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 Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
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 Grete Jalk, Johannes Hansen
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
Danish 1940s Settee with Open Armrests in Cuban Mahogany
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Superb Danish settee from the late 1940's or early 1950s with coil springs in the seat and beautiful open armrests and legs carved in solid Stained Cuban Mahogany with great grain an...
Wool, West Indian Mahogany
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
$14,895
H 31 in W 67 in D 31 in
Expertly Restored - Early Hans J. Wegner JH-555 Sofa for Johannes Hansen
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This early Hans J. Wegner settee for Johannes Hansen carries the kind of quiet authority that only true cabinetmaker-led Danish design can deliver—refined in line, deeply considered ...
Fabric, Foam, Wood
Danish Midcentury 2 1/2 Seat Sofa Grete Jalk Style with Teak Legs
By Grete Jalk, Johannes Hansen
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Beautiful Classic Danish design very similar to Grete Jalk's one of the grand ladies of Danish design, and Johannes Hansen's model JH 180. Simple yet very elegant and refined design ...
Oak, Wool, 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
Hans Wegner JH-713 Armchair in Oak and Leather
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in London, England
Hans J. Wegner, JH-713 Armchair, 1957 The JH-713 chair is from Danish master Hans Wegner’s golden collaboration period in the 1950s with master cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen. Intende...
Leather, Oak
Hans Wegner Pair of JH-512 Oak Folding Chairs, 1949
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in London, England
Hans Wegner JH-512 Folding Chairs, Oak One of Danish master Hans J. Wegner's most important and iconic works. The Model 512 chair was produced by ma...
Rattan, Oak
Danish Midcentury Loveseat by Grete Jalk for Johannes Hansen Oak legs
By Grete Jalk, Johannes Hansen
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
Danish Modern Finn Juhl Sheepskin BO46 sofa, 1946
By Finn Juhl
Located in Uccle, BE
Sofa model BO46 by Finn Juhl for Bovirke, made in Denmark in 1946. Round beech legs. Reupholstered in sheepkin. Leather buttons. Excellent vintage condition. Early and important Finn...
Sheepskin, Beech
Hans Wegner Vintage JH-501 Chair in Oak and Cane c1950s
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
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
$3,200
H 28 in W 63 in D 27.5 in
Danish Midcentury Loveseat 2 1/2 Seat Sofa Grete Jalk Style with Teak Legs
By Johannes Hansen, Grete Jalk
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Beautiful Classic Danish design very similar to Grete Jalk's one of the grand ladies of Danish design, and Johannes Hansen's model JH 180. Simple yet very elegant and refined design ...
Wool, Teak
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
$3,524
H 28.75 in W 29.93 in D 61.42 in
Modern Grete Jalk Danish Sofa, France and Son Freshly Reupholstered
By Grete Jalk, France & Søn
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
First edition for this sofa designed by Grete Jalk for France and Son. Scandinavian sofa Freshly reupholstered. Perfect condition.
Fabric, Teak
Hans Wegner Round Chair in Oak
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Dallas, TX
A Hans Wegner for Johannes Hansen Oak round chair with leather seat.
Leather, Oak
High Back Upholstered Settee by Grete Jalk for Johannes Hansen
By Johannes Hansen, Grete Jalk
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An early Grete Jalk designed settee featuring a high back on squared legs with a tight and tailored pale brick upholstery. Crafted by Johannes Hansen in Denmark, circa 1950s. Work...
Upholstery, Teak
Hans Wegner 1949 Armless Sofa Bench Settee Johaness Hansen JH555
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
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