he shell chair model CH07, designed by Hans J. Wegner, made of oak from 2007
View Similar Items
he shell chair model CH07, designed by Hans J. Wegner, made of oak from 2007
About the Item
- Creator:Hans J. Wegner (Designer),Carl Hansen & Søn (Manufacturer)
- Design:
- Dimensions:Height: 29.14 in (74 cm)Width: 35.83 in (91 cm)Depth: 19.69 in (50 cm)Seat Height: 14.18 in (36 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:2007
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Lejre, DK
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1209236635532
Shell Chair
Also known as the “smiling chair,” the Three-Legged Shell chair — now merely called the Shell — is an example of Hans J. Wegner’s rare forays into plywood. The pioneering Danish furniture maker, whose works of Scandinavian modernism are among the most celebrated designs in the world, much preferred solid wood, a material with which he had extensive experience.
Wegner (1914–2007) was the son of a cobbler and apprenticed to a cabinetmaker for much of his youth. He went on to study at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts (then the Danish School of Arts and Crafts) and then worked as a designer for Erik Møller and Arne Jacobsen in the 1940s before opening his own studio. Chairs became Wegner’s specialty, and over the years he designed over 500 of them. More than 100 of his designs, such as the Wishbone chair and the Papa Bear chair, went into production.
In terms of both process and aesthetics, the Shell chair was ahead of its time when it was introduced in 1963. The expressive seat and back are made out of form-pressed oak or walnut laminates and topped with upholstered cushions for maximum comfort. Wegner made scale models to test various leg configurations and eventually landed on the tapered three-leg structure that gives the chair a feeling of lightness. Nevertheless, the structure is very stable, featuring two front legs made of one continuous piece and a separate hind leg that supports the backrest.
Often described as being “wing-like,” the chair’s radical fluid lines were considered a bit too futuristic when the chair was first introduced during the 1963 Furniture Guild Exhibition in Copenhagen. Initially, mixed reviews from critics as well as the general public along with production difficulties resulted in a very limited early run. Twelve new models were produced for a retrospective exhibition celebrating Wegner’s 77th birthday in 1989, and the design began garnering renewed attention — a photograph of the chair was even selected to grace the cover of the exhibition catalog.
In 1998, nearly a decade following the piece’s reemergence at the retrospective event, Carl Hansen & Søn reintroduced the Shell chair 35 years after it was first released and it has felt relevant ever since. Sculptural and sleek — and “beautiful from all sides and angles,” as Wegner intended for his seating — the Shell chair makes an immediate statement in any interior.
Hans J. Wegner
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.
- Kastrup Chair in Black Leather Model CH401 By Hans J. Wegner & Carl Hansen & SønBy Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. WegnerLocated in Lejre, DKThe CH401 lounge chair, designed by Hans J. Wegner in 1958, is a notable piece from the minimalist Kastrup Series, which continues to be in use in the inviting interior of Copenhagen...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsChrome
- Y Chair, Model CH24, Hans J. Wegner in Oak, 1950By Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. WegnerLocated in Lejre, DKThe Y chair, model CH24, designed by Hans J. Wegner in oak designed in 1950.Category
Early 2000s Danish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsWicker, Oak
- Armchair Model CH28 in Oak, Designed By Hans J. Wegner Made by Carl Hansen & SønBy Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. WegnerLocated in Lejre, DKArmchair, model CH28, represents a sublime meeting between functionality and aesthetics, created by the well-known designer Hans J. Wegner and produced by Carl Hansen & Søn. Crafted from solid oak, this special edition is beautifully upholstered in black leather, adding a sophisticated dimension to the original design. The CH28 chair...Category
Early 2000s Danish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsLeather, Oak
- Armchair Made In Dark Oak Model GE530 By Hans J. Wegner From 1960sBy Hans J. WegnerLocated in Lejre, DKAn armchair in dark oak, upholstered with light fabric and model number GE530, is a splendid example of Hans J. Wegner's unique contribution to Danish furniture...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsWool, Oak
- Wishbone Chair, Model CH24, by Hans J. WegnerBy Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. WegnerLocated in Lejre, DKThe Wishbone chairs, model CH24, designed by Hans J. Wegner and manufactured by Carl Hansen & Son, are exemplary pieces of Scandinavian Modern furniture. Crafted from black painted w...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsPapercord, Wood
- The set of 8 Y-chairs, model CH24, iconic design by Hans J. Wegner, 1950By Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. WegnerLocated in Lejre, DKThe set of four Y-chairs, model CH24, is an iconic design created by the famous Danish architect and furniture designer Hans J. Wegner in 1950. The chairs are crafted in oak, which a...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsOak
- CH07 Shell Chair by Hans J Wegner for Carl Hansen & SonBy Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen & SønLocated in Little Burstead, EssexWhen Hans J. Wegner designed this chair in 1963 it was a little too radical for the public and it was sold in very low numbers, and because of this when the world became aware of the...Category
1990s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Oak, Walnut, Plywood
- Hans J. Wegner 'CH07 Shell' 60th Anniversary Lounge Chair in Leather UpholsteryBy Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. WegnerLocated in Glendale, CAHans J. Wegner 'CH07 Shell' 60th Anniversary Lounge Chair in Leather Upholstery for Carl Hansen & Son. The story of Danish Modern begins in 1908 when Carl Hansen opened his first wo...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Oak, Rosewood
- Hans Wegner Shell Chair for Carl Hansen & Son, Ch07 Oak FinishBy Hans J. WegnerLocated in Chicago, ILCH07 Shell Chair by Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen & Son circa 2006 White Oak, suede leather Sometimes called the “smiling chair,” Hans Wegner’s Shell Ch...Category
Early 2000s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsOak
$2,496 Sale Price20% Off - Danish Mid-Century Modern Hans J. Wegner for Carl Hansen CH07 Shell Chair a PairBy Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. WegnerLocated in Secaucus, NJThe elegant CH07 shell chair is comfortable and well-designed it is considered one of Hans J. Wegner's most iconic and groundbreaking designs. Its wing-like seat and elegant curved backrest and three arched legs make it an attractive beautiful piece that instantly catches the eye from all sides and angels. Please note the price listed is for a pair "two chairs" Specification: Upholstered seat and back cushions in white leather Shell and legs are made of wood, pressed veneer, plywood with lacquer finish, color off White Model: CH07 shell chair, also called the smiling chair...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Wood, Plywood
- Hans J. Wegner 'CH07 Shell' 60th Anniversary Lounge Chair for Carl Hansen & SonBy Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen & SønLocated in Glendale, CAHans J. Wegner 'CH07 Shell' 60th Anniversary Lounge Chair for Carl Hansen & Son. The story of Danish Modern begins in 1908 when Carl Hansen opened his first workshop. His firm commi...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsOak, Rosewood
- Hans J. Wegner CH-27 Oak Lounge Chair with Woven Rattan SeatBy Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen & SønLocated in Brooklyn, NYEarly CH-27 lounge chair, designed by Hans J. Wegner for Carl Hansen. Constructed from solid oak, the reclining open frame features beautiful sculptural details at the back rest. Wid...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsRattan, Oak
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
Design Icon Ilse Crawford on Her Colorful New Hans Wegner Chairs
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.