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Carl Hansen

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. Later, Carl Hansen & Søn would become one of the most prestigious furniture manufacturers in Denmark. The firm has produced timeless masterpieces of Scandinavian modernism by iconic designers Hans Wegner, Arne Jacobsen, Børge Mogensen and others.

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.  

Family-owned since its inception, 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 chairs, case pieces and other furniture.

Set of 4 “Wishbone” Chairs by Hans J. Wegner for Carl Hansen, Denmark 1970
By Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen
Located in Amsterdam, NL
In the 1970s, renowned Danish designer Hans J. Wegner created this exquisite set of four oak wishbone dining chairs with rush seats, manufactured by Carl Hansen in Denmark. These cha...
Category

1970s Danish Vintage Carl Hansen

Materials

Rush, Wood

Midcentury Ch-22 Lounge Chair by Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen
By Carl Hansen
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Midcentury CH-22 lounge chair designed by Hans Wegner and manufactured by Carl Hansen and Son in Denmark circa 1950s. This fantastic lounge chair features a dark oak frame and is new...
Category

1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carl Hansen

Materials

Leather, Oak

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

1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Carl Hansen

Materials

Papercord, Beech

“CH07” Chair by Hans J. Wegner for Carl Hansen, Denmark
By Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen
Located in Amsterdam, NL
The “CH07” Shell chair is a modern classic designed by Danish designer Hans J. Wegner in 1963, but only produced for a short time before being reintroduced in 1998. This particular “...
Category

Early 2000s Danish Carl Hansen

Materials

Leather, Wood

Pair of Sawbuck Chairs, CH28, by Hans Wegner, 1951
By Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen
Located in Oakland, CA
Model CH28, “Sawbuck” Danish lounge chairs designed by Hans Wegner and produced by Carl Hansen in Denmark, 1951. The chair features a simple and elegant design, with a distinctive X-...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Carl Hansen

Materials

Leather, Teak

  • Pair of Sawbuck Chairs, CH28, by Hans Wegner, 1951
  • Pair of Sawbuck Chairs, CH28, by Hans Wegner, 1951
  • Pair of Sawbuck Chairs, CH28, by Hans Wegner, 1951
  • Pair of Sawbuck Chairs, CH28, by Hans Wegner, 1951
H 30.25 in. W 29.25 in. D 26.75 in.
Hans J. Wegner Set of 6 Early Stamped Carl Hansen & Sons Wishbone Chairs, 1950s
By Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen
Located in Odense, DK
An extremely rare collection of 6 model "CH-24" / "Wishbone" chairs from the very early years of the Carl Hansen & Sons production of Hans J. Wegner iconic chair. All chairs are stam...
Category

1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Carl Hansen

Materials

Papercord, Oak

The Sawbuck Chair, CH28, by Hans Wegner, 1951
By Carl Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Oakland, CA
Model CH28, “Sawbuck” chair designed by Hans Wegner and produced by Carl Hansen in Denmark, 1951. The chair features a simple and elegant design, with a distinctive X-shaped frame th...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Carl Hansen

Materials

Leather, Oak, Teak

Hans J. Wegner for Carl Hansen Set of Four Chairs in Cognac Leather and Oak
By Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Hans J. Wegner for Carl Hansen, set of four dining chairs model ‘C23’, oak, teak, cognac leather, Denmark, designed in 1950 The chair model ‘C23’ features sophisticated details that characterize Wegner’s well-known designs. Per example, note the wood joints in shape of a crucifix that highlight the backrest. As one of the first exclusively for Carl Hansen designed chairs, the ‘C23’ surprises the user until today with a combination of Danish elegance and comfort. Hans Wegner (1914-2007) is one of the most prolific furniture designers of the world. Wegner was born in 1914 in Denmark and began his apprenticeship with Danish master cabinetmaker H.F. Stahlberg when he was fourteen years old. Afterwards, he moved to Copenhagen and attended the School of Arts and Crafts between 1936 and 1938. In 1938, he was approached by the architects and designers Arne Jacobsen and Erik Møller...
Category

1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Carl Hansen

Materials

Teak, Leather, Oak

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Carl Hansen Sellers

Galerie Mobler
5.0
Chris Howard Antiques & Modern
4.9
Galerie Gaudium
4.8
Gary Rubinstein Antiques
4.9
Helmer Design & Antik
4.9
MONC XIII
No Reviews Yet
Mcm Interiors and NoRepro
5.0

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Carl Hansen furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Carl Hansen furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Carl Hansen furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 15 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 1 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Carl Hansen were created in the Scandinavian Modern style in scandinavia during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Peder Pedersen, Kolds Savvaerk, and Ejner Larsen. Prices for Carl Hansen furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at £641 and can go as high as £76,108, while a piece like these, on average, fetch £4,129.

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