Carl Hansen Furniture
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.
1930s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Carl Hansen Furniture
Fabric, Wool, Oak
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carl Hansen Furniture
Papercord, Oak
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Carl Hansen Furniture
Papercord, Oak
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Carl Hansen Furniture
Leather, Teak
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Carl Hansen Furniture
Papercord, Oak
Mid-20th Century Danish Carl Hansen Furniture
Papercord, Oak
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Papercord, Oak
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Carl Hansen Furniture
Leather, Oak
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Papercord, Oak
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carl Hansen Furniture
Fabric, Oak
1960s Danish Vintage Carl Hansen Furniture
Oak
2010s Danish Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Wood, Textile, Papercord
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Papercord, Ash
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Wicker, Rattan, Wood, Hardwood, Oak
2010s Danish Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Oak
2010s Danish Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Cowhide, Wood
2010s Danish Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Stainless Steel
Early 2000s British Mid-Century Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Rope, Oak
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carl Hansen Furniture
Leather, Oak
2010s Danish Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Beech
2010s Danish Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Stainless Steel
2010s Danish Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Papercord, Wood
Early 2000s Danish Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Leather, Oak
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Carl Hansen Furniture
Steel
20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Velvet
2010s Danish Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Leather, Foam, Oak
20th Century Danish Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Rush, Wood
Early 2000s Mid-Century Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Wool
2010s Danish Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Steel
1950s British Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carl Hansen Furniture
Papercord, Beech, Teak
2010s Danish Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Oak
2010s Danish Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Leather, Oak, Foam
2010s Danish Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Foam, Beech, Fabric
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carl Hansen Furniture
Fabric, Wood
2010s Danish Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Oak
2010s Danish Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Wood
2010s Danish Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Stainless Steel
2010s Danish Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Leather, Wood
2010s Danish Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Oak
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carl Hansen Furniture
Leather, Oak
2010s Danish Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Cord, Paper, Beech, Wood
2010s Danish Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Oak
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Beech, Oak, Teak
2010s Danish Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Wood, Papercord, Oak
2010s Danish Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Papercord, Beech
2010s Danish Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Steel
2010s Danish Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Leather, Walnut
2010s Danish Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Beech, Cord, Paper
1950s Scandinavian Vintage Carl Hansen Furniture
Oak
2010s Danish Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Wool
2010s Danish Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Stainless Steel
2010s Danish Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Oak, Papercord
1960s Danish Modern Vintage Carl Hansen Furniture
Oak, Papercord
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Oak
2010s Danish Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Stainless Steel
2010s Danish Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Stainless Steel
2010s Danish Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Fabric, Down, Oak
2010s Danish Modern Carl Hansen Furniture
Teak
Carl Hansen furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Creators Similar to Carl Hansen
- What is Carl Hansen famous for?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertJanuary 10, 2025Carl Hansen is famous for his work as a furniture maker. In 1908, the cabinetmaker opened his first small workshop near Odense, Denmark, where he created furniture by hand in the Victorian style. 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 including Hans Wegner, Arne Jacobsen and Børge Mogensen. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of Carl Hansen furniture.