Original Midcentury Papa Bear Chair by Wegner, Danish Design, 1960s
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Original Midcentury Papa Bear Chair by Wegner, Danish Design, 1960s
About the Item
- Creator:Anker Pedersen (Maker),Hans J. Wegner (Designer)
- Design:
- Dimensions:Height: 38.98 in (99 cm)Width: 35.83 in (91 cm)Length: 38.98 in (99 cm)Seat Height: 16.54 in (42 cm)
- Style:Scandinavian Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1965
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Lejre, DK
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1020818090782
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.
- Midcentury Peacock Chair by Hans Wegner, 1950sBy Johannes Hansen, Hans J. WegnerLocated in Lejre, DKPeacock chair designed by Hans J Wegner for master cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen. Made in Denmark in the mid-1950s. Great original condition.Category
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- Midcentury "China" Chair in Mahogany by Hans J. Wegner, 1960sBy Fritz Hansen, Hans J. WegnerLocated in Lejre, DKArmchair in solid mahogany and leather, designed by Hans J. Wegner for Fritz Hansen A/S. Made in Denmark.Category
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- Hans J. Wegner Papa Bear Chair, A. P. Stolen 1951By Anker Pedersen, Hans J. WegnerLocated 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
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- Hans J. Wegner Papa Bear Chair AP 19 & Ottoman AP 29 in LeatherBy Anker Pedersen, Hans J. WegnerLocated in Oakland, CAHans J. Wegner for Anker Pedersen model AP19 Papa bear lounge chair and ottoman, 1953, Denmark. Perfectly restored to the original specifications in Swedish Elmo black leather over horsehair and cotton padding. Measurements: 36’’W X 38’’D X 39’’H, Seat Height 16.50’’ Ottoman: 27.25’’W X 16.25’’D X 16.25’’H Additional Hans Wegner Papabear chairs...Category
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- Papa Bear Chair by Hans WegnerBy Hans J. Wegner, A.P. StolenLocated 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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- 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 J. Wegner Papa Bear Chair, 1960sBy Hans J. WegnerLocated in Stockholm, SENewly reupholstered in fabric "Mons" from Astrid Textiles. Very good condition. Produced by A.P. Stolen in Denmark.Category
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- AP 19 - Papa Bear Chair by Hans J. WegnerBy Hans J. WegnerLocated in Copenhagen, DKAP 19 - Papa Bear Chair in Hallingdal 65-wool. Hans J. Wegner / AP StolenCategory
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