Danish master cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen is best known for a celebrated partnership with legendary Scandinavian modernist designer Hans Wegner that lasted half a century. The sophisticated and sculptural chairs, tables and cabinets that Wegner designed and Hansen built earned Wegner worldwide acclaim, and brought meaningful business opportunities to Hansen and his modest workshop.
Hansen was born in 1886 and apprenticed as a cabinetmaker in his early years, opening a workshop and showroom in Copenhagen. In 1927, he helped establish the annual Copenhagen Cabinetmakers’ Guild Exhibition. Later, at the age of 55, Hansen began working with Danish furniture designer Hans J. Wegner, then only 26. With Wegner creating and Hansen executing on his partner’s complex designs, they developed furniture to sell in Hansen's showroom. A business relationship of this type was common in 20th-century Danish furniture making, and Hansen and Wegner enjoyed a prolific and renowned collaboration.
Wegner’s career began in cabinetry before he transitioned to furniture design in the 1940s. He is among the most celebrated figures for collectors of mid-century modern and Scandinavian works of the era. One of the first well-known entries for the Cabinetmakers’ Guild Exhibitions authored by Wegner and built by Hansen was the 1942 Lattice chair, a red Cuban mahogany dining room chair with an upholstered leather seat. The Peacock chair, an iconic design that followed in 1947, was the pair's take on a traditional English Windsor chair. It featured flattened spindles along the back resembling the feathers of a peacock tail — it wasn’t exactly an emblem of the pared-back functionality prioritized by Kaare Klint, Wegner’s former instructor at Copenhagen’s Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.
Wegner would go on to design nearly 500 chairs over the course of his life — among them are the Wishbone chair, the Papa Bear chair and the Round chair. The latter, which is often simply called “The Chair,” was manufactured by Hansen and made its debut at the Guild Exhibition in 1949. It was declared “the most beautiful chair in the world” by Interiors magazine a year later, and a pair of the iconic seats appeared on the first nationally televised presidential debate in the United States in 1960.
After Hansen died in 1961, his son, Poul Hansen, took over the business and continued working with Wegner. The company closed in the 1990s, but today, Hansen and Wegner's collaborative legacy endures in collections around the world.
Find vintage Johannes Hansen furniture on 1stDibs.
Solid Burmese Teak Table, Designed by Hans Wegner, 1950s
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in London, GB
A solid teak table designed by Hans Wegner, in the late-1950s, and made by Master Cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen in the early-1960s. As this design was made to order piece, only a smal...
Stainless Steel
1960s Hans Wegner Desk, steel legs and frame, oak top and drawers
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in London, GB
Hans Wegner Desk with chromed steel legs and frame, oak top and drawer cabinets. Front with six drawers and two pull-out leaves. Made by cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen, 1960–1970's. H....
Steel, Chrome
$1,038
H 29.34 in W 90.95 in D 33.86 in
Dining Table Made In Teak With Extensions, Danish Design From 1960s
Located in Lejre, DK
This Danish-designed dining table from the 1960s showcases the timeless elegance and functional craftsmanship synonymous with mid-century modern style. Crafted from teak, a favored m...
Teak
$10,476 / item
H 29.14 in W 63 in D 29.93 in
Geometric modern cream oak & polished brass handmade Utopia desk by InsidherLand
By Joana Santos Barbosa, InsidherLand
Located in Maia, Porto
The utopia desk is designed in the likeness of the architectural scale that suggests a crossing through the structures of a utopian city, organized by the principles of symmetry and ideal forms. The imposing design combines cream oak and polished brass. As a futuristic project, two brass blades stylize the cream oak top, curving it with an Avant Garde detail. Surprisingly, a pencil drawer is hidden in one brass blade. At the base, the open shape of two blocks suggests a passage between two identical metal arches...
Brass
$56,849
H 28.75 in W 86.62 in D 37.41 in
Midcentury Modernist “Architect's Desk”, Hans J. Wegner, Denmark, 1960s
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Amazing “Architect’s Desk”, model #JH571, by Hans J. Wegner, made from teak in a generous size. Subtly tapering oak legs supported by brass stretchers. Deep drawers with custom made ...
Metal
$7,500
H 28.75 in W 54.25 in D 30 in
Hans Wegner Model 305 Writing Desk, Teak & Oak, Scandinavian Modern
By Hans J. Wegner, Andreas Tuck
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Hans Wegner Model 305 Teak 3 drawer desk. Effortlessly graceful in its simplicity and function. Has had the top refinished and everything else cleaned and oiled. Teak with oak con...
Teak
$54,150Sale Price|27% Off
H 28 in W 100.5 in D 55 in
Finn Juhl 'Judas' Rosewood and Sterling Silver Dining Table, c 1950s, Signed
By Niels Vodder, Finn Juhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Exceptionally rare and sought after, this Finn Juhl for Niels Vodder 'Judas' dining table, 1950s Denmark, was professionally restored and features gorgeous Brazilian Rosewood with sterling silver inlaid medallions which assist in tableware placement and gives the table its infamous name. Signed underneath with Finn Juhl / Niels Vodder stamp which reads: "Niels Vodder Cabinetmaker Denmark Design Finn Juhl". The table is expandable, with a 22 inch leaf making the table just over 100" fully expanded. The Judas table...
Sterling Silver
Hans Wegner, Wishbone Desk, Oak, Teak, Denmark, 1950s
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in High Point, NC
A dark-stained oak and teak "Wishbone" desk designed by Hans Wegner and produced by Johannes Hansen, Denmark, c. 1950s. Dimensions: 29.5” H x 67.8” W x 33” D
Oak, Teak
Hans Wegner Danish Oak AT-305 Desk, 1953
By Hans J. Wegner, Andreas Tuck Møbelfabrik
Located in London, England
Hans Wegner - Model 305 Desk, 1953 Oak desk from Danish icon Hans Wegner produced by master-cabinetmaker Andreas Tuck for his own company c1950s. The 305 is considered Wegner's fine...
Oak
$3,921
H 28.35 in W 55.12 in D 35.44 in
Teak Dining Table AT-312 by Hans J. Wegner for Andres Tuck, 1950s
By Andreas Tuck, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Nørre Aaby, DK
Iconic AT-312 dining table designed by Hans J. Wegner and produced by Andres Tuck in the 1950s. Crafted in teak, the table features practical extension leaves for additional seating....
Teak
Hans Olsen Danish Rosewood Dining Table
By Hans Olsen
Located in Pasadena, TX
Danish rosewood round dining table Attributed to Hans Olsen this round table measures 47.25? in diameter and has a rich rosewood grain.
Rosewood
Hans J. Wegner Sewing Table, Model AT-33, 1960s
By Andreas Tuck, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautifully crafted model AT-33 sewing table designed by Hans Wegner and manufactured in Denmark by cabinet maker Andreas Tuck. This teak and oak table features two extendable side l...
Teak, Wicker, Oak
$8,121
H 51.97 in W 60.63 in D 18.12 in
Vittorio Dassi Design Midcentury Sideboard or Bar Cabinet, 1950s
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Rome, IT
Stylish sideboard designed by the famous Italian Mid-Century Modern artist Vittorio Dassi, this 1950s with Carrara withe marble top. In very good vintage conditions of the period.
Marble
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
Unique Conference Table by Hans J. Wegner
By Johannes Hansen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Unique large conference table in rosewood. Adjustable feet. Maker Johannes Hansen.
Rosewood
Large Table by Hans J. Wegner
By Johannes Hansen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
JH 714 conference table with 6 legs. Adjustable feet. Maker Johannes Hansen.
Teak