Pair of GE 240 Cigar Chars by Hans J Wegner for Getama
About the Item
- Creator:Hans J. Wegner (Designer),GETAMA (Cabinetmaker)
- Dimensions:Height: 30.71 in (78 cm)Width: 26.78 in (68 cm)Depth: 29.53 in (75 cm)Seat Height: 13.78 in (35 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Scandinavian Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:C1960
- Condition:Reupholstered.
- Seller Location:Little Burstead, GB
- Reference Number:
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.
GETAMA
The story of how GETAMA got its name is perhaps as unique as the range of subdued but sophisticated Scandinavian modern furniture for which the manufacturer is known (thanks to a partnership with Hans Wegner).
In the late 1890s in the Danish town of Gedsted, a young cabinetmaker by the name of Carl Pedersen opted to use seaweed — rather than the traditional heather or straw — as mattress stuffing. Pedersen named his new factory Gedsted Tang-og Madrasfabrik (the “Gedsted Seaweed and Mattress Factory”), which he abbreviated to GETAMA. Seaweed’s fire-retardant properties make it an excellent and safe upholstery material for mattresses, chairs and sofas. Pedersen leveraged this quality as a selling point — the abundance of seaweed on the shores of Denmark and its weightlessness added to its appeal as an economical but durable upholstery filling for all kinds of furnishings. The crowning quality was its softness.
GETAMA’s seaweed mattresses proved so popular for their comfort and durability that Pedersen had to expand into a larger factory within the first year. He felt almost obligated to launch a line of bedroom furniture to accompany his much-loved mattresses.
The working relationship established in 1959 between Hans Wegner and GETAMA afforded the company the opportunity to break into the international market. Wegner — a legendary Danish carpenter and furniture designer revered by mid-century modern collectors everywhere — became one of the brand’s principal designers and often spent a great deal of time at the factory — refining and adjusting each new piece until he felt satisfied that it was ready for production. For decades, Wegner’s impressive contributions to GETAMA’s daybeds, lounge chairs, sofas and dining room tables became the backbone of the company’s sales.
Over the years, other designers entered into working agreements with GETAMA, including Nissen & Gehl, OM Design, 2R Design, Blum and Balle, and Jørgen Gammelgaard. Copenhagen native Nanna Ditzel, a Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts alum who trained under Kaare Klint, designed GETAMA’s Mondial coffee table. Alongside her husband, Jørgen Ditzel, she also created the sensuously curvy and wildly popular Ring chair.
Today, the sleek modern furniture that GETAMA manufactures is still inclusive of their lauded mattresses.
On 1stDibs, find vintage GETAMA seating, tables, storage cabinets and other furniture.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Little Burstead, United Kingdom
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
- Cigar Chair Model GE240 by Hans J Wegner for GetamaBy GETAMA, Hans J. WegnerLocated in Little Burstead, EssexA very nice example of this classic chair, freshly uphosltered in Mocha coloured Boucle fabric. The frame in Oak and all in great condition.Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Oak
- Pair of 'Plank' Chairs Model GE290 by Hans Wegner for GetamaBy Hans J. Wegner, GETAMALocated in Little Burstead, EssexThese are in excellent original condition, the cushions retain their spring upholstery and recovered in Abraham Moon wool fabric in Fern Green, overall a great pair of classic mid-ce...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Oak
- Pair of Original Oak and Bouclé Cigar Chairs by Hans J Wegner for GETAMABy Hans J. Wegner, GETAMALocated in Little Burstead, EssexFine original 1950s pair of these super comfortable classic chairs by master designer Hans J Wegner for GETAMA. The frames in oak and fresh bouclé fabric covers ready for your midce...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Oak
- Original Vintage Papa Bear Chairs by Hans J Wegner for A.P.StolenBy Hans J. Wegner, A.P. StolenLocated in Little Burstead, EssexWe have two identical original vintage Papa Bear Chairs by Hans J Wegner for A. P. Stolen, with Teak 'Paws' both freshly covered in quality fern green fabric by Abraham Moon. They ar...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsWool, Teak
- 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 for Johannes Hansen J.H 502 Swivel ChairBy Hans J. Wegner, Johannes AndersenLocated in Little Burstead, EssexA beautiful original example of this super rare swivel chair by Hans J.Wegner for Johannes Hansen, designated JH502. This amazing executive office chair model JH-502 was designed by...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Swivel Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Hans Wegner Cigar Lounge Chairs, Model GE 240By GETAMA, Hans J. WegnerLocated in San Francisco, CAHans J. Wegner design "Cigar" chairs Model 240 for GETAMA. Handsome Scandinavian design lounge or easy chairs by the master Hans Wegner, Denmark. Masculine solid chairs executed wit...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Oak, Teak
- Early Production Hans Wegner Getama GE-240 Lounge Chair / DenmarkBy GETAMA, Hans J. WegnerLocated in Buffalo, NYEarly production Hans Wegner for Getama GE-240 lounge chair, sometimes called the Cigar series because of the shape of the arm. Teak arms with oak body. Somewhat beefier than the GE-...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Oak, Teak
- Hans Wegner for Getama Mid Century GE240 Teak Lounge ChairBy GETAMA, Hans J. WegnerLocated in Countryside, ILHans Wegner for Getama Mid Century GE240 Teak Lounge Chair This chair measures: 26.5 wide x 29 deep x 29.5 high, with a seat height of 16 and arm height/chair clearance 22 inches A...Category
Vintage 1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Teak
- Hans Wegner GE-240 GETAMA SofaBy GETAMA, Hans J. WegnerLocated in Philadelphia, PAHans Wegner for GETAMA GE-240 3 seat sofa. Oak body with teak arms. Redone about 13 years ago but retaining it's original inner coil springs. Looks like arms were refinished at some...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Sofas
MaterialsUpholstery, Oak, Teak
- Hans J. Wegner Danish Modern "GE-240" Lounge Chairs in Oak, GETAMA 1955By GETAMA, Hans J. WegnerLocated in Odense, DKRare early set of "Cigar" lounge chairs by Hans J. Wegner from the original GETAMA production of the iconic GE-240 series. This set has only had one owner who bought the set in the m...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsWool, Oak
- Hans J. Wegner “Cigar Sofa” GE 240By GETAMA, Hans J. WegnerLocated in Oakland, CAClassic Cigar sofa designed by Hans J. Wegner in oak. Reupholstered in a Kvadrat textile with velvet welt. Three seats. Beautiful frame in solid oak with original finish, made in Den...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Sofas
MaterialsTextile, 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.