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.
Hans J. Wegner Vintage Paper Basket for Aarhus City Hall, Oak, Denmark, 1940s
By Plan Møbler, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Odense, DK
Rare vintage paper basket designed by Hans J. Wegner for the furnishings of Aarhus City Hall in the 1940s. Crafted in solid oak with elegantly tapered slats and a warm patina, this u...
Oak
$4,800 / item
The Fruit Bowl by Hans J. Wegner for PP Møbler, 1956
By PP Møbler, Hans J. Wegner
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
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
$1,211
H 21.66 in W 33.47 in D 33.47 in
Coffee Table Made In Oak By Hans J. Wegner For PP Furniture From 1960s
By PP Møbler, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Lejre, DK
Coffee table of oak designed by Hans J. Wegner and manufactured by PP Furniture in the 1960s. The table is in great vintage condition.
Oak
Hans J. Wegner for PP Møbler Coffee Table, solid oak.
By Andreas Tuck, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Hans J. Wegner coffee table, solid soap treated oak Made by PP Møbler.
Oak
Zodiac Art Deco Bronze Bowl by Nordisk Malm, Denmark, 1940s
By Evan Jensen, Just Andersen, Nordisk Malm, GAB Guldsmedsaktiebolaget, Tinos
Located in Malmö, SE
A stylish and heavy vintage Danish bronze bowl with relief moulded Zodiac motifs around the rim of the bowl and with a textured finish often referred to as 'moon' texturing. Made by ...
Bronze
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
$414
H 7.88 in W 18.12 in D 13 in
Vintage Hand-Crafted Wicker Picnic Basket, Mid-Century Modern, 1940s
Located in Bochum, NRW
Vintage traditional woven wicker case in a classic pattern. Made by an unknown manufacturer in France circa 1940 Inside a serving set of 4 plastic dishes, mugs and cutlery, and a ch...
Fabric, Plastic, Wicker
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
Kahler, Denmark, Glazed Stoneware Dish Bowl, circa 1940s
Located in København, Copenhagen
Kähler, Denmark, glazed stoneware dish bowl. circa 1940s. Stamped. Measures: 21.5 cm. X 3.5 cm. In perfect condition.
French Champagne Harvesting Basket, c. 1940s
Located in Atlanta, GA
A rare and beautifully preserved French Champagne harvesting basket dating to the 1940s, hailing from the legendary vineyards of the Champagne region. This hand-woven willow basket w...
Willow
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
Hans J. Wegner PP35 Tray Table in Solid Ash, Scandinavian Design
By PP Møbler, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Hans J. Wegner tray table in ash. Model PP35, Made by PP møbler.
Mahogany
Large Hans Wegner Danish Teak Bowl for Johannes Hansen 1950s
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
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