Hans Wegner Papa Bear Chair in Grey Upholstery
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Hans Wegner Papa Bear Chair in Grey Upholstery
About the Item
- Creator:Hans J. Wegner (Designer)
- Design:
- Dimensions:Height: 38.98 in (99 cm)Width: 35.83 in (91 cm)Depth: 37.8 in (96 cm)Seat Height: 14.97 in (38 cm)
- Style:Scandinavian Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:Refinished. Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Waalwijk, NL
- Reference Number:Seller: 450133391stDibs: LU933117527301
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 modernism 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 his career. 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 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.
Established in 2006, Morentz has a team of approximately 55 restorers, upholsterers, interior advisers and art historians, making it a gallery, workshop and upholstery studio, all in one. Every day, a carefully selected array of 20th-century furniture arrives from all over the world at the firm’s warehouse, where the team thoroughly examines each piece to determine what, if any, work needs to be done. Whether that means new upholstery or a complete restoration, Morentz's aim is always to honor the designer’s intention while fulfilling the wishes of the client. The team is up to any challenge, from restoring a single piece to its original glory to furnishing a large-scale hotel project.
- Hans J. Wegner for A.P. Stolen ‘New Papa Bear’ Easy ChairBy A.P. Stolen, Hans J. WegnerLocated 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
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- Hans J. Wegner Pair of Easy Chairs in Blue Upholstery and OakBy A.P. Stolen, Hans J. WegnerLocated in Waalwijk, NLHans J. Wegner for AP Stolen, pair of lounge chairs, model 'AP-16', fabric, oak, Denmark, 1951. Pair of armchairs with oak frame designed by the Danish master Hans J. Wegner. This...Category
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- Hans J. Wegner for GETAMA Lounge Chair in Oak and Dark Blue UpholsteryBy Hans J. WegnerLocated in Waalwijk, NLHans J. Wegner for GETAMA, lounge chair model 'GE290', oak, wool, Denmark, design 1959. The GE290 lounge chair is an elegant and well-proportioned piece within a simplistic construc...Category
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- 1960’s Hans Wegner Papa Bear Chair by AP StolenBy A.P. Stolen, Hans J. WegnerLocated 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
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- Hans Wegner AP-19 Papa Bear Chair in Grey Wool FabricBy A.P. Stolen, Hans J. WegnerLocated in London, GBHans 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...Category
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- 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
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- Papa Bear Chair by Hans WegnerBy A.P. Stolen, Hans J. WegnerLocated in Oklahoma City, OKThe Papa Bear Chair, a classic design by Hans Wagner, showcases timeless elegance with its iconic mid-century modern silhouette. This particular piece has been meticulously reupholst...Category
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- Hans Wegner Rosewood Papa Bear Chair in Boucle FabricBy A.P. Stolen, Hans J. WegnerLocated in London, GBHans 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 ...Category
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- Hans Wegner Papa Bear Chair in Teak and WoolBy Hans J. WegnerLocated in Toronto, OntarioA terrific early Papabear chair designed by Hans J. Wegner in the late 60's. This example in solid teak. Solid paws and feet with upholstery in Haling...Category
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