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 81.5 in W 41.5 in D 21 in
Hans Wegner Danish Teak Single Column Wall Unit / Room Divider with Display Case
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Kensington, MD
Hans Wegner Danish Teak Single Column Wall Unit / Room Divider with Display Case Use alone or add to your wall system with this single column unit in t...
Teak
H 18.51 in W 18.9 in D 13.78 in
1960's Danish teak night stands by Hans Wegner for Ry Møbler
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Pair of Danish modern teak bedside tables by Hans J. Wegner for Ry Møbler, 1960s. Minimalist in design with refined details, each features conical solid teak legs and a drawer with W...
Teak
H 18.51 in W 18.9 in D 14.57 in
Hans J. Wegner Oak Bedside Tables "Model 430" by Ry Møbelfabrik, Denmark, 1960s
By Ry Møbler, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Odense, DK
A pair of Danish modern bedside tables from the 1960s by Hans J. Wegner. Made in oakwood by original maker Ry Møbler, Denmark. Typical of Wegner's designs from this period is the min...
Oak
H 71 in W 122.5 in D 15.75 in
Danish Teak Wall Unit Modular Room Divider by Kurt Ostervig
By Kurt Østervig
Located in Kensington, MD
- The statement piece that will define your space yet also help to contain, organize and curate your stuff. - Finished on the back for placement in the middle of a room. - Use the dr...
Teak
H 85.83 in W 35.44 in D 6.3 in
Wall Unit by Ludvik Volak for Drevopodnik Holesov
By Ludvik Volak
Located in Vienna, AT
Flower (dividing) wall made of the bent beech plywood and features geometric paterns. In restored condition. This is the seldom version with the round corners. Designed by Ludvik V...
Beech, Bentwood
H 89.38 in W 35.83 in D 7.49 in
Wall Unit by Ludvik Volak for Drevopodnik Holesov Mahogany
By Ludvik Volak
Located in Vienna, AT
Flower (dividing) wall made of the bent beech and mahogany plywood and features geometric patterns. In an excellent restored condition. Designed in the early 1960s by Ludvik Volak a...
Beech, Bentwood
H 88.59 in W 35.44 in D 6.3 in
Room Divider Wall Unit by Ludvik Volak for Drevopodnik Holesov, 1960s, Restored
By Ludvik Volak
Located in Wien, AT
This room divider from the 1960s was designed by Ludvik Volak for Drevopodnik Holesov, in Czechoslovakia. This is made of bent beech plywood and ash veneer. Completely restored. Exce...
Ash, Plywood
H 88.98 in W 35.44 in D 6.11 in
Black Room Divider Wall Unit by Ludvik Volak for Drevopodnik Holesov, 1960s
By Ludvik Volak, Drevopodnik Holesov
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Designed by Volak for Drevopodnik Holesov, a well known furniture manufacturer and dealer. In the last few years, these claustras have become increasingly rare with an equally increa...
Plywood, Lacquer
H 6.38 in W 8.5 in D 4.25 in
Vintage Solid Teak Bookends by Brostrom, Denmark, circa 1970
By Brostrom, Denmark 1
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Solid Teak Bookends Brostrom, Denmark, circa 1970 "each individual bookend is 4 1/4" D x 4 1/4" W x 6 3/8" T" "oiled with food grade mineral oil"
Teak
H 5.25 in W 4 in D 5.25 in
1960s Danish Modern Single Teak Bookend
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1960s Danish Modern Single Teak Wood Bookend 5.25 h x 5.25 d x 4 w Unrestored preowned original vintage condition Wear is present Refer to all images for condition.
Teak
Pair of Danish Modern Teak Sliding Door Cabinets by Lyby Mobler
By Arne Vodder, Laurits M. Larsen, Kai Kristiansen, Lyby Mobler
Located in Chattanooga, TN
This pair of modular teak cabinets from Lyby Mobler exemplifies the thoughtful engineering and aesthetic restraint at the heart of Danish modernism. Designed as flexible components i...
Teak
Danish Modern Teak Chest of Drawers by Lyby Mobler, 1960s Design
By Arne Vodder, Lyby Mobler, Laurits M. Larsen, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Chattanooga, TN
A well crafted Danish Modern teak chest of drawers by Lyby Mobler, Denmark, circa 1960s. This refined cabinet exemplifies the understated sophistication of mid-century Scandinavian d...
Teak
Danish Teak Chest of Drawers by Lyby Mobler, Mid-Century Modern, 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen, Arne Vodder, Laurits M. Larsen, Lyby Mobler
Located in Chattanooga, TN
An exceptionally crafted Danish Modern teak chest of drawers by Lyby Mobler, Denmark, circa 1960s. This refined cabinet exemplifies the understated sophistication of mid-century Scan...
Teak
Danish Teak Nightstands by Lyby Møbler, Custom Restored, 1960s
By Poul Hundevad, Lyby Mobler
Located in Chattanooga, TN
These wide Danish teak nightstands—originally produced by Lyby Møbler—have been fully reimagined as one-of-a-kind custom creations, transformed through an artisan restoration process...
Teak
Borge Mogensen for Karl Andersson & Soner Teak Cane Front Cabinet
By Børge Mogensen, Svend Aage Larsen
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Extraordinarily unique teak cabinet Borge Mogensen teak cabinet. The warm, golden wheat colored caning makes this Borge Mogensen cabinet particularly special. The woven cane adds a s...
Metal
Lighted Custom Made Modern Cherry Buffet Dry Bar With Wine Rack and Bar Cart
By Jens Risom, Foster-McDavid, Arne Vodder, Brown Saltman
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Please believe me when I say pictures don't this piece justice. The cherry wood shimmers and gleams with an almost indescribable Iridescence that looks like rivers of honey that form the ebbing and flowing grain. The tones and hues of the piece change depending on how the light hits it and where your eye catches it. You'll see amber, ochre, honey, and umber. We purchased this cabinet from the son of the original owners who had it custom made in the 1970's. Although it looks similar to the works to Jens Risom, Arne Vodder, and Brown-Saltman, this is a custom, made 1 of 1 credenza. There are many unique aspects to this piece that seem inspired by many designers of the period. A large cherry door on the left conceals open cabinet space with removable / adjustable shelves. The right has a faux-door panel that is made to resemble the one on the left. However, this faux-door is actually the front panel to a roll-out bar cart. This handsome server sports two drop-leaves that double its counter space. This mini buffet...
Mahogany
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.
