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 40.95 in W 29.53 in D 33.47 in
Hans Wegner Rocking Chair Model GE-273 Produced by GETAMA in Denmark
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare keyhole rocking chair model GE-273 designed by Hans Wegner. Produced by GETAMA in Denmark.
Canvas, Beech
H 42.13 in W 29.53 in D 31.89 in
Beautiful Hans J Wegner PP 124 Net chair for PP Mòbler
By PP Møbler, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Den Haag, NL
Stunning Danish rocking chair by Hans J. Wegner for PP Møbler,. Frame of soap treated ash, upholstery of Vibeke Klint Fabric. Flagline in the back. Model PP124 named Net Chair, made...
Cord, Ash
H 41.5 in W 25 in D 31 in
Hans Wegner Danish Modern Beech and Corded Seat Rocking Chair Rocker Model J16
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Atlanta, GA
Danish Modern Beech and Corded Seat Model J16 Rocker, designed by Hans Wegner for FDB Mobler, Denmark, circa 1980s. Retains original canvas and leather cushions. Originally designed ...
Upholstery, Cord, Beech
H 42.13 in W 29.53 in D 31.89 in
Hans J. Wegner PP124 Rocking Chair – 1984 – PP Møbler, Denmark
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Weesp, NL
Hans J. Wegner PP124 Rocking Chair – 1984 – PP Møbler, Denmark A timeless masterpiece of Danish modern design, this PP124 rocking chair, designed by Hans J. Wegner in 1984, embodies...
Fabric, Ash
H 37.41 in W 25.6 in D 40.56 in
Hans J. Wegner GE-375 Lounge Chair, Oak Frame, Scandinavian Modern
By GETAMA, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Hans J. Wegner lounge chair with loose cushions new upholstered with light Hallingdal from Kvadrat. Frame of oak. Model GE-375, made by GETAMA.
Leather, Wool
H 29.93 in W 24.81 in D 27.96 in
Hans J. Wegner Folding Chair for Johannes Hansen
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Hans J. Wegner folding chair of oak model JH-512, 1949. Executed by Johannes Hansen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Cane, Oak
H 40.16 in W 30.32 in D 32.29 in
Danish Rocking Chair by Hans J. Wegner for Getama, oak, 1960s
By Hans J. Wegner, GETAMA
Located in Berlin, DE
1960s Hans J. Wegner "Keyhole" Chair in Oak and Canvas A rare and refined example of Hans J. Wegner’s masterful design, this 1960s "Keyhole" chair embodies the Danish designer’s sig...
Canvas, Oak
H 36.75 in W 27 in D 34 in
Mid-Century Modern Rocking Chair
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The unique Danish modern design of this midcentury rocking chair makes a striking addition to home or business seating area. Sculptural spoke seat back adds to the distinctive Scandi...
Walnut
H 42.5 in W 24.75 in D 32 in
Classic Hans Wegner Danish "J16" Rocking Chair for FDB Mobler
By FDB Møbler, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Peabody, MA
Hans Wegner “J16” rocker in beech with corded seat for FDB Mobler, Denmark. Created in 1944, this has been one of Wegner’s most widely recognized designs. Marked with a production da...
Papercord, Beech
H 37.5 in W 24.13 in D 32.5 in
Mid-Century Modern Woven Rocking Chair in the Style of Hans Wegner
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Baltimore, MD
Mid-Century Modern woven rope rocking chair in the style of Hans Wegner. Features stylish roped back and seat, stretched over a wood frame. A comfortable chair with curved armrest. ...
Rope, Wood
Rocking chair by R. Wengler
By Robert Wengler
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Rocking chair in bamboo with cushion in Fontainebleau (colour: Maronnier) by Pierre Frey. R. Wengler
Bamboo
JH 518 - Rare 'Bull Chair' by Hans J. Wegner
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Copenhagen, DK
JH 518 - Rare 'Bull Chair' in solid oak and with seat of new, braided cane. Original label from manufacturer. Designed in 1961. Hans J. Wegner / Johannes Hansen
Oak
CH 27 - Easy chair in patinated oak by Hans J. Wegner
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Copenhagen, DK
CH 27 - Easy chair in patinated oak with back and seat in cane. Designed by Hans J. Wegner and made by Carl Hansen & Son.
Cane, Oak
JH 512 - 'Fireplace chair', folding chair in patinated oak by Hans J. Wegner
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Copenhagen, DK
JH 512 - 'Fireplace chair', folding chair in patinated oak with seat and back in partly original wicker. Original hook for wall hanging included. Designed in 1949 by Hans J. Wegner....
Wicker, Oak
JH 512 - 'Fireplace chair' folding chair in patinated oak by Hans J. Wegner
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
JH 512 - 'Fireplace chair', folding chair, in patinated oak with seat and back in partly original wicker. Original hook for wall hanging included. Designed in 1949 by Hans J. Wegner....
Wicker, Oak
CH 28 - 'Sawbuck' easy chair in oak by Hans J. Wegner
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Copenhagen, DK
CH 28 - 'Sawbuck' easy chair in patinated oak with seat in new 'Moss' textile (colour: 0002). Designed by Hans J. Wegner and made by Carl Hansen & Son.
Fabric, Oak
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.
