Family-owned since its inception, Carl Hansen & Søn has been one of the most prestigious furniture manufacturers in Denmark for more than a century. The firm has produced timeless masterpieces of Scandinavian modernism by iconic designers Hans Wegner, Arne Jacobsen, Børge Mogensen and others.
In 1908, cabinetmaker Carl Hansen opened his first small workshop near Odense, Denmark, where he created furniture by hand in the preferred Victorian style of the times. Hansen expanded his operations by 1915 due to high demand. The larger factory allowed room for more modern machinery and a staff of many journeymen who produced a small series of their most popular pieces, including coffee tables, cabinets and sculptural, inviting armchairs. The firm became known for marrying the finest handmade craftsmanship with efficient production processes.
The Great Depression of the 1930s saw worldwide furniture sales plummet, and many furniture manufacturers were forced to shutter their workshops. At the age of 23, furniture maker Carl Hansen’s youngest son, Holger, took control of his father’s factory and piloted it through the era’s uncertain waters.
Holger Hansen’s youthful enthusiasm, innovative spirit, and intuitive business savvy kept their company afloat. He believed in the quality of the firm’s work and the cutting-edge designs that were produced at its factory, which emerged from modest beginnings to become a pivotal piece of the history of Danish furniture.
Owing to Holger’s leadership, Carl Hansen & Søn emerged from the Great Depression and entered into creative alliances with many acclaimed Danish masters of mid-century design, including Kaare Klint, Børge Mogensen, Arne Jacobsen, Ole Wanscher, Frits Henningsen and Poul Kjærholm.
None of these partnerships proved as prolific as their relationship with Hans Wegner, however. In 1949, the cabinetmaker moved to Denmark’s Funen Island and was staying in Holger’s family home, as the then-Carl Hansen CEO had commissioned Wegner to create a chair for the company that was similar to his popular China chair of 1944.
Wegner began to work closely with the company’s craftsmen and devised a streamlined chair with a Y-shaped back and woven paper-cord seat. The legendary Wishbone chair, which still involves nearly 100 processes and takes weeks to make, has been in continuous production since its 1950 debut.
Carl Hansen & Søn has manufactured some of the most extraordinary chairs, sofas and lounge chairs for living room relaxation in the history of design. Their dining room tables and chairs run the gamut in style and functionality, from everyday comfort to elegant entertaining. The company’s impressive roster of contemporary designers includes renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando, the Vienna-based design firm EOOS and celebrated American industrial designer Brad Ascalon. They remain the world’s largest producer of Wegner’s furniture and still enjoy a collaborative relationship with the Hans J. Wegner Studio.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Carl Hansen & Søn chairs, tables, case pieces and other furniture.
Mid-Century Modern Danish Sofa Model CH 72 by Hans Wegner, New Production
By Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen & Søn
Located in Courbevoie, FR
Mid-Century Modern Danish lounge chair model CH 71 by Hans Wegner. New production With its slender frame and flowing, sculptural form, Hans J. Wegner’s CH71...
Oak, Walnut
Early Production Hans Wegner CH24 Wishbone Chair
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Brooklyn, NY
For your consideration is this early production example of Hans Wegner's iconic CH24 Wishbone chair manufactured by Carl Hansen & Son. It features a red lacquer finish and woven pape...
Papercord, Wood
$4,640Sale Price|20% Off
H 30 in W 77 in D 34 in
Danish Mid-Century Modern Daybed Sofa by Hans Wegner for Getma
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in New York, NY
Iconic Danish Mid-Century Modern daybed, sofa - model GE- 258 designed by Hans Wegner for Getma. This example is in very good, estate condition, specifically the fabric shows wear, s...
Upholstery, Teak
$4,607
H 27.56 in W 70.87 in D 33.47 in
Mid Century Modern Hans J. Wegner Model GE-290 for Getama Gedsted Denmark Sofa
By GETAMA, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Kramfors, SE
Vintage Hans J. Wegner sofa model GE-290 for Getama Gedsted, Denmark. The sofa is a mid century classic by one of the most famous names of the time, Hans J. Wegner (Denmark, 1914-200...
Fabric, Oak
$6,964
H 27.56 in W 27.56 in D 27.56 in
CH25 Lounge Chair by Hans J. Wegner, Oak & Papercord, Mid-Century
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Berlin, DE
Designed by Hans J. Wegner in 1950, the CH25 lounge chair is a landmark in Danish furniture design. As one of the first four chairs he created for Carl Hansen & Søn, it stood out...
Papercord, Oak
Dining Y-Chairs by Hans Wegner CH 24
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Vienna, AT
Hans J Wegner (1914-2007). Bog oak Y-chair, model CH 24, seat woven with paper yarn, manufactured by Carl Hansen & Søn. H. 76 cm. Seat height 45 cm. Some markings.
Papercord, Oak
Hans Wegner Chair Model Ch37 By Carl Hansen & Søn
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Skokie, IL
Hans Wegner Chair Model Ch37 By Carl Hansen & Søn Additional information: Dimensions: 22.5" W x 19" D x 31" H Condition: Excellent
Rush, Teak
Hans J. Wegner Model CH-24 Dining Chair, 1950
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wonderful model CH-24 dining chair by Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen & Søn, designed in 1950, in light oak with woven paper cord seat, seat cushion available on request, marked.
Leather, Papercord, Ash
$34,122 / set
H 30.32 in W 27.96 in D 28.35 in
Pair of Midcentury “CH 27” Lounge Chairs by Hans J. Wegner, Denmark, 1950s
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Pair of beautiful “CH 27” lounge chairs by Hans J. Wegner, made from oak and rattan. Beautiful pattern in the rattan and whimsical carved “horns” at the tops of the backs.
Rattan, Oak
$10,800 / set
H 30.32 in W 29.14 in D 22.45 in
Pair of CH28 Armchairs by Hans J. Wegner, Danish Mid Century Design, 1951
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Odense, DK
A pair of iconic CH28 "Sawbuck" lounge chairs designed by Hans J. Wegner in 1951 and produced by Carl Hansen & Søn, Denmark. Widely regarded as one of Wegner's most sculptural an...
Teak, Beech
Hans J. Wegner CH72 Sofa in Oxblood Leather, Danish Design, 1952
By Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen
Located in San Diego, CA
The CH72 sofa is a refined two-seater design by Danish architect and master designer Hans J. Wegner, originally introduced at the Danish Furniture Design Exhibition in Copenhagen in ...
Leather, Teak
$4,280
H 30.71 in W 29.14 in D 26.78 in
Hans Wegner CH28 Sawback Lounge Chair Danish Modern Icon by Carl Hansen & Søn
By Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen & Søn
Located in London, GB
Hans Wegner CH28 Sawback Lounge Chair Danish Modern Icon by Carl Hansen & Søn Presenting an exceptional example of the CH28 Sawback Lounge Chair designed by Hans J. Wegner in 1951 ...
Oak, Leather
Danish Mid-Century Modern Set of 3 Y Chairs by Hans J. Wegner, 1950s
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. Wegner
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A light-brown, vintage Mid-Century Modern Danish set of three Wishbone chairs made of hand carved Oakwood, designed by Hans J. Wegner and produced by Carl Hansen & Søn, in good condition. The Scandinavian Y-shaped, armchairs have a curved slim backrest with arched arms, supported by four rounded wooden legs. At least hundred steps are required to design, produced each side chair. The seat cover is made of original hand woven paper rope. Minor fading, scratches due to age. Wear consistent with age and use. Circa 1950 - 1960, Denmark, Scandinavia. Seat: 18.5" H x 19" W x 19.5" D Hans Jorgensen Wegner was born in 1914, in Tonder, Denmark and passed away in 2007 Denmark. He was a world-renowned Danish furniture designer. Wegner finished his apprenticeship at 17, he developed his skills from the master cabinetmaker H.F. Stahlberg. In 1951, Wegner received a major design prizes, from the Lunning prize and the Grand Prix of the Milan Triennale. Carl Hansen & Søn is a family-owned Danish furniture manufacturer, founded in 1908, in Odense, Denmark by the Danish master cabinet maker Carl Hansen. The Y Chair...
Rope, Oak, Paper