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.
Table with Tray by Hans J. Wegner for Johannes Hansen
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A two-tier Scandinavian Modern end table designed by Hans Wegner with a solid teak top. Table features built-in shelf and pullout serving tray on oak legs. Crafted by Johannes Hanse...
Oak, Teak
Hans Wegner Large Scale Oak End Tables or Night Stands
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of large scale Danish Modern oak end tables, designed by Hans Wegner for Andreus Tuck, Denmark, circa 1950s. These tables are currently being...
Metal
$2,200
H 23.75 in W 26.25 in D 23.5 in
Hans Wegner for Andreas Tuck Model AT33 Drop-Leaf Sewing Table in Teak
By Andreas Tuck, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Brooklyn, NY
1950s Danish solid teak sewing or side table (model AT33) designed by Hans J Wegner and manufactured Andreas Tuck. Crafted with two drop leaves that...
Teak
$22,700
H 28.94 in W 129.93 in D 68.9 in
Hans Wegner for Johannes Hansen Rare Large Dining or Conference Table in Mahogany
By Johannes Hansen
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Hans Wegner for Johannes Hansen, dining or conference table, mahogany, stainless steel, Denmark, 1960 An exceptional and rare design by Danish master Hans J. Wegner, executed by the...
Stainless Steel
$2,455 / item
H 18.9 in W 20.5 in D 13.4 in
Hans J. Wegner 'CH004' Nesting Tables in Walnut Oil for Carl Hansen & Son
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Glendale, CA
Hans J. Wegner 'CH004' Nesting Tables in Walnut Oil for Carl Hansen & Son The story of Danish Modern begins in 1908 when Carl Hansen opened his first workshop. His firm commitment to beauty, comfort, refinement, and craftsmanship is evident in iconic pieces designed by such legends as Hans J. Wegner, Arne Jacobsen, Kaare Klint, Poul Kjærholm, Vilhelm Lauritzen and others. Now in its third generation as a family run business, Carl Hansen & Son maintains its legacy through skillful work with the highest quality materials, sustainably producing Danish design classics by past icons and influential new designers. Hans J. Wegner’s iconic 'CH004' Nesting Tables were first launched in 1952. Their lightweight, space-optimized design and classic Wegner minimalism...
Wood, Walnut
$64,000
H 28.55 in W 76.78 in D 36.23 in
Hans J. Wegner for Johannes Hansen Rare ‘Architect’s Desk’ in Teak and Oak
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Hans J. Wegner for Johannes Hansen, writing desk, model 'JH571', teak, oak, metal, Denmark, 1953 Out of all the desks that Wegner designed, the ‘JH571‘ is the most 'Wegnerian'. This...
Metal
Hans Wegner Flip Top Coffee Table for Johannes Hansen
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in San Diego, CA
Elevate your space with this rare and iconic Flip Top Coffee Table designed by Hans J. Wegner for Johannes Hansen. A hallmark of mid-century Danish design, this beautifully crafted table showcases the ingenuity and craftsmanship that have made Wegner a legend. Add this timeless piece of Danish design heritage to your space and experience why Hans Wegner remains celebrated worldwide. Constructed with a teak top, oak base, and black laminate surface, this piece is as functional as it is timeless. The innovative flip top design allows the table to transform from a compact coffee table to a larger surface, making it ideal for both everyday use and entertaining. The warm richness of the teak is complemented by the solid oak frame, while the sleek black laminate adds a bold, modern contrast. Whether placed in a living room, office, or studio, this Hans Wegner Flip Top Table...
Laminate, Oak, Teak
$74,246
H 28.75 in W 76.78 in D 35.44 in
Desk model JH571 Designed by Hans J. Wegner for Johannes Hansen
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Stockholm, SE
The Architect’s Desk, model JH571, designed by Hans J. Wegner for the Copenhagen cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen in 1953, represents one of the most refined and architecturally minded w...
Metal
$26,138
H 28.75 in W 106.3 in D 39.38 in
Hans Wegner Dining Table Model JH-570 by Johannes Hansen in Denmark
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Very rare dining table model JH-570 designed by Hans Wegner. Produced by cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen in Denmark.
Brass
$7,000
H 20.88 in W 26.75 in D 21.25 in
Hans Wegner Teak Table with Hidden Tray, Johannes Hansen, 1960s
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Miami, FL
A very rare two-tier teak and oak occasional table with hidden tray, designed by Hans Wegner for Johannes Hansen. The end table features a two-tiered design with a solid teak top and...
Teak, Oak
Rare Solid Oak Coffee Table by Hans Wegner for Johannes Hansen
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Berkeley, CA
Origin: Denmark Designer: Hans Wegner Manufacturer: Johannes Hansen Era: 1960s Materials: Oak Measurements: 67" wide x 23.5" deep x 19.5" tall Condition: In excellent condition.
Oak
$30,000
H 28.5 in W 70.25 in D 50.5 in
Hans J Wegner/Johannes Hansen 567 Teak Dining Table with Three Leaves
By Johannes Andersen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Minneapolis, MN
This Classic dining table made from old growth teak was designed by Hans J. Wegner and made by Johannes Hansen. Three interlocking leaves are removable, when fully extended seats 12-...
Teak
Hans Wegner Fruit Bowl JH586 Johannes Hansen Teak Coffee Table, 1956
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Basel, BS
Iconic ‚Fruit Bowl‘ by Hans J. Wegner, model No. JH-586 designed in 1958 and hand-crafted by the master cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen in Copenhagen. „Wegner presented the Fruit Bow...
Stainless Steel