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.
Desk Organizer by Hans J. Wegner for Johannes Hansen
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A bench-made solid teak desk organizer with dovetail joinery, comprising five correspondence dividers, a slim drawer and open storage.
Teak
$4,800 / item
The Fruit Bowl by Hans J. Wegner for PP Møbler, 1956
By Hans J. Wegner, PP Møbler
Located in Sagaponack, NY
PP586 'The Fruit Bowl' (side table) is a nicely proportioned lathe turned ash shallow bowl that rests on an architectural three legged stand of chromed steel, d...
Ash
Midcentury Modern Desk Organizer by Børge Mogensen, 1960s
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Stockholm, SE
Lovely desk organizer by Børge Mogensen, made from oak with red, grey and white lacquered drawers. The drawers fit A4 size magazines and documents.
Wood
Cream Shagreen Tray by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Paris based label has distinguished themselves since their launch, with their iconic use of shagreen mixed with brass and other exotic materials. All furniture is handcrafted by skilled artisans, ultimately making each piece unique, designed in Paris and produced in the Philippines. The melting tray comes in two sizes and two color variants. This listing is for the medium size in cream shagreen...
Brass
$1,350 / item
H 0.52 in W 13.39 in D 24.02 in
Shagreen Tray with Shell and Brass Inserts by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Paris based label has distinguished themselves since their launch, with their iconic use of shagreen mixed with brass and other exotic materials. All furniture is handcrafted by ...
Brass
Marble Desk Pen Holder Organizer
Located in New York, NY
A substantial marble desk pen/pencil/marker holder organizer, in the modern style, Midcentury Modern design period, circa mid-20th century. Organizer can hold small pieces of paper, ...
Marble
$1,495
H 6.13 in W 23.5 in D 8.5 in
Letter Tray Desk Organizer Rosewood Danish Desktop Georg Petersen Selectform
By Georg Petersens Møbelfabrik
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Very active Rosewood grain to all surfaces. This is the early production Selectform model, designed and made by Georg Petersen Mobelfabrik A/S. This example retains the Georg Peter...
Rosewood
Vintage Bamboo Letter Holder Desk Organizer
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Bamboo Letter Holder or Desk Organizer. Three compartments on top and a large area on bottom. Good condition and sturdy, ready to use. 11" wide
Bamboo
$2,671
H 8.47 in W 13.78 in D 10.63 in
Oak and Polychrome "Öresund" Desk Organizer by Børge Mogensen, Karl Andersson
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Hägersten, SE
Desk organizer model A4/3 from the Öresund series designed by Børge Mogensen. Produced in Sweden by Karl Andersson & Söner during the 1960s. Made from solid oak with three drawers in...
Oak, Lacquer
$2,671
H 23.63 in W 30.32 in D 18.9 in
Scandinavian Modern Tray Table by Hans J. Wegner, Oak & Teak, Denmark, 1960s
By Hans J. Wegner, Andreas Tuck
Located in Odense, DK
Rare vintage tray table / serving trolley by Hans J. Wegner in solid teak & oakwood. Manufactured by cabinetmaker Andreas Tuck in the 1960s. The table top can be removed and used as ...
Oak, Teak
MCM Office Desk Paper Organizer Tray
By Industrias Ruiz Galindo SA (IRGSA)
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this Mid-Century Modern desk office tray, clean design in two levels made by IRGSA, circa 1970.
Wood
Desk 'RY 32' Designed by Hans J. Wegner for Ry Møbler
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Stockholm, SE
This Hans J. Wegner oak desk, model RY 32, is a quiet and assured example of Danish modern design. Crafted in solid oak, it features a slim rectangular top supported by tapered legs,...
Oak
Hakou A Tray by Mason Editions
Located in Geneve, CH
Hakou A Tray by Mason Editions Dimensions: 39 × 32 × 11 cm Materials: Glass and iron Colours: transparent, fume or light pink glass + black metal base All the poetry, delicacy ...
Glass
Pink Hakou C Tray by Mason Editions
Located in Geneve, CH
Pink Hakou C tray by Mason Editions Dimensions: 60 × 26 × 9 cm Materials: Glass and iron Colors: transparent, fume or light pink glass + black metal ba...
Iron
Large Hans Wegner Danish Teak Bowl for Johannes Hansen 1950s
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in New York, NY
Hans Wegner for Johannes Hansen. Large teak bowl. Signed on base. Denmark, 1950s. Measures: 25" diameter x 3" H.
Teak
Rare and Early Hans Wegner Teak Fruit Bowl
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Utrecht, NL
Vary rare fruit bowl by Hans Wegner in a gorgeous wood grained teakwood on a chromed three legged base, executed by Johannes Hansen. Tray comes in very well preserved condition wi...
Steel