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.
Hans J Wegner Danish Mid-Century Circle Chair
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in London, GB
A scarce mid-century open lounge chair by Hans J Wegner. Circle chair for PP mobler. Denmark, c1980s. Suprisingly comfy, the original upholstery has been retained but has...
Oak
Beautiful Hans J Wegner PP 124 Net chair for PP Mòbler
By Hans J. Wegner, PP Møbler
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
Hans Wegner CH25 Lounge Chair for Carl Hansen
By Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen
Located in Renens, CH
The CH25 lounge chair was designed by Hans J. Wegner in 1950 for Carl Hansen and Son. It is one of the earliest models in Wegner’s lounge chair series and has remained in continuous ...
Wood
Yngve Ekström Circle Chair for Swedese, 1960s, Swedese Sweden
By Swedese, Yngve Ekström
Located in Krefeld, DE
Midcentury circle lounge chair by Yngve Ekström for Swedese, Sweden. Cushions with some spots. The blue fabric turned into grey from being expose the sun :-). Paint with some damages...
Wood
$4,395
H 38.2 in W 44 in D 37 in
PP Møbler Circle Chair by Hans Wegner in Tannic Tint Black, New Original
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Miami, FL
The idea of making a chair based on the most simple and elegant shape of all, the circle, remained a distant dream until Danish icon Hans J. Wegner eventually completed the design at...
Rope, Wood
The Chair by Hans Wegner Model JH501 for Johannes Hansen
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in San Francisco, CA
Hans Wegner round chair model JH501 for Johannes Hansen, Denmark. Iconic chair by the master Hans Wegner and nick named "The Chair" after being featured in the JFK presidential debat...
Cane, Teak
Circle Chair Designed by Yngve Ekstrom
By Yngve Ekström
Located in Stamford, CT
A chair designed by Yngve Ekstrom circa 1960. Rising from ebonized legs the blond Birch wood chair has alternating black and blond spindles.
Birch
Hans Wegner Danish Modern Cigar Lounge Chair
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Atlanta, GA
Sculptural Danish Modern "Cigar" Model lounge chair, designed by Hans Wegner for Getama, unsigned, Denmark, circa 1960s. It has been reupholstered in an ivory color herringbone uphol...
Metal, Brass
Illum Wikkelsø Ringstol "Hoop" Chair
By Illum Wikkelsø
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This iconic mid-century modern hoop chair, designed by Illum Wikkelsø, features a round walnut frame with woven rope seating. Comfortable for indoor and o...
Cord, Rope, Walnut
Classic Hans Wegner Round Chair
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in New York, NY
Sleek, sophisticated and architectural, wraparound armchair in solid rosewood, designed by Hans Wegner made by Johannes Hansen The chair has a solid rosewood frame, drop in upholstered seat, and wrapped cane backrest. The frame looks like it has a later, but not new, clear lacquered overcoat, the fabric seat shows cosmetic wear, normal and consistent with age. Measures: Total H 29.5 x arm H 27.5 x seat H 17 inches. Know as the Round Chair...
Upholstery, Rosewood
Hans Wegner JH-515 Black Leather Teak Armchair for Johannes Hansen
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage easy chair designed by Hans Wegner and executed by Johannes Hansen in the 1950s. Rare lounge chair model JH-515. Genuine, soft, black leather in excellent condition. The sple...
Teak, Leather
Pencil Reed Wing Back Rattan Lounge Chair
Located in Miami, FL
A gorgeous vintage fan back pencil-reed split bamboo armchair dating from the 1970s. The hand-crafted barrel shaped back imparts a superior level of comfort all while adding a Chinoi...
Bamboo, Rattan
Gio Ponti Style Walnut Lounge Chair in Ivory White Bouclé
By Kurt Østervig, Gio Ponti
Located in Miami, FL
Sultry and sleek vintage modern walnut armchair with luxurious ivory white boucle fabric. The soft and textured bouclé fabric contrasts the walnut wood beautifully and completes the ...
Walnut, Fabric
Early Production 'LC3' Lounge Chair by Le Corbusier for Cassina, Signed
By Atelier International, Charlotte Perriand, Cassina, Pierre Jeanneret, Le Corbusier
Located in Miami, FL
Designed by Charlotte Perriand, Pierre Jeanneret and Le Corbusier Grand Modèle LC3 club chair by Cassina Original design France 1928 / Italy c. 1970s gray leather with white, grey...
Steel
Early Production 'LC3' Lounge Chair by Le Corbusier for Cassina, Signed
By Pierre Jeanneret, Atelier International, Le Corbusier, Cassina, Charlotte Perriand
Located in Miami, FL
Designed by Charlotte Perriand, Pierre Jeanneret and Le Corbusier Grand Modèle LC3 club chair by Cassina Original design France 1928 / Italy c. 1970s black leather with white and ...
Steel
Beige Bouclé Sophia Slipper Chair by Edward Wormley for Dunbar - a Pair
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of neutral lacquered mahogany model 5000 or Sophia slipper chairs with tufted seat and back. Newly refinished and reupholstered in a light écru off-white, ivory, sand or bone bo...
Mahogany, Fabric
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.
