Hans J. Wegner Papa Bear Easy Chair by AP Stolen
View Similar Items
Hans J. Wegner Papa Bear Easy Chair by AP Stolen
About the Item
- Creator:Hans J. Wegner (Designer)
- Design:
- Dimensions:Height: 39 in (99.06 cm)Width: 35.5 in (90.17 cm)Depth: 36.5 in (92.71 cm)Seat Height: 14.5 in (36.83 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Excellent all original , no need to reupholster.
- Seller Location:St. Louis, MO
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU82028540763
Papa Bear Chair
The wingback Papa Bear chair, also known as the Teddy Bear chair, has two outstretched arms with wood detailing once described by a critic as “great bear paws embracing you from behind” — hence the name. The piece was designed by Hans Wegner (1914–2007), a pioneer of Danish modernism who crafted nearly 500 chairs over the course of his long career. Not many of them, however, have the anthropomorphic qualities that this one does.
Wegner was raised in the south of Denmark, where he served as an apprentice to a cabinetmaker as a child. Inspired to study architecture and design, he enrolled at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, then opened his own studio in 1943, working closely with peers like Arne Jacobsen, Erik Møller and more. Wegner was a leading figure of the Scandinavian modern movement, which championed quality craftsmanship, elegant design and efficient functionality.
The Papa Bear chair was Wegner’s first project with manufacturer A.P. Stolen, which enjoyed numerous collaborations with the designer over time. Originally produced with a solid beechwood frame, Wegner’s chair, with its high backrest, lengthy back legs and comfortable cotton-upholstered cushioning, was designed in 1951 and had its first manufacturing run from 1953 to 1969. Its current production is managed by Danish joinery workshop PP Møbler, and the Papa Bear chair and ottoman are now available in a variety of wood and textile finishes.
Hans J. Wegner
Best known for his chairs and 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 Wegner’s best chair designs, seen in dealer listings below, 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.
- Hans J. Wegner Flip Top Table or Desk, Andreas Tuck, DenmarkBy Hans J. WegnerLocated in St. Louis, MODanish flip-top table with pivot by Hans Wegner for Andreas Tuck of Denmark, circa 1950s. Can be used as a dining table, card table, console or desk. Branded Fabrikat: Andr Tuck, Ark...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
- Hans J. Wegner Drop-Leaf Dining Table Model AT-309, Beautifully RestoredBy Hans J. WegnerLocated in St. Louis, MOVintage Danish modern Hans Wegner model AT-309 teak and oak drop leaf dining table. Beautifully restored top and X-legs with great original patina to the brass. Stamped with makers m...Category
Vintage 1950s Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
- Pair of 1960s Space Age Modern Molded Plastic Lounge Chairs by Raphaël RaffelBy Eero Aarnio, Herman Miller, Raphael RaffelLocated in St. Louis, MOPair of 1960s Space Age Modern molded plastic lounge chairs by mid-century modern french designer Raphaël Raffel for Herman Miller. Raphaé...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Plastic, Faux Leather
- Edward J. Wormley for Dunbar Club ChairBy Edward Wormley, Dunbar FurnitureLocated in St. Louis, MOSingle Edward J. Wormley for Dunbar club chair with older re-upholstery on thick tapered legs. Unrestored, ready for new upholstery, legs show age, should be refinished. Email for up...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Club Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Mahogany
- Rare Pair of Harvey Probber Sling Chair, circa 1948By Harvey ProbberLocated in St. Louis, MORare pair of Harvey Probber sling chairs. This design was selected for by the Museum of Modern Art in 1948 for their good design exhibit. Be...Category
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Slipper Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Bentwood
$4,850 / item - Pair of Finn Juhl Model 133 "Spade" Teak Lounge Chairs by France & Søn 1950sBy Finn Juhl, France & SønLocated in St. Louis, MOPair of Mid-Century Danish Modern Finn Juhl Model 133 "Spade" teak lounge chairs manufactured by France & Søn of Denmark and retailed at Illums Bol...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Teak
- 1960’s Hans Wegner Papa Bear Chair by AP StolenBy Hans J. Wegner, A.P. StolenLocated in Palm Springs, CABeautiful Papa Bear chair by Hans Wegner manufactured by A.P. Stolen. There is a Danish Control tag to the underside of chair. Provenance: Purchased in 1963 from Anton Dam...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsWood
- Hans J. Wegner for A.P. Stolen ‘New Papa Bear’ Easy ChairBy Hans J. Wegner, A.P. StolenLocated in Waalwijk, NLHans J. Wegner for A.P. Stolen, ‘New Papa Bear’ lounge chair, model AP69, oak, reupholstered in Ohmann Colorado nubuck leather, Denmark, 1968/69 This D...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Oak
- Hans J. Wegner Papa Bear Chair, A. P. Stolen 1951By Hans J. Wegner, Anker PedersenLocated in Copenhagen, DKHans J. Wegner 'Papa Bear' chair with arms of teak and legs of oak, upholstered with light soft fabric. Designed 1951 and manufactured by A.P. Stolen, Denmark, model AP19. Very f...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Oak, Teak
- Hans J. Wegner AP-19 Papa Bear ChairsBy Hans J. Wegner, A.P. StolenLocated in Brooklyn, NYHandsome pair of early 1960s AP-19 chairs designed by Hans J. Wegner for A.P. Stolen. These chairs are better known as the Papa Bear chair for their stately silhouette. Exquisitely crafted teak details notable in the paws, showcasing Wegner's intimate understanding of fine woodworking. Expertly upholstered in a downy gray wool fabric, these cozy chairs...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsTeak
$58,000 / set - Early 1960’s Hans Wegner Papa Bear Chair and Ottoman by AP Stolen/ DenmarkBy A.P. Stolen, Hans J. WegnerLocated in Buffalo, NYClassic early production Papa Bear chair and Ottoman designed by Hans Wegner manufactured by A.P. Stolen.Chair and ottoman retains original fabric as well as original finish to the w...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Oak, Teak
- Hans J. Wegner AP19 Papa Bear ChairBy Hans J. WegnerLocated in Dallas, TXHans J. Wegner 1914-2007. "Papa Bear" chair, model AP19 produced for A.P Mobler. Designed in 1951. Upholstered with Holly Hunt Boucle'. Teak nails ("paws") and legs. We have extra fa...Category
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Teak
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
Iconic Furniture Makes This 1958 Midwestern Home a True Mid-Century Gem
Designer Susan Yeley turned to 1stDibs to outfit an Indiana home with standout pieces that complement its modernist style.
Iconic Furniture Gives These 1stDibs 50 Rooms Timeless Appeal
A well-made armchair, table or pendant lamp can afford both comfort and convenience. An exceptional one can transform a space. See how the honorees on this year’s 1stDibs 50 list of top interior designers used standout pieces to create the kind of rooms you never want to leave.