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.
$24,000 / item
Fruit Bowl by Hans J. Wegner for Johannes Hansen, 1956
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Sagaponack, NY
The very rare, original, JH-586 'The Fruit Bowl' (side table) is a nicely proportioned lathe turned teak shallow bowl that rests on an architectural three legged Stand of chromed ste...
Steel, Chrome
$1,606
H 3.15 in W 31.5 in D 23.63 in
Fine 19th Century Papier-Mâché Tray by Jennings & Bettridge, London Royal Makers
By Jennens and Bettridge
Located in Benington, Herts
A superb large hand painted papier-mâché shaped tray impressed to verso by the Royal Makers Jennens & Bettridge, London. English, circa 1830. Beautifully hand painted and gilt ...
Gold Leaf
$2,593
H 23.63 in W 30.32 in D 18.9 in
Scandinavian Modern Tray Table by Hans J. Wegner, Oak & Teak, Denmark, 1960s
By Andreas Tuck, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Odense, DK
Rare vintage tray table / serving trolley by Hans J. Wegner in solid teak & oakwood. Manufactured by cabinetmaker Andreas Tuck in the 1960s. The table top can be removed and used as ...
Oak, Teak
$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 Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
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
Art Deco Serving Table or Bar by Jacques Adnet
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Bridgewater, CT
Adnet Jacques (1900-1984) An Art Deco bar roulant/ serving table in sycamore with chrome-plated metal frames and two removable trays with mirrored glass...
Chrome
$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
Sculptural Danish Lunch Board in Solid Teak by Johannes Aasbjerg
By Johannes Aasbjerg
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
An unusual solid teak, sculptural lunch board by Johannes Aasbjerg, for Excellent Furniture, Denmark. Versatile design with hairpin style legs this version is 36.5" long.
Teak
$37,500
H 38 in W 36 in D 23.5 in
Fine Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Two Tier Tea Table By Paul Sormani
By Paul Sormani
Located in Long Island City, NY
A Fine Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Louis XV Style Two Tier Tea Table By Paul Sormani Paul Sormani The oval upper tier surmounted by a bron...
Bronze, Ormolu
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
Hans Wegner, Telephone Table, Made by Johannes Hansen, 1950s
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
Hans J Wegner Telephone Table, designed 1954 made by Johannes Hansen in the 1950s, stamped teak cabinet in with black laminate top on turned oak dowel legs, fitted two painted wood ...
Steel
Hans J. Wegner PP35 Tray Table in Solid Ash, Scandinavian Design
By Hans J. Wegner, PP Møbler
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Hans J. Wegner tray table in ash. Model PP35, Made by PP møbler.
Mahogany
$58,939
H 27.96 in W 82.68 in D 36.03 in
Hans Wegner Desk Produced by Cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen in Denmark
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Very rare freestanding desk designed by Hans Wegner. Produced by cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen in Denmark.
Steel
$75,336
H 28.75 in W 76.78 in D 35.44 in
Desk model JH571 Designed by Hans J. Wegner for Johannes Hansen
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
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
Hans Wegner Tray Table
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in New York, NY
Side table or serving table with removable and mountable tray. Solid teak top, tray, and shelf with solid oak framing. Designed by Hans Wegner and produced by Johannes Hansen, circa ...
Oak, Teak