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 39 in W 32.5 in D 32 in
Papa Bear Armchair & Footrest, Hans Wegner, Denmark, c. 1950
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in New York, NY
The celebrated Papa Bear chair with matching footrest. Dimensions listed are for chair.
Upholstery, Oak, Teak
H 38.59 in W 36.23 in D 38.59 in
Hans J. Wegner Papa Bear Chair, 1960s
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Stockholm, SE
Newly reupholstered in fabric "Mons" from Astrid Textiles. Very good condition. Produced by A.P. Stolen in Denmark.
Sheepskin, Oak, Teak
H 38.98 in W 36.23 in D 35.83 in
Hans J. Wegner 'Papa Bear' Armchair, A.P. Stolen, Denmark, 1963
By A.P. Stolen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in The Hague, NL
The iconic Papa Bear armchair was designed by Hans J. Wegner in 1951. This armchair on offer here was produced in 1963 by A.P. Stolen, the first and original manufacturer of the AP-1...
Fabric, Wool, Upholstery, Beech, Oak
H 39.77 in W 35.44 in D 32.29 in
Hans Wegner Sheepskin & Oak Papa Bear Chair 1950s
By A.P. Stolen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in London, England
Hans J. Wegner - AP-19 Papa Bear Chair, 1953 Vintage, original 1950s production of one of Danish master Hans Wegner's most iconic designs. The Papa Bear is rightly considered one of...
Sheepskin, Oak
H 39 in W 32 in D 32 in
Hans Wegner Ap19 Papa Bear Chair + Ottoman
By A.P. Stolen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Berkeley, CA
Designed in 1951 by Hans Wegner for AP Stolen, the Papa Bear chair has become an icon of danish design. It is presented here in untouched condition alongside the matching ottoman (A...
Wool, Teak
H 39.77 in W 35.44 in D 32.29 in
Hans Wegner Boucle, Teak & Oak Papa Bear Chair 1950s
By A.P. Stolen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in London, England
Hans J. Wegner - AP-19 Papa Bear Chair, 1952 Vintage, original 1950s production of one of Danish master Hans Wegner's most iconic designs. The Papa Bear is rightly considered one of...
Oak, Wool, Bouclé, Cotton, Teak
H 16 in W 27.5 in D 16.25 in
Hans J. Wegner, Papa Bear Ottoman, 1950's
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Toronto, ON
The classic AP-29 stool to accompany the iconic Papa Bear chair in teak wood by : -Hans J. Wegner (1914-2007). - Manufactured by A.P.Stolen, Denmark Circa 1959 -Original as found fa...
Fabric, Teak
H 38.98 in W 35.83 in D 35.83 in
Vintage "Papa Bear" Lounge Chair by Hans J. Wegner, Denmark, 1950s
By Hans J. Wegner, A.P. Stolen
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Iconic “Papa Bear” lounge chair by Hans J. Wegner, in a wide, comfortable design upholstered in light grey Kvadrat fabric. Handles with oak details at the ends.
Upholstery, Oak
H 39.77 in W 35.44 in D 37.41 in
Hans Wegner Papa Bear Chair with Stool in Lambs Wool Hide
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in London, GB
“Papa bear chair” and foot stool. Easy chair with legs of beech, “nails” of teak. Seat, sides and button fitted back upholstered with natural colour lambs wool hide. Footstool made o...
Sheepskin
H 73 in W 68 in D 75 in
Hans Wegner Danish Lounge Chair CH28 Sawback, 1950s Scandinavian
By Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen & Søn
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Original CH28 sawback lounge chair designed by Hans Wegner, Denmark, for Carl Hansen & Sons in massive teak. Minor sign.
Leather, Teak
Hans J. Wegner Pair of “The Chair” JH503, Oak and Black Leather, Johannes Hansen
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Kastrup, DK
Hans J. Wegner (1914–2007) The iconic Round Chair, internationally known as The Chair, model JH503. Designed in 1949 and produced in collaboration with master cabinetmaker Johannes ...
Leather, Oak
Hans J. Wegner Pair Of 'China Chairs' Model FH4283 in Cherrywood
By Fritz Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Kastrup, DK
Pair of 'China Chairs', model FH4283, crafted in solid, matte-lacquered cherry wood with matching seat cushions in black leather. Originally designed in 1944 and produced by Fritz Ha...
Leather, Cherry
Elegant Danish Empire Armchair, circa 1810
Located in Kastrup, DK
Elegant and decorative Empire armchair. Made in mahogany, with light wood inlaid (lemon tree). Oval backboard in ebonised wood. Front of arms in the form of wooden cut grippers with ...
Mahogany, Velvet, Wood, Fruitwood
Hans J. Wegner Teak At-33 Sewing Table
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Kastrup, DK
Sewing table, model AT-33 in solid teak. Features drop leaves, a wicker basket for knitting’s, and a drawer with spindles and divisions for thread and other supplies. Designed by Ha...
Cane, Teak
Kaare Klint "Faaborg Chair" – Rud Rasmussen, 1950s
By Kaare Klint, Rud Rasmussen
Located in Kastrup, DK
Kaare Klint (1888–1954) The Faaborg Chair was designed by Danish architect and furniture designer Kaare Klint (1888–1954) in 1914 as part of the interior for Faaborg Museum, dedicate...
Leather, Rattan, Mahogany
Pair of Chinese Scholars Armchairs, circa 1800s
Located in Kastrup, DK
A pair of Chinese Scholars armchairs, circa 1800s, elmwood with original Burgundy lacquer, Classic yoke form backrest. Get warm wear and patina.
Elm
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
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