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Hans J. Wegner

Danish, 1914-2007

Best known for his chairs and seating pieces — though a master of many furniture types like sofas and tablesHans 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 Wegner’s best chair designs, seen in dealer listings below, 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.

Average Sold Price
$5,435
Styles
Materials
Related Creators
Iconic Designs from Hans J. Wegner
Explore timeless pieces that have earned their place in history.
Hans Wegner Round Chair
Hans Wegner Round Chair
Papa Bear Chair
Papa Bear Chair
Hans Wegner China Chair
Hans Wegner China Chair
Very Rare 3 Seat Bench by Hans Wegner for Getama in Teak
By Hans J. Wegner, GETAMA
Located in Little Burstead, Essex
We have had many 'Cigar' chairs and sofas, but this is the first bench or three seat stool we have seen. The frame is in great original condition and now has a freshly recovered cus...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Hans J. Wegner

Materials

Fabric, Teak

Hans Wegner Armchair in Oak & Wool for GETAMA, Mid-Century Modern Danish Design
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in London, GB
A charming high-back armchair designed by Hans Wegner in solid oak for Getama in the 1950s. An iconic design by one of the pre-eminent designers of Danish furniture Hans Wegner th...
Category

1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Hans J. Wegner

Materials

Wool, Oak

Minimalistic Oak Coffee Table in Japandi Style by Hans J Wegner for Andres Tuck
By Hans J. Wegner, Andreas Tuck
Located in AMSTERDAM, NH
Minimalist coffee table in solid oak designed by Hans J Wegner and produced by Andreas Tuck. The design with wooden slats has many similarities with the Japanese style (Japandi style...
Category

1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Hans J. Wegner

Materials

Oak

Hans Wegner, Wishbone CH24 Pour Carl Hansen, 1950
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in PARIS, FR
4 chairs model CH24 in oak and Danish rope, designed by Hans Wegner in 1950 for Carl Hansen and those produced in 1973. This iconic model also known as the "Wishbone chair" has been ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Hans J. Wegner

Materials

Papercord, Oak

  • Hans Wegner, Wishbone CH24 Pour Carl Hansen, 1950
  • Hans Wegner, Wishbone CH24 Pour Carl Hansen, 1950
  • Hans Wegner, Wishbone CH24 Pour Carl Hansen, 1950
  • Hans Wegner, Wishbone CH24 Pour Carl Hansen, 1950
H 28.35 in. W 19.69 in. D 21.66 in.
Hans J. Wegner Ge240 'Sigar' Lounge Chair in Oak and Pierre Frey Fabric, GETAMA
By GETAMA, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Amsterdam, NL
This is an early example of the Hans J. Wegner Lounge Chair model GE240 for GETAMA, Denmark. The chair is also sometimes called 'Cigar' Chair due the shape of the armrests. Beautiful...
Category

1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Hans J. Wegner

Materials

Metal

Hans Wegner Papa Bear Lounge Chair & Ottoman, Classic Modernist Design, Denmark
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Buffalo, NY
Hans J. Wegner for AP sTOLEN easy chair with ottoman , model AP Papa Bear, Fabric , oak,, made in Denmark.. designed in 1951,, I believe this chair and ottoman to be early production...
Category

1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Hans J. Wegner

Materials

Fabric, Oak

Midcentury Danish Modern Teak Slatted Bench Hans Wegner JH-574 Johannes Hansen
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Norcross, US
Superb extra long slat bench made of solid teak. Model JH-574 designed by Hans J. Wegner for cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen of Denmark. Dating back to the sixties. The bench is support...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Hans J. Wegner

Materials

Teak

T-11 Coffee Table by Hans J. Wegner
By Andreas Tuck, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Iconic Coffee Table T-11 by Hans Wegner for Andreas Tuck, Denmark. This piece has a teak top with oak legs and marked underneath. Designed in 1954 and manufactured during the 1950s t...
Category

1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Hans J. Wegner

Materials

Oak, Teak

  • T-11 Coffee Table by Hans J. Wegner
  • T-11 Coffee Table by Hans J. Wegner
  • T-11 Coffee Table by Hans J. Wegner
  • T-11 Coffee Table by Hans J. Wegner
H 21 in. W 51.5 in. D 21.5 in.
Browse all Furniture from Hans J. Wegner
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More Hans J. Wegner Designs
Hans Wegner Round Chair
Hans Wegner Round Chair
Average Price
$13,834
Number Available
36
Hans Wegner Round Chair
By Hans J. Wegner
Materials
Wood, Hardwood, Teak, Oak, Natural Fiber, Animal Skin, Leather, Cane
Styles
Scandinavian Modern, Mid Century Modern
In September of 1960, when Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy sat down for the first nationally televised presidential debate, the two candidates rested on one of the most celebrated designs of the 20th century. Often called simply “The Chair,” the Round chair is one of hundreds designed by Hans J. Wegner (1914–2007). As he once said, “The good chair is a task one is never completely done with.” Nicknamed the “Master of the Chair,” influential Danish designer Wegner inventively used natural m...
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Papa Bear Chair
Papa Bear Chair
Average Price
$27,570
Number Available
28
Papa Bear Chair
By Hans J. Wegner
Materials
Wood, Fabric, Hardwood, Teak, Wool
Styles
Scandinavian Modern, Mid Century Modern
The wingback Papa Bear chair, also known as the Teddy Bear chair, has two outstretched arms with wood detailing once described by a critic as “great bear paws embracing you from behind” — hence the name. The piece was designed by Hans Wegner (1914–2007), a pioneer of Danish modernism who crafted nearly 500 chairs over the course of his long career. Not many of them, however, have the anthropomorphic qualities that this one does. Wegner was raised in the south of Denmark, where he served as an...
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Hans Wegner China Chair
Hans Wegner China Chair
Average Price
$14,119
Number Available
17
Hans Wegner China Chair
By Hans J. Wegner
Materials
Wood, Animal Skin, Leather
Styles
Scandinavian Modern
When he designed the first edition of his modest Chinese chair — or China chair — Denmark native Hans Wegner (1914–2007) had been reportedly moved by portraits he’d seen of Danish businessmen relaxing in traditional round-backed Ming dynasty–era chairs. While the legendary furniture maker’s tribute to East Asian seating — a minimal cherrywood chair with a curved bentwood back support and removable leather seat cushion — called on Oriental forms that preceded him by hundreds of years, it merge...
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Design Icon Ilse Crawford on Her Colorful New Hans Wegner Chairs

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.

The 16 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs

The 16 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs

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

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

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.

113 Chairs That Prove Danish Design Isn’t Limited to Denmark

113 Chairs That Prove Danish Design Isn’t Limited to Denmark

In an innovative display, the Designmuseum Danmark is permanently exhibiting the 20th century's most iconic seats.

John Pawson’s New Jaffa Hotel Brings Contemporary Design to an Ancient Israeli Neighborhood

John Pawson’s New Jaffa Hotel Brings Contemporary Design to an Ancient Israeli Neighborhood

The architect has imbued the minimalist-chic Tel Aviv stay with his signature style, while at the same time honoring the site's long history.

The Married Collectors behind Stockholm’s Newest Design Museum

The Married Collectors behind Stockholm’s Newest Design Museum

Kersti Sandin and Lars Bülow want their new endeavor to educate both students and professionals about furniture design.

Architect Blaze Makoid Does Chic, Not Shingles, in the Hamptons

Architect Blaze Makoid Does Chic, Not Shingles, in the Hamptons

The home designer has a knack for camouflaging the volume of sprawling houses and making their interiors feel intimate.

1970s Corporate America Has Never Looked So Chic

1970s Corporate America Has Never Looked So Chic

Photographer Susan Ressler revisits the office life of decades past, whose style still resonates.

Hans J. Wegner furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Hans J. Wegner 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 Hans J. Wegner furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 1,102 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 346 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Hans J. Wegner were created in the Scandinavian Modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Fritz Hansen, Arne Jacobsen, and Børge Mogensen. Prices for Hans J. Wegner furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at £257 and can go as high as £129,143, while a piece like these, on average, fetch £4,347.
Questions About Hans J. Wegner
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    To pronounce Hans Wegner, say "Hans VEG-ner." His last name is Danish. Native speakers of the language may say the surname like "VAY-ner," but "VEG-ner" is the standard in English. Find a selection of Hans Wegner furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Hans Wegner is indeed a real person. He was a prolific furniture designer affectionately referred to as “the master of the chair”. Throughout his lifetime, he created 500 chairs, all considered masterpieces. Shop a collection of Hans Wegner’s furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Hans J. Wegner was famous for creating chairs and other types of seating. Some of the Danish designer's most well-known pieces include the Papa Bear chair, the Round chair, the Wishbone chair and the China chair. Find a collection of Hans J. Wegner chairs on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Whether or not Hans Wegner chairs are comfortable is largely a matter of personal opinion. The Danish furniture designer did design his pieces with functionality in mind, striving to craft chairs that users would enjoy sitting in. Many of his chairs built upon traditional designs, such as the Peacock chair inspired by the classic Windsor chair. On 1stDibs, find a large selection of Hans Wegner chairs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    To identify a Hans Wegner chair, look for hallmarks of his style. Most joints feature mortise and tenon construction, and armrests and seat supports are often hand-sculpted. Nearly all of his chair frames are solid wood. A piece fashioned out of wood composites is unlikely to be genuine. Find a collection of expertly vetted Hans Wegner chairs on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    What pairs well with the CH07 chair by Hans Wegner is largely a matter of personal preference. To keep the eye focused on its dramatic curves, some interior decorators pair it with simple boxy sofas and tables. Feel free to experiment and create your own furniture layouts using the CH07 or shell chair. Find a collection of Hans Wegner CH07 shell chairs on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    You can cord a Hans Wegner peacock chair in a number of ways. Traditionally, the chair featured an over-under weave created by first wrapping the seat with vertical pairs of cord running from the back to the front. Then, artisans worked horizontally, pulling the cord through the vertical pairs. However, you can find many other patterns to try online. On 1stDibs, shop a range of Hans Wegner peacock chairs.

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