category

Vintage 1950s Danish Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Oak

2 Hans Wegner Wishbone Chairs

Sold

H 28.75 in W 21.26 in D 21.26 in

2 Hans Wegner Wishbone Chairs

By Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen & Søn

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Oiled Oak frame with black leather seat Hans Wegner Wishbone chair. A simple, light and appealing shape, this is the most sold chair produced by Carl Hansen and Søn.

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Leather, Oak

A Pair of Hans Wegner "Wishbone" Chairs

Sold

H 28.5 in W 19 in D 17 in

A Pair of Hans Wegner "Wishbone" Chairs

Located in New York, NY

A Pair of Hans Wegner "Wishbone" Chairs

Category

20th Century Danish Chairs

Set Of 6 Hans Wegner Wishbone Chairs

Sold

H 28.5 in W 19.5 in D 20 in

Set Of 6 Hans Wegner Wishbone Chairs

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Set of 6 original Danish solid oak Hans Wegner Wishbone chairs. Labeled underneath.

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Armchairs

Materials

Oak

Set of Four Ebonized Hans Wegner Wishbone Chairs

Sold

H 28.5 in W 21 in D 20 in

Set of Four Ebonized Hans Wegner Wishbone Chairs

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Original set of four Hans Wegner wishbone chairs in excellent original condition.

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Wood

H 28.5 in W 21.5 in D 20 in

Pair of Danish Modern Hans Wegner Wishbone Chairs by Carl Hansen & Son

By Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. Wegner

Located in San Diego, CA

Nice pair of Wishbone chairs design by Hans Wegner with original rope seats.

Category

20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Chairs

Set of 10 Hans Wegner Wishbone Chairs in Oak circa 1950's

Sold

H 29.15 in W 21.64 in D 19.68 in

Set of 10 Hans Wegner Wishbone Chairs in Oak circa 1950's

By Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. Wegner

Located in San Diego, CA

We have restored this original set of CH24 chairs, also known as the Y or Wishbone chair to excellent condition. 10 vintage Hans Wegner chairs have all been recorded with new paper...

Category

Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Oak, Cord, Papercord

Hans Wegner, Wishbone Chair, Model CH24, circa 1953, in Beech and Paper Cord

Sold

H 28.55 in W 21.66 in D 19.69 in

Hans Wegner, Wishbone Chair, Model CH24, circa 1953, in Beech and Paper Cord

By Illums Bolighus, Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen

Located in Wargrave, Berkshire

Hans J Wegner, Wishbone Chair, model CH24, made by Carl Hansen circa 1953 and retailed by Copenhagen department store Illums Bolighus (bears label) Early example with beautifully ...

Category

Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Chairs

Materials

Papercord, Beech

Sold

H 24 in W 36.25 in D 30 in

Mid-Century Modern Hans Wegner Armchairs GE-40, GETAMA

Located in San Antonio, TX

Often referred to as the master of the chair, Wegner created almost 500 in his lifetime – many of them considered masterpieces —such as the Hans Wegner Wishbone Chair, Wegner Wing Ch...

Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Armchairs

Materials

Fabric, Oak

Set of Four Henning Kjaernulf for Bruno Hansen Model 225 Teak Dining Chairs

Sold

H 29.5 in W 19.25 in D 19 in

Set of Four Henning Kjaernulf for Bruno Hansen Model 225 Teak Dining Chairs

By Henning Kjærnulf, Bruno Hansen

Located in Miami, FL

While similar in modernist design to Hans Wegner's wishbone chairs, the model 225 chair is in a league of its own.

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Papercord, Teak

Sold

Four Wishbone Chairs by Hans Wegner

By Hans J. Wegner

Located in Water Mill, NY

Four Ebonized Hans Wegner Reissued Wishbone Chairs

Materials

Teak, Oak

Danish CH-24 Wishbone Chair by Hans Wegner

Sold

H 29 in W 21.5 in D 20.5 in

Danish CH-24 Wishbone Chair by Hans Wegner

By Hans J. Wegner

Located in Chicago, IL

Iconic C-24 Wishbone chair by Hans Wegner. Oiled oak frame with original paper cord in very, very good condition.

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Oak, Papercord

Pair of Vintage Wishbone Chairs by Hans Wegner

Sold

H 29 in W 21 in D 21 in

Pair of Vintage Wishbone Chairs by Hans Wegner

By Hans J. Wegner

Located in New York, NY

Pair of "Wishbone" chairs designed by Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen.

$56,015

H 28.75 in W 86.62 in D 37.41 in

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 ...

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

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Paolo Buffa, Walnut Mid-Century Daybed, Italy 1940s

By Paolo Buffa

Located in Argelato, BO

Paolo Buffa (1903-1970) Rare and very elegant wooden daybed Varnished walnut and fabric Model created circa 1940 H 58 × L 205 × W 95 cm Paolo Buffa was an Italian furniture des...

Category

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H 30.52 in W 33.08 in D 19.69 in

Elegant Italian Small Desk in Ash

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Writing desk, ash, brass, formica, Italy, 1950s Very elegant desk made in Italy in the 1950s. The framework is executed in ash. The upper part of this piece is made from ash veneer,...

Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

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$5,900 / item

H 36 in Dm 42.5 in

Robin's Egg Blue Ceramic Chandelier in Antique Brass 5-Arm 42.5" DIA

By Lostine

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Five antique brass patina arms curve up from a ceramic cluster dish to three tall stoneware ceramic shades in Robin's Egg, a matte glaze with a tinge of blue. With a fixed black waln...

Category

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Set of Six Mid-Century Dining Chairs

$1,800 / set

H 30.5 in W 18.5 in D 20 in

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Located in Brooklyn, NY

Vintage set of six dining chairs in walnut with slat backs. Two armchairs and four side chairs with original fabric. Armchairs: 30.5h, 22w, 20d Side chairs: 30.5h, 18.5w, 20d Please ...

Category

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Carl Malmsten Vintage 1950s Samspel Chairs in Moss Green Velvet

$10,152 / set

H 30.71 in W 27.56 in D 31.5 in

Carl Malmsten Vintage 1950s Samspel Chairs in Moss Green Velvet

By Carl Malmsten

Located in London, England

Carl Malmsten - Samspel Lounge Chairs, 1950s The Samspel chair is one of Swedish master Carl Malmsten's most well-loved and sought after designs. These examples were produced in the...

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Materials

Beech, Velvet

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Hans Wegner Wishbone For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal hans wegner wishbone for your home. Frequently made of wood, natural fiber and papercord, every hans wegner wishbone was constructed with great care. There are 147 variations of the antique or vintage hans wegner wishbone you’re looking for, while we also have 13 modern editions of this piece to choose from as well. Your living room may not be complete without a hans wegner wishbone — find older editions for sale from the 18th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 21st Century. A hans wegner wishbone, designed in the Scandinavian Modern, Mid-Century Modern or Modern style, is generally a popular piece of furniture. A well-made hans wegner wishbone has long been a part of the offerings for many furniture designers and manufacturers, but those produced by Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen & Søn and Carl Hansen are consistently popular.

How Much is a Hans Wegner Wishbone?

Prices for a hans wegner wishbone can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $78 and can go as high as $77,500, while the average can fetch as much as $2,500.

Hans J. Wegner for sale on 1stDibs

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.

Finding the Right Seating for You

With entire areas of our homes reserved for “sitting rooms,” the value of quality antique and vintage seating cannot be overstated.

Fortunately, the design of side chairs, armchairs and other lounge furniture — since what were, quite literally, the early perches of our ancestors — has evolved considerably.

Among the earliest standard seating furniture were stools. Egyptian stools, for example, designed for one person with no seat back, were x-shaped and typically folded to be tucked away. These rudimentary chairs informed the design of Greek and Roman stools, all of which were a long way from Sori Yanagi's Butterfly stool or Alvar Aalto's Stool 60. In the 18th century and earlier, seats with backs and armrests were largely reserved for high nobility.

The seating of today is more inclusive but the style and placement of chairs can still make a statement. Antique desk chairs and armchairs designed in the style of Louis XV, which eventually included painted furniture and were often made of rare woods, feature prominently curved legs as well as Chinese themes and varied ornaments. Much like the thrones of fairy tales and the regency, elegant lounges crafted in the Louis XV style convey wealth and prestige. In the kitchen, the dining chair placed at the head of the table is typically reserved for the head of the household or a revered guest.

Of course, with luxurious vintage or antique furnishings, every chair can seem like the best seat in the house. Whether your preference is stretching out on a plush sofa, such as the Serpentine, designed by Vladimir Kagan, or cozying up in a vintage wingback chair, there is likely to be a comfy classic or contemporary gem for you on 1stDibs.

With respect to the latest obsessions in design, cane seating has been cropping up everywhere, from sleek armchairs to lounge chairs, while bouclé fabric, a staple of modern furniture design, can be seen in mid-century modern, Scandinavian modern and Hollywood Regency furniture styles.

Admirers of the sophisticated craftsmanship and dark woods frequently associated with mid-century modern seating can find timeless furnishings in our expansive collection of lounge chairs, dining chairs and other items — whether they’re vintage editions or alluring official reproductions of iconic designs from the likes of Hans Wegner or from Charles and Ray Eames. Shop our inventory of Egg chairs, designed in 1958 by Arne Jacobsen, the Florence Knoll lounge chair and more.

No matter your style, the collection of unique chairs, sofas and other seating on 1stDibs is surely worthy of a standing ovation.

Questions About Hans Wegner Wishbone

How do I identify an original Wishbone chair?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertSeptember 23, 2024
To identify an original Wishbone chair, first look at the backrest. Originals feature bentwood frames, so the backrest will be a single piece of wood. Most later reproductions are composed of two or three pieces of wood and will display noticeable seams. Next, look at the seat. Authentic originals will have perfect 90-degree angles at all four corners and many lines in the center with a tight weave. Imperfect corners, a few central lines and loose weaving are all signs of a reproduction. Finally, measure the distance between the bottom of the Y on the backrest and the seat. On originals, the distance is 10 millimeters. Any variations will usually indicate that a chair is a reproduction. When in doubt, consult a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer. Shop a variety of Hans J. Wegner Wishbone chairs on 1stDibs.

The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs

You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.

Design Icon Ilse Crawford on Her Colorful New Hans Wegner Chairs

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.

Hans Wegner’s Wishbone Chair Still Feels Fresh, 70 Years after Its Debut

To celebrate the Wishbone’s 70th anniversary, Carl Hansen & Søn’s third-generation CEO, Knud Erik Hansen, shares some of the secrets behind the beloved chair.