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.
Hans J. Wegner Settee in Oak & Stripe
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Minneapolis, MN
This settee by Hans J. Wegner is made from a sturdy and well aged white oak finished in oil. It has worsted wool striped original textile in a stripe of heathered charcoal, two grey...
Wool, Oak
Grete Jalk Sofa JH180 Johannes Hansen, Denmark, 1955
By Johannes Hansen, Grete Jalk
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Beautiful small Danish sofa or love seat, model JH180 designed by Grete Jalk and manufactured by Johannes Hansen, Denmark 1955. This beautiful shaped...
Leather, Oak
$2,700Sale Price|40% Off
H 32 in W 78 in D 29 in
Mogens Hansen Leather Sofa, Model #535 Danish Modern Mid Century 1970's
By Mogens Hansen
Located in Hudson, NY
Mid Century leather sofa by Mogens Hansen, model #535. This sofa features gently curved track arms with soft, refined silhouettes. It's finished in supple leather with a soft, sun wa...
Leather, Wood
Classic Hans Wegner Round Chair
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in New York, NY
Sleek, sophisticated and architectural, wraparound armchair in solid rosewood, designed by Hans Wegner made by Johannes Hansen The chair has a solid rosewood frame, drop in upholstered seat, and wrapped cane backrest. The frame looks like it has a later, but not new, clear lacquered overcoat, the fabric seat shows cosmetic wear, normal and consistent with age. Measures: Total H 29.5 x arm H 27.5 x seat H 17 inches. Know as the Round Chair...
Upholstery, Rosewood
Grete Jalk Mid Century Danish Teak Sofa
By Grete Jalk
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Grete Jalk Mid Century Danish Teak Sofa This sofa measures: 71.75 wide x 26.5 deep x 27.25 inches high, with a seat height of 15 and arm height of 22 inches Good Vintage Condition ...
Upholstery, Teak
Hans J. Wegner Round Chair
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An original model JH-503 round armchair in teak and leather, designed by Hans J. Wegner for Johannes Hanse. Sculptural teak frame has been gently polished and retains lovely patina. ...
Teak
Scandinavian Modern Teak Sofa after Grete Jalk
By Grete Jalk, France & Daverkosen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This Scandinavian modern teak sofa after Grete Jalk features stylish Mid-Century Modern design, iconic sculpted seat back, and rich vintage teak finish. Vintage upholstered cushions ...
Teak
$3,600Sale Price|20% Off
H 29 in W 77 in D 28 in
Handsome Teak Grete Jalk 3 Seater Sofa for France and Son
By Grete Jalk
Located in Pemberton, NJ
A Grete Jalk's sculptural sofa for France & Son, this three-seater features sinuously contoured slats that create spectacular lines from all angles. The flared armrests, base and ori...
Upholstery, Teak
Hans Wegner Peacock Chair, C1960s
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
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
Danish Midcentury Loveseat by Grete Jalk for Johannes Hansen Oak legs
By Johannes Hansen, Grete Jalk
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Beautiful Classic Danish design by Grete Jalk on of the grand ladies of Danish design and manufactured by Johannses Hansen as model JH 180. Simple yet very elegant and refined design...
Oak
Hans Wegner Vintage JH-501 Chair in Oak and Cane c1950s
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in London, England
Hans J. Wegner - Model JH-501: "The Chair", 1949 This early version of Hans Wegner's most iconic design was simply known as the 'The Chair' when it was first produced or fondly as '...
Rattan, Oak
$2,880Sale Price|40% Off
H 29.5 in W 81.5 in D 32 in
Danish Mid Century Leather Sofa By Mogens Hansen Circa 1960's
By Mogens Hansen
Located in Hudson, NY
Luxurious leather sofa with darker piping accents by Mogens Hansen. This sofa features gently sloping track arms with austere and refined silhouettes. It's finished in supple leather...
Leather, Wood
$4,595
H 29.5 in W 97 in D 28.5 in
Grete Jalk for France and Son Mid Century Danish Teak 4 Seater Sofa
By Grete Jalk, France & Søn
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Grete Jalk for France and Son Mid Century Danish Teak 4 Seater Sofa This sofa measures: 97 wide x 28.5 deep x 29.5 inches high, with a seat height of 16 and arm height of 21.75 inch...
Upholstery, Teak
Danish Modern Teak Sofa by Grete Jalk for France and Son, 1960s
By France & Søn, Grete Jalk
Located in North Hollywood, CA
A true icon of mid-century modern design, this exceptional sofa by Grete Jalk for France & Son, crafted in Denmark during the 1960s, exemplifies the elegance and craftsmanship of the...
Fabric, Teak
Hans Wegner 1949 Armless Sofa Bench Settee Johaness Hansen JH555
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Oakland, CA
Danish armless bench designed by Hans Wegner. Model JH555, crafted of a solid teak frame with angled cross stretcher. Newly upholstered in classic Scandinavian ...
Wool, Teak