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.
Sofa in Leather and Oak by Hans Wegner, 1949
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
This rare sofa, model JH-555, was designed by Hans Wegner and produced by the cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen in Denmark in 1949. It represents an early and exceptional example of Wegne...
Leather, Oak
GE-236/4 in Teak by Hans J. Wegner for GETAMA 1960s
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Handewitt, DE
Model GE-236 / 4 sofa, designed by Hans J. Wegner in 1955 for Getama Denmark. Made in solid teak. Cushions in blue / light blue wool fabric. cushions with rounded edges. Ready to use...
Fabric, Teak
Hans Wegner AP33 Four-seater Sofa for A.P. Stolen
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Winnipeg, MB
Monumental and rare four-seater AP33 sofa designed by Hans Wegner for AP Stolen, Denmark. This piece features angled oak legs and the original wool upholstery. It has a streamlined a...
Wool, Upholstery, Oak
Hans J. Wegner Model 236/3 Three-Seat Sofa, Oak & Bouclé, Denmark
By Hans J. Wegner, GETAMA
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Hans J. Wegner three-seat sofa new upholstered with Boucle. Frame in solid oak. Model 236/3, produced by GETAMA.
Oak, Bouclé
1960s Hans J. Wegner Airport Sofa in Original Blue Kvadrat Fabric by A.P. Stolen
By Hans J. Wegner, A.P. Stolen
Located in Knebel, DK
1960s Hans J. Wegner Airport Sofa in original blue fabric manufactored by A.P. Stolen This sofa, model AP35/3, is part of a series of armchair, lounge chair and sofa that Hans Wegne...
Steel
Hans J. Wegner Four-Seat Sofa by GETAMA, Aniline Leather, Oak Frame
By Hans J. Wegner, GETAMA
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Hans J. Wegner four-seat sofa new upholstered with pure aniline leather. Original Epeda cushions. Frame in solid soap treated oak. Model 236/4, produced by GETAMA.
Leather, Oak
$17,707
Rare Sofa by Hans J. Wegner
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Rare sofa with patinated oak legs, newly upholstered in textile (DAW, color Stripe 7) Hans J. Wegner / Johannes Hansen.
Oak
Hans Wegner Sofa Model AP-64 Produced by AP-Stolen in Denmark
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Very rare sofa model AP-64 designed by Hans Wegner. Produced by AP-Stolen in Denmark.
Leather, Oak
$11,070
Sofa by Hans J. Wegner
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Copenhagen, DK
AP 20S - sofa in oak and new textile in Vidar 3 (colour 323 and cushion in colour 333). Hans J. Wegner / AP Stolen.
Oak
Danish Design Classsic GE 290 Three Seater Sofa by Hans Wegner for GETAMA, 1960s
By Hans J. Wegner, GETAMA
Located in Renens, CH
One of the most recognized designs by Hans Wegner and probably the whole danish mid-century modern period is the GE 290 sofa and arm chair produced by Getama....
Wool, Oak
Hans J. Wegner Airport Sofa AP34/4 Denmark 1954
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Danish modern four seater sofa model AP34/4 designed by Hans J. Wegner and manufactured by AP Stolen, Denmark 1954. This is for the rare 4 seater version of this...
Steel
2021 Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen CH402 Kastrup Sofa in Sif Leather
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a CH402 Two-Seater Kastrup sofa without arms. The sofa is made with a stainless steel frame and natural color leather. Designed by Hans Wegner and produced by Carl...
Stainless Steel
Upholstered Sofa by Hans J. Wegner for A.P. Stolen
By A.P. Stolen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A sculptural, tailored and fully upholstered (and very comfortable) sofa floating on well-scaled turned oak dowel legs and retaining its original cream strie´ wool fabric.
Oak, Upholstery
Roll Arm Sofa by Hans J. Wegner for AP Stolen
By Hans J. Wegner, A.P. Stolen
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A straight-back roll arm sofa retaining its original brown wool strie´ upholstery, the seating element having a comfortable pitch and elevated by solid squared teak legs.
Teak, Upholstery
Upholstered Sofa by Hans J. Wegner for A.P. Stolen
By Hans J. Wegner, A.P. Stolen
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A tailored and fully upholstered sofa floating on well-scaled turned oak dowel legs. Model AP32-S by Hans J. Wegner for A.P. Stolen in original upholstery.
Upholstery, Wool, Oak
2020 CH402 Kastrup Two Seater Sofa by Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen in Red Leather
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a two-seater Kastrup sofa model CH402 with arms, designed by Hans Wegner , produced by Carl Hansen & Son in Denmark. The sofa is made with a stainless steel frame ...
Stainless Steel
Hans J. Wegner Two-Seat Sofa in Oak and Fabric for AP Stolen
By A.P. Stolen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Hans J. Wegner two-seat sofa in oak and wool upholstery, model AP20. Executed by AP Stolen, Denmark.
Wool, Oak