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 for Johannes Hansen JH 539 Cane Stool
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A seldom seen model JH 539 footstol, designed by Hans Wegner for Johannes Hansen. Elegantly crafted teak frame, with woven cane seat. A fantastic companion to our Papa Bear Chair. De...
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 Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
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
$4,184Sale Price / set|30% Off
H 32.29 in W 23.23 in D 20.08 in
Hans J. Wegner for Johannes Hansen JH-813 Black Leather Armchairs, Set of 2
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Rochester, England
Originally designed by Hans J. Wegner for the 1947 Copenhagen Cabinet Makers Guild Exhibition, the JH-813 chair was initially conceived to be made in wood. It wasn’t until the 1970s ...
Leather
$7,500 / item
H 30 in W 24.5 in D 20 in
10 Hans Wegner for Johannes Hansen JH-503 Chairs in Teak and Leather
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
$7,500 / item
H 30 in W 24.5 in D 20 in
8 Hans Wegner for Johannes Hansen JH-503 Chairs in Walnut and Leather
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
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
$9,054
H 29.53 in W 24.81 in D 20.48 in
JH 501 Chair with Cane Seat by Hans Wegner for Johannes Hansen
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Berlin, DE
JH 501 teak armchair with Cane Seat by Hans J. Wegner for Johannes Hansen. The chair has a sculpted curved backrest and armrests, tapered legs and a woven cane seat. Little signs of ...
Cane, Teak
$17,500
H 29 in W 29 in D 19 in
The JH 518 'Bullhorn' Chair by Hans J. Wegner for Johannes Hansen, 1952
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An oak 'Bullhorn' chair with oak splines and upholstered seat retaining the original black leather.
Oak
Hans J. Wegner Folding Chair for Johannes Hansen
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Hans J. Wegner folding chair of oak model JH-512, 1949. Executed by Johannes Hansen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Cane, 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 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
Hans J. Wegner for Johannes Hansen Peacock Chair
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Chicago, IL
Hans J. Wegner for Johannes Hansen Peacock Chair made in Denmark, 1947 Ash frame with Teak arms and grass cord seatBranded manufacturer's mark to underside ‘Johannes Hansen Copenhage...
Rush, Ash, Teak
Slatted Bench by Hans J. Wegner for Johannes Hansen
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A midcentury solid teak bench with a slatted seat over six (6) tapered legs. Designed by Hans Wegner and made by Johannes Hansen in Denmark, 1950s.
Teak
$11,901
H 18.12 in W 26.38 in D 14.97 in
Hans J. Wegner JH-539 Stool, Oak and Woven Cane, Mid Century, Denmark
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Stool in Oak and Woven Cane by Hans Wegner, 1954 Additional Information: Material: Oak and woven cane Style: Mid century, Scandinavian Very rare stool model JH-539 Produced by cabin...
Oak
Hans Wegner JH 555 Sofa for Johannes Hansen, 1960
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Dallas, TX
A rare sofa model JH 555 in oak by Hans Wegner for Johannes Hansen, 1960. Nice patina to oak frame with vintage upholstery in good usable condition. This piece is unmarked.
Oak
$19,930 / set
H 31.5 in W 28.35 in D 20.48 in
Collectible Design: Hans Wegner JH 516 Lounge Chairs for Johannes Hansen, 1950s
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Renens, CH
An original pair of very rare JH516 lounge chairs by Hans Wegner, produced by Johannes Hansen during the 1950s. A rare opportunity to purchase an investment piece that rarely becomes available on the market. Materials: Oak, cane Origination: Denmark, 1950s. Labelled on underside of one chair. Condition: Very good as per images. Signs of use on the wood, we found a superficial hairline crack on one of the armrests, and one armrest with chipped wood...
Cane, Oak
$14,577 / set
H 30.71 in W 20.87 in D 17.72 in
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 Wegner Valet Chair
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The iconic three legged valet chair designed by Hans J. Wegner for Johannes Hansen. The original four legged piece was conceived by Wegner after a discussi...
Brass
Hans Wegner Teak and Cane Stool for Johannes Hansen, circa 1955
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Hans Wegner teak and cane stool for Johannes Hansen, circa 1955. This piece retains the original plaque to the bottom.
Cane, Teak
Oak and Cane Bench by Hans Wegner
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A handmade oak bench / stool with integral handles, through-tenon tapered dowel legs, and the original caned seat.
Cane, Oak
Stool in Teak by Hans J. Wegner
By Johannes Hansen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
JH 539, rare stool in teak with new cane. Maker Johannes Hansen.
Hans Wegner Teak and Cane Stool for Johannes Hansen
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Hans Wegner teak and cane stool for Johannes Hansen. This piece retains the original plaque to the bottom.
Cane, Teak
Hans Wegner Stool
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Chicago, IL
Hans Wegner stool for Johannes Hansen. Dark stained oak and woven reed. With metal label Johannes Hansen, Cabinet Maker, Copenhagen-Denmark, Design: H. J. W...
Oak, Reed
Hans Wegner Johannes Hansen Cane Stool
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Munich, DE
Hans J. Wegner (1914 - 2007) Iconic stool in teak and cane by Hans Wegner for Johannes Hansen. With some minor cane defects and special customized leather cushion (later).
Teak