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.
H 31 in W 25 in D 28 in
Hans Wegner Midcentury Original Classic JH-512 Folding Lounge Chair, 1950s
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Studio City, CA
Iconic in design and aesthetic. This exquisite folding chair was designed by famed Danish designer Hans Wegner and is in its original finish and cane seat and back. The chair has the...
Cane, Oak
H 31.11 in W 41.34 in D 47.25 in
Lounge Chair in Metal and Sheepskin by Hans Wegner, 1960s
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare lounge chair / flag halyard chair designed by Hans Wegner Produced by GETAMA in Denmark Metal, flagline, sheepskin, cushion 1960s Good vintage condition, with signs of usage...
Sheepskin
H 27.56 in W 70.87 in D 29.53 in
Lounge Chair in Oak and Sheepskin by Hans Wegner, circa 1960s
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Lounge Chair in Oak and Sheepskin by Hans Wegner, circa 1960s Additional Information: Material: Oak, flagline, sheepskin Style: midcentury, Scandinavia Very Rare Lounge Chair M...
Oak
H 42.5 in W 30 in D 28 in
Hans Wegner Peacock Chairs
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful set of chairs. Purchased together from Knoll in the 1960s. Branded signature.
Ash
H 32.29 in W 27.56 in D 29.53 in
Pair of "AP 16" Lounge Chairs by Hans J. Wegner
By Hans J. Wegner, A.P. Stolen
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Pair of awesome “AP 16” lounge chairs by Hans J. Wegner. Made from oak and upholstered with beautiful oxblood leather.
Leather, Oak
H 39.18 in W 31.11 in D 35.83 in
Hans Wegner Papa Bear Chairs, AP Stolen, Denmark, 1950s for Re-Upholstery, Pair
By A.P. Stolen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
A rare original pair of Hans Wegner papa bear chairs designed in 1947 and produced by AP Stolen in Denmark in the 1950s. The fabric shows excess signs of wear so these are offered in...
Fabric, Teak
H 33 in W 28 in D 24 in
Hans J Wegner Lounge Chair
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in San Francisco, CA
Hans J Wegner design oak and teak lounge chair model JH-713 for Johannes Hansen, Denmark. Simple elegance combined with high quality construction and restorations make for the perfe...
Oak
H 30 in W 29 in D 27 in
Pair of Lounge Chairs by Hans J. Wegner for AP Stolen
By Hans J. Wegner, A.P. Stolen
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A pair of lounge chairs, newly upholstered in a dark blue, cotton and linen weave, on top of tapered wood legs. Designed by Hans Wegner, made by AP Stolen ...
Cotton, Linen, Wood
H 38.98 in W 35.83 in D 35.83 in
Vintage "Papa Bear" Lounge Chair by Hans J. Wegner, Denmark, 1950s
By A.P. Stolen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Iconic “Papa Bear” lounge chair by Hans J. Wegner, in a wide, comfortable design upholstered in light grey Kvadrat fabric. Handles with oak details at the ends.
Upholstery, Oak
H 29.5 in W 26.5 in D 29 in
Hans Wegner for Getama Mid Century GE270 Teak Lounge Chair
By GETAMA, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Hans 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...
Upholstery, Teak
Superb Midcentury Hans Wegner FH4103 Chairs ( Up To Six Available)
By Hans J. Wegner, Fritz Hansen
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
For your consideration are these beautiful dining chairs designed by Hans Wegner. Having gorgeous original patina with splendid craftsmanship while utilizing a space saving design. U...
Oak, Teak
Midcentury Rare Folding Angle Chair by Milo Baughman
By Milo Baughman, Drexel
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
For your consideration is this Mid-Century Modern lounge or easy chair from the Perspective collection by Milo Baughman for Drexel in 1951. Crafted from exotic Mindoro wood that shim...
Linen, Wood
Midcentury Barcelona Chair in Special Order Stainless Steel
By Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Knoll
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Authentic Midcentury Modern Barcelona Chair by Mies van der Rohe for Knoll – Premium Stainless Steel Version Offered for sale is an iconic Barcelona Chair, designed by Ludwig Mies ...
Stainless Steel
Midcentury Knoll Barcelona Chair in Special Order Stainless Steel
By Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Knoll
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Authentic Midcentury Modern Barcelona Chair by Mies van der Rohe for Knoll – Premium Stainless Steel Version Offered for sale is an iconic Barcelona Chair, designed by Ludwig Mies ...
Stainless Steel
Midcentury Lounge chair Teak and Leather
By Alf Svensson & Yngve Sandström
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Beautiful Mid-Century Scandinavian Lounge / reclining chair in teakwood with dark thick saddle brown leather. Newly upholstered. Has three positions to recline. Sleek design and wond...
Leather, Teak
Midcentury Scandia Chairs by Hans Brattrud for Hove Mobler
By Hans Battrud, Hove Möbler
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Beautiful example of Scandia high back dining chairs in excellent vintage condition. Rosewood slats on a chrome base. Chairs retain original label. Norway, 1960s. 2 high back chairs...
Chrome
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
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.
