Danish master cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen is best known for a celebrated partnership with legendary Scandinavian modernist designer Hans Wegner that lasted half a century. The sophisticated and sculptural chairs, tables and cabinets that Wegner designed and Hansen built earned Wegner worldwide acclaim, and brought meaningful business opportunities to Hansen and his modest workshop.
Hansen was born in 1886 and apprenticed as a cabinetmaker in his early years, opening a workshop and showroom in Copenhagen. In 1927, he helped establish the annual Copenhagen Cabinetmakers’ Guild Exhibition. Later, at the age of 55, Hansen began working with Danish furniture designer Hans J. Wegner, then only 26. With Wegner creating and Hansen executing on his partner’s complex designs, they developed furniture to sell in Hansen's showroom. A business relationship of this type was common in 20th-century Danish furniture making, and Hansen and Wegner enjoyed a prolific and renowned collaboration.
Wegner’s career began in cabinetry before he transitioned to furniture design in the 1940s. He is among the most celebrated figures for collectors of mid-century modern and Scandinavian works of the era. One of the first well-known entries for the Cabinetmakers’ Guild Exhibitions authored by Wegner and built by Hansen was the 1942 Lattice chair, a red Cuban mahogany dining room chair with an upholstered leather seat. The Peacock chair, an iconic design that followed in 1947, was the pair's take on a traditional English Windsor chair. It featured flattened spindles along the back resembling the feathers of a peacock tail — it wasn’t exactly an emblem of the pared-back functionality prioritized by Kaare Klint, Wegner’s former instructor at Copenhagen’s Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.
Wegner would go on to design nearly 500 chairs over the course of his life — among them are the Wishbone chair, the Papa Bear chair and the Round chair. The latter, which is often simply called “The Chair,” was manufactured by Hansen and made its debut at the Guild Exhibition in 1949. It was declared “the most beautiful chair in the world” by Interiors magazine a year later, and a pair of the iconic seats appeared on the first nationally televised presidential debate in the United States in 1960.
After Hansen died in 1961, his son, Poul Hansen, took over the business and continued working with Wegner. The company closed in the 1990s, but today, Hansen and Wegner's collaborative legacy endures in collections around the world.
Find vintage Johannes Hansen furniture on 1stDibs.
$5,530Sale Price|20% Off
Hans Wegner Peacock Chair, C1960s
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in London, GB
“Peacock Chair”. Easy chair with ash frame and teak armrests. Seat with woven paper cord. Model JH 550. Designed 1947. This example made approx. 1960s by cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen...
Ash
JH 505 - 'Cowhorn' in oak by Hans J. Wegner
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Copenhagen, DK
JH 505 - 'Cow Horn Chair' in patinated oak with seat in original wicker. Designed in 1952 by Hans J. Wegner, made by Johannes Hansen.
Wicker, Oak
8 Hans Wegner for Johannes Hansen JH-503 Chairs in Walnut and Leather
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
We are excited to offer 8 early Hans Wegner JH-503 chairs designed in 1949 and Produced by Johannes Hansen. Fully restored solid Walnut construction. Stamped with the maker's mark. C...
Leather, Walnut
10 Hans Wegner for Johannes Hansen JH-503 Chairs in Teak and Leather
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Los Angeles, CA
We are excited to offer 4 early Hans Wegner JH-503 chairs designed in 1949 and Produced by Johannes Hansen. Fully restored solid old growth teak construction. Stamped with the maker'...
Leather, Teak
Hans Wegner Cow Horn Chair, Model JH-505 for Johannes Hansen
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in San Francisco, CA
Hans J. Wegner design cow horn chair, model JH-505 for Johannes Hansen. Rare dining or desk chair by the master Hans J. Wegner in solid teak with rosewood inlay. New cane seat, in ve...
Cane, Teak
Folding chair model JH 512 designed by Hans J. Wegner for Johannes Hansen, 1949
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Stockholm, SE
Hans J. Wegner is the father of Danish design and is well known for creating some of the most iconic chairs of the past 100 years. The son of a cobbler, Wegner brought Danish design to the international stage through his deep understanding and enjoyment of wood as well as an eye for beautiful and ergonomic design that had hitherto existed. Wegner is seen as the most influential designer within the Danish movement and his early innate ability with wood matured into the gift of an unprecedented amount of over 500 beautiful and functional gifts to the pantheon of design. Hans J Wegner brought Danish furniture to a world stage through his simple, elegant and ergonomic chairs. His CH24 models still litter the offices of design and architectural practices globally and his earliest pieces have become rare design milestones in museums and galleries. Hans J Wegner is certainly one of the most important designers of the 20th Century. Wegner’s first renowned chair came though his work with the Chairmen of the Danish Cabinetmaker’s Guild; Johannes Hansen. Through their intellectual relationship Wegner was able to design a chair he christened “the round one” in 1949 and would go on to be called the defining name; “the chair”. This elegant, restrained, yet organic chair was a pivotal design for Wegner and signalled the beginning of his own unique reign over seat furniture worldwide. This chair also illustrated the point at which the wider world took proper notice of Scandinavian design with it triggering the first American editorial spotlight on Danish Design. The influence and fame of this design can again be recognised in the fact that it was chosen as the seating for the 1960 American Presidential Election debates and shipped from Denmark especially for the occasion. Thus giving the “no.501” its occasional name: “the Kennedy...
Cane, Oak
JH 713 Teak Dining Arm Chair by Hans J. Wegner for Johannes Hansen, 1950s
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An elegant handcrafted dining chair, having an exposed teak frame and leather upholstery.
Leather, Teak
Hans J. Wegner 'Cow horn chair' in oak and cane for Johannes Hansen
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Copenhagen, DK
A Hans J. Wegner 'Cow-horn' chair in patinated oak with seat in original cane. Designed 1952 and executed at cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen, Denmark, model JH505 with manufacture's m...
Cane, Oak
The Round Chair by Hans J. Wegner for Johannes Hansen
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An oak "round" chair retaining the original upholstery with impressed stamp, "Johannes Hansen COPENHAGEN DENMARK".
Leather, Oak
$9,600 / set
Pair of Hans Wegner Round Chairs
By Johannes Hansen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Known simply as "The Chair," this iconic armchair was designed by famed Danish architect and furniture designer Hans Wegner in 1949. The patinated Danish oak frames have been careful...
Velvet, Oak
Hans J Wegner, Valet Chair, Model JH540 in Teak and Oak, Designed 1953, Stamped
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
Hans J Wegner (1914-2007), Valet Chair, model no. JH540, teak and oak, original edition produced by Johannes Hansen, 1953. Underside impressed with manufacturer’s mark: JOHANNES ...
Oak, Teak
Hans Wegner, Cow Horn Chair, model JH 505, Johannes Hansen, Denmark 1950s
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
Hans J. Wegner Cow Horn chair, model JH 505 designed by Wegner in 1952 and made by Johannes Hansen, Denmark, 1950s teak frame with curved 'cow horn' ends to the back rail and inlaid ...
Leather, Teak
JH 505 - 'Cow horn chair' in patinated oak by Hans J. Wegner
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
JH 505 - 'Cow horn chair' in patinated oak with original wicker seat. Designed in 1952.
Wicker, Oak
4 Early Hans Wegner for Johannes Hansen JH-503 Chairs in Teak
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
We are excited to offer 4 early Hans Wegner JH-503 chairs designed in 1949 and Produced by Johannes Hansen. Fully restored solid old growth teak construction. Stamped with the maker'...
Leather, Teak
Hans J. Wegner Jh-515 Armchair for Johannes Hansen
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Hans J. Wegner model JH 515 oak armchair. Seat and back upholstered with green fabric. Executed by cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen, Denmark.
Fabric, Oak
(10) Hans Wegner Danish Birch Dining Chairs C. 1970s
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Norwalk, CT
This is a full set of dining chairs, designed and tagged for the iconic Hans J. Wegner. These chairs are constructed with birch wood in a natural finish, resulting in a clean neutral...
Fabric, Birch
Teak Cow Horn Chair by Hans J. Wegner for Johannes Hansen, 1952
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A rare teak Danish modern dining chair with a splined backrest and a natural cane seat. Model JH-505 was designed in 1952 by Hans J. Wegner and produced i...
Cane, Teak
Hans J. Wegner Cow Horn Chair, Wood & Leather, 1950s, Denmark
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
An iconic Hans J. Wegner design, the celebrated Cow Horn Chair combines sculptural form, exceptional cabinetmaking, and everyday comfort. Produced by Johannes Hansen in Denmark, this...
Leather, Wood
$7,500 / set
Pair of Hans Wegner Round Chairs
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Dallas, TX
The most recognized of Hans Wegner’s chairs, the round back or “The Chair” was designed in 1948. Exquisitely constructed by cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen. This chair was made famous i...
Upholstery, Oak
Set of 4 Round Chairs by Hans J. Wegner for Johannes Hansen
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in San Diego, CA
The extraordinary and historically important Round Chair (Model JH503) by legendary Danish designer Hans J. Wegner, crafted by master cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen in the 1950s. Regar...
Teak, Leather
Rare set of Hans J Wegner Armchairs from Magasin du Nord
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Dallas, TX
Rare set of arm chairs designed by Hans J. Wegne, constructed of oak and leather was custom-ordered for the interior of Magasin du Nord’s department store in the 1950s. Few examples ...
Leather, Oak
JH 505 - 'Cow horn chair' in patinated oak by Hans J. Wegner
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
JH 505 - 'Cow horn chair' in patinated oak with original wicker seat. Designed in 1952 by Hans J. Wegner. Made by Johannes Hansen.
Wicker, Oak
Hans Wegner JH-515 Armchair for Johannes Hansen, 1950, Denmark
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hans J. Wegner teak armchair c.1950s, Denmark, for Johannes Hansen. The rare model JH-515 features a black leather backrest and seat. Stamped Johannes Hansen, COPENHAGEN, DENMARK. T...
Leather, Teak
1965 Pair of Hans Wegner Johannes Hansen JH 507 Oak Dining Chairs from Harvard
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a pair of JH 507 dining chair with arms, designed by Hans Wegner, produced by Johannes Hansen. This pair of chairs came from Harvard University and is accompanied ...
Oak, Leather
Pair of Hans J. Wegner JH515 Armchairs for Johannes Hansen
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Pair of Hans J. Wegner armchairs in oak and cane. Model JH-515. Executed by Johannes Hansen. Stamped Johannes Hansen, COPENHAGEN, DENMARK.
Cane, Oak
Hans J. Wegner Jh-515 Armchair for Johannes Hansen
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Hans J. Wegner model JH 515 oak armchair. Seat and back upholstered with canvas. Executed by cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen, Denmark.
Fabric, Oak
Hans J. Wegner Set of Six Chairs in Teak for Johannes Hansen
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Hans J. Wegner set of six chairs for Johannes Hansen. Model JH-504. Frame in Teak, seat and back in cane.
Cane, Teak
Pair of Hans J. Wegner JH-515 Armchairs for Johannes Hansen
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Hans J. Wegner model JH 515. A pair of oak armchairs. Seat and back upholstered with brown felted wool. Executed by cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen, Denmark.
Fabric, Oak
The JH 250 Valet Chair by Hans J. Wegner for Johannes Hansen, 1953
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Sagaponack, NY
The iconic Valet chair designed by Hans Wegner. Crafted in teak and oakwood with seat that swings upward to hang trousers and hidden storage for pocket contents. Conceived in 1953...
Brass
$7,200 / item
Side Chair by Hans J. Wegner for Johannes Hansen
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An elegant side chair with a generous exposed teak frame and a gently curved seat and back wrapped in black leather.
Leather, Teak