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 38.75 in W 35.75 in D 18.5 in
Hans Wegner Papa Bear Chairfor A.P. Stolen Denmark, 1950's
By Hans J. Wegner, A.P. Stolen
Located in San Diego, CA
The Papa Bear Chair is absolutely stunning. The AP-29 is a truly iconic chair newly upholstered in a soft beautiful grey Maharam wool. The chair features beautiful oak legs and tea...
Oak, Teak, Wool
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 Hans J. Wegner, A.P. Stolen
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 39 in W 36 in D 31 in
Mid Century Modern Papa Bear Lounge Chair & Ottoman by Hans Wegner, c1950s
By Hans J. Wegner, A.P. Stolen
Located in Chino Hills, CA
Sweep into the classic, timeless appeal of mid-century modern design with this authentic Hans Wegner Papa Bear Chair and Ottoman. Both pieces w...
Leather, Teak
H 39.77 in W 35.44 in D 32.29 in
Papa Bear Chair by Hans J Wegner for A.P.Stolen
By Hans J. Wegner, A.P. Stolen
Located in Little Burstead, Essex
This is a beautiful example of an earlier version of the classic design by Hans J Wegner, and has been expertly reupholstered in Abraham Moon Forest Green fabric. The legs are of Oak...
Wool, Oak, Teak
H 38.75 in W 36 in D 30 in
Hans J. Wegner Papa Bear Chair for AP Stolen
By A.P. Stolen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in San Francisco, CA
Hans J. Wegner design Papa Bear chair for AP Stolen, Denmark. Simply the most comfortable chair ever made, completely restored including refinishing, new foam, webbing and strengthen...
Upholstery, Teak
H 39.25 in W 35.5 in D 34.75 in
Danish Modern Leather "Papa Bear" Chair by Hans J. Wegner for A.P. Stolen
By A.P. Stolen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Gorgeous vintage “Papa Bear” chair designed by the famous Danish architect and furniture maker Hans J. Wegner for A.P. Stolen in Denmark, circa...
Leather, Oak, Teak
H 39.77 in W 35.44 in D 32.29 in
Hans Wegner Rosewood Papa Bear Chair in Boucle Fabric
By A.P. Stolen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in London, England
Hans 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 ...
Fabric, Wool, Rosewood
H 38.75 in W 36 in D 36 in
Hans J. Wegner Papa Bear AP19 chair by A.P. Stolen Denmark Leather and teak
By A.P. Stolen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Virginia Beach, VA
An original AP19 “Papa bear” chair designed by Hans J. Wegner for A.P. Stolen, designed in 1951 and made in Denmark. This example with new black leather and featuring teak legs and ...
Leather, Teak
H 39.77 in W 35.44 in D 37.41 in
Mid-Century Modern Danish Lounge Chair "Papa Bear" by Hans Wegner
By PP Møbler, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Courbevoie, FR
Mid-Century Modern Danish lounge chair "Papa Bear" by Hans Wegner for PP Møbler. New released. Available with fabrick or leather. Price for fabrick model. Quote on demand. Delivery t...
Leather
H 39.77 in W 35.44 in D 32.29 in
Hans Wegner Rosewood Papa Bear Chair in Off-White Fabric
By A.P. Stolen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in London, England
Hans 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 of...
Fabric, Wool, Rosewood
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
Vintage Rattan "JH512" Lounge Chair by Hans J. Wegner, Denmark, 1950s
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Amazing “JH512” folding lounge chair by Hans J. Wegner, made from oak with rattan back and seat. Elegant handles for easily moving the chair around.
Oak, Rattan
Pair of "AP 16" Lounge Chairs by Hans J. Wegner
By A.P. Stolen, Hans J. Wegner
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
Pair of “AP 16” Lounge Chairs by Hans J. Wegner, Denmark, 1960s
By Hans J. Wegner, A. P. Stohlen
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Pair of elegant and comfortable “AP 16” lounge chairs by Hans J. Wegner. Made from oak and upholstered with cosy sheepskin.
Oak, Sheepskin
Vintage Scandinavian Lounge Chair by Arne Norell, Sweden, 1950s
By Arne Norell
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Rare “Gary” lounge chair by Arne Norell, also known as “The Thumb”, with two thumbs up instead of one. Generous form with curved lines. Upholstered in charcoal grey with a contrastin...
Wood
Scandinavian Vintage Lounge Chairs by Carl-Axel Acking, Sweden, 1950s
By Carl-Axel Acking, Torsten Schollin
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Pair of cool and elegant lounge chairs by Carl-Axel Acking, made from mahogany with leather seats and backs. Clean lines and subtle details, decorative white seams.
Mahogany, Leather
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.
