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 31.5 in W 80 in D 19 in
Hans Wegner President Sideboard for Ry Møbler
By Hans J. Wegner, Ry Møbler
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-Century Modern Danish Credenza by Hans Wegner. Stunning credenza with tambour doors which reveal a spacious interior storage area. Inside include...
Teak
H 31.11 in W 78.75 in D 19.3 in
Hans Wegner Sideboard Model RY-25 / President by Ry Møbler in Denmark
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare sideboard model RY-25 / President designed by Hans Wegner. Produced by Ry møbler in Denmark.
Chrome
H 31.11 in W 78.75 in D 19.3 in
Rare Danish mid century sideboard model RY-26 designed by Hans Wegner, 1950´s
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Rare Hans Wegner RY-26 Sideboard, a mid-century Scandinavian gem. Measuring 200 cm wide, 49 cm deep, and 79 cm high, this 1950s piece from Ry Møbler, Denmark, showcases luxurious woo...
Rosewood
H 31.11 in W 78.75 in D 19.3 in
Hans J. Wegner Palisander Sideboard Ry 25 Møbler President 1960
By Ry Møbler, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Berlin, DE
Das Modell RY 25, das vom gleichnamigen dänischen Hersteller produziert wurde, steht hier in der besonders begehrten Ausführung in Palisander zum Verkauf. Nebst den höhenverstellbare...
Rosewood
H 31.11 in W 78.75 in D 19.69 in
Sideboard in Oak and Teak by Hans J. Wegner, 1959
By Ry Møbler, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Sideboard in Oak and Teak by Hans J. Wegner, 1959 Additional Information: Material: Oak and Teak Style: Mid Century, Scandinavian Sideboard Produced by Ry Møbler in Denmark Dimensio...
Oak, Teak
H 28.35 in W 78.75 in D 19.49 in
Very Rare Sideboard with A Display Cabinet by Hans Wegner, 1965s
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
This very rare sideboard with a display cabinet was designed by Hans Wegner and produced by Ry Møbler in Denmark in 1965. It is a striking example of mid-century Scandinavian design,...
Glass, Rosewood
H 31 in W 78.75 in D 19.25 in
Hans Wegner Teak President Tambour Door Credenza Sideboard
By Hans J. Wegner, Ry Møbler
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Elegant President credenza in teak designed by Hans Wegner and manufactured in Denmark by Ry Mobler. This handsome credenza has smooth sliding tambour doors with chrome and teak pull...
Teak
H 31 in W 78.75 in D 19.25 in
Hans Wegner "President" Credenza With Teak Tambour Doors
By Hans J. Wegner, Ry Møbler
Located in Berkeley, CA
Origin: Denmark Designer: Hans Wegner Manufacturer: Ry Møbler Era: 1960s Materials: Teak Measurements: 78.75″ wide x 19.25″ deep x 31″ tall Condition: In excellent original condition.
Teak
H 31.5 in W 98.43 in D 18.12 in
Vintage Mid century Danish Sideboard by Axel Christensen for ACO Mobler, Denmark
By Axel Christensen
Located in Gaggenau, DE
Vintage Mid century Danish Sideboard by Axel Christensen for ACO Møbler, Denmark, 1960s Dimensions: 46 D x 250 W x 80 H cm It i...
Teak
H 41.34 in W 94.49 in D 19.69 in
Large High Teak Sideboard with Floating Top 1950s, Made in Denmark
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Antwerp, BE
Beautiful high sideboard with floating top and solid wenge handles, a timeless design of furniture with lots of storage space on the left side 2 panel doors and 2 shelves on the right side 2 panel doors short and 1 shelve below 2 wide drawers. Simple modern storage unit...
Teak
Scandinavian Modern Occasional Chest
Located in Minneapolis, MN
An adaptable small scale storage piece. designed and made in Sweden. Oak case with brass hardware.Two adjustable shelves on right side of case. Professional, skilled furniture resto...
Oak
Scandiavian Modern Rosewood Hutch/Bookcase by Peter Lovig
Located in Minneapolis, MN
This modular storage shelving unit features construction in old growth Brazilian rosewood with brass hardware details, a master cabinetmaker made piece. Shelves can be removed from...
Brass
Scandiavian Modern Rosewood Hutch/Bookcase by Peter Lovig
Located in Minneapolis, MN
This modular storage shelving unit features construction in old growth Brazilian rosewood with brass hardware details, a master cabinetmaker made piece. Shelves can be removed from...
Brass
Erik Worts Teak Occasional Chest
By Erik Worts, Worts Mobler
Located in Minneapolis, MN
A minimal designed teak occasional chest by Erik Worts. A truly well made piece with hand finished details. Hand cut dovetails, inlayed rosewood and w...
Teak
Hans J Wegner Solid Teak Architect's Desk Model 571
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Andersen
Located in Minneapolis, MN
This is a beautiful and pristine solid teak desk by Hans J. Wegner, made by Johannes Hansen in the mid-1950s. Stainless hardware, all teak. Condition is excellent. Professional, s...
Stainless Steel
Danish Modern Finn Juhl Baker Furniture Dining Table
By Finn Juhl, Baker Furniture Company
Located in Minneapolis, MN
A Danish Modern design by Finn Juhl for American manufacturer Baker Furniture. This relationship between Juhl and Baker catipulted Danish Modern ...
Walnut
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.
