Best known for his chairs and other seating pieces — though a master of many furniture types like sofas and tables — Hans Wegner was a prolific designer whose elegant, often ebullient, forms and devotion to the finest methods in joinery made "Danish Modern" a popular byword for stylish, well-made furniture in the mid-20th century.
Wegner considered himself a carpenter first and a furniture designer second. Like his peers Arne Jacobsen and Finn Juhl, Wegner believed that striking aesthetics in furniture were based on a foundation of practicality: a chair must be comfortable and sturdy before it is chic.
In keeping with that tenet, several of Hans Wegner’s best chair designs have their roots in traditional seating forms. The Peacock chair (designed in 1947) is a throne-like adaptation of the Windsor chair; pieces from the China chair series (begun in 1944) as well as the 1949 Wishbone chair, with its distinctive Y-shaped back splat, are derived from 17th-century Ming seating pieces, as is the upholstered Ox chair (1960). Wegner’s comfy Papa Bear chair (1951) is an almost surreally re-scaled English wingback chair.
Wegner’s most representative piece, the Round chair (1949), gained a footnote in political history when it was used on the TV stage of the first Kennedy-Nixon debate of 1960. That chair, along with Wegner’s more bravura designs — for example, the 1963 Shell chair, with its curved surfboard-shaped seat — bring a quietly sculptural presence to a room.
Wegner was a designer who revered his primary material — wood — and it shows. His wood gathers patina and character with age; every Hans Wegner piece testifies to the life it has led.
Find vintage Hans Wegner lounge chairs, armchairs, daybeds and other furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
H 27.96 in W 28.75 in D 20.08 in
The Bull Chair, Model JH 518, by Hans Wegner for Johannes Hansen, Denmark, 1961
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Stockholm, SE
Original grey painted pine frame with original leather detailing. Very early example, possibly a prototype. Model presented at the Copenhagen Cabinet makers' Guild Exhibition in 196...
Oak
H 32 in W 26 in D 20 in
Hans Wegner JH-515 Armchair for Johannes Hansen, 1950, Denmark
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hans J. Wegner teak armchair c.1950s, Denmark, for Johannes Hansen. The rare model JH-515 features a black leather backrest and seat. Stamped Johannes Hansen, COPENHAGEN, DENMARK. T...
Leather, Teak
H 33 in W 23.5 in D 20 in
Hans Wegner Model JH-713 Teak Armchair For Johannes Hansen / Knoll Assoc.
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This iconic Danish modern model is JH-713 armchair was designed by Hans Wegner for Johannes Hansen in the 1950s. The chair features a splendidly sculpted teak open frame with a rich ...
Teak, Leather
H 30 in W 24.75 in D 21 in
The Chair by Hans Wegner Model JH501 for Johannes Hansen
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in San Francisco, CA
Hans Wegner round chair model JH501 for Johannes Hansen, Denmark. Iconic chair by the master Hans Wegner and nick named "The Chair" after being featured in the JFK presidential debat...
Cane, Teak
H 29.93 in W 24.81 in D 19.69 in
Armchair ‘The Chair’ model JH 501 designed by Hans Wegner for Johannes Hansen
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Stockholm, SE
Armchair ‘The Chair’ model JH 501 designed by Hans Wegner for Johannes Hansen Denmark, 1949 Teak and cane. H: 76 cm / 2' 6" W: 63 cm / 2' 3/4" D: 50 cm / 20 1/2" Arm height: 68.5 ...
Cane, Teak
H 31.5 in W 28.25 in D 25 in
Hans Wegner JH-515 Black Leather Teak Armchair for Johannes Hansen
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage easy chair designed by Hans Wegner and executed by Johannes Hansen in the 1950s. Rare lounge chair model JH-515. Genuine, soft, black leather in excellent condition. The sple...
Teak, Leather
H 28.55 in W 28.35 in D 20.48 in
Four 'Bull' armchairs modelJH 518 Designed by Hans J. Wegner for Johannes Hansen
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Stockholm, SE
Presented at the Copenhagen Cabinetmakers’ Guild Exhibition in 1961, the JH 518 “Bull” chair is a confident and sculptural design by Hans J. Wegner, produced by the esteemed cabinetm...
Leather, Oak
H 28.35 in W 28.35 in D 20.48 in
JH 518 - Rare 'Bull Chair' by Hans J. Wegner
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Copenhagen, DK
JH 518 - Rare 'Bull Chair' in solid oak and with seat of new, braided cane. Original label from manufacturer. Designed in 1961. Hans J. Wegner / Johannes Hansen
Oak
H 30 in W 24.5 in D 20 in
Hans Wegner JH 503 Walnut Chair by Johannes Hansen
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Miami, FL
A sculptural walnut armchair designed by Hans J. Wegner for Johannes Hansen, Denmark, circa 1950s. This iconic design, often referred to as “The Chair” or “The Round Chair”, exemplif...
Leather, Walnut
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 Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
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
Hans Wegner Armchair Model JH-501 by Johannes Hansen in Denmark
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare armchair model JH-501 / the chair designed by Hans Wegner. Produced by Johannes Hansen in Denmark.
Leather, Teak
Hans Wegner Armchairs Model JH-525 by Cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen in Denmark
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Very rare armchairs model JH-525 designed by Hans Wegner. Produced by cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen in Denmark. Matching set of 4 more chairs available.
Fabric, Oak
Hans Wegner Armchair Model Jh-501 / the Chair by Johannes Hansen in Denmark
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare armchair model JH-501 / the chair designed by Hans Wegner. Produced by Johannes Hansen in Denmark.
Cane, Teak
Hans Wegner Armchair Model JH-501 / The Chair by Johannes Hansen in Denmark
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare armchair model JH-501 / The Chair designed by Hans Wegner. Produced by Johannes Hansen in Denmark.
Cane, Teak
Hans Wegner Cowhorn Armchairs Model JH-505 by Cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Very rare set of 4 Cowhorn armchairs model JH-505 designed by Hans Wegner. Produced by cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen in Denmark.
Leather, Teak
Hans Wegner Armchairs Model JH-505 Produced by Cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Very rare set of 6 Cowhorn armchairs model JH-505 designed by Hans Wegner. Produced by cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen in Denmark.
Cane, Rosewood, Teak
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
If anyone is brave, humble and adept enough to recolor these mid-century masterpieces, it’s Ilse Crawford. Here, she gives us the details on her five earthy paint choices and tells us how she feels about design collaborations.
