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 Wegner Danish Teak Rocking Chair for Tarm Stole, 1960s
By Hans J. Wegner, Tarm Stole
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegant Danish Modern teak rocking chair designed by Hans J. Wegner for Tarm Stole-og Møbelfabrik A/S, Denmark, circa 1960s. A quintessential example of Wegner’s mastery of form and ...
Fabric, Teak
$1,980Sale Price|20% Off
H 41.5 in W 27.5 in D 32 in
Danish Modern Oversized Teak Rocking Chair by Hans Wegner for Tarm Stole
By Hans J. Wegner, Tarm Stole
Located in San Diego, CA
Danish Modern oversized teak rocking chair / rocker by Hans Wegner for Tarm Stole, circa 1970s This chair is even more impressive in person....
Upholstery, Teak
$3,500
H 42.5 in W 27.5 in D 32.5 in
1970s Hans Wegner for Tarm Stole of Denmark Rocking Chair in Teak
By Tarm Stole
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Teak Rocking Chair, designed by Hans Wegner for Tarm Stole of Denmark. This example dates to the 1970s. The frame of the chair is composed of teak, and the seat and backres...
Steel
$1,584Sale Price|20% Off
H 34 in W 24 in D 21 in
Vintage Danish Erik Ole Jorgensen Teak Rocking Chair for Tarm Stole
By Tarm Stole
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Jorgensen Danish Rocking Chair. Smaller scale perfect for a tight corner or childs bedroom. Solid structure. Comes with seat cushion as seen in pics.
Teak
Restored Mid-Century Danish Modern Teak Rocker Rocking Chair
By Frank Reenskaug
Located in West Chester, PA
Danish modern solid teak rocker attributed to Frank Reeenskaug. Frame restored with a fresh teak oil finish and new webbing. Seat and back cushions brand new custom made by our exper...
Upholstery, Teak
Danish Mid-Century Modern Rocking Chair in Teak, 1960s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Stunning and elegant Mid-Century Modern rocking chair. Striking Danish design from the 1960s. Solid teak frame with original black lacquered coil springs. Backrest and seat have the ...
Fabric, Teak
Teak Spindle Back Rocking Chair
Located in Brooklyn, NY
With dark and rich teak wood grain, timeless design, and contrasting light colored upholstery, this vintage rocking chair is a stylish way to add Mid-Century Modern style to space. P...
Upholstery, Teak
$6,330
H 36.23 in W 22.45 in D 31.5 in
Paolo Buffa Rocking Chair, Cherry Wood, Mid-Century Modern, c.1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in London, GB
A fantastic rocking chair attributed to Paolo Buffa, Italy, circa 1950s. Beautifully crafted in cherry wood, this elegant piece has a refined sculptural quality, with a graceful curv...
Cherry
$1,915
H 28.75 in W 21.86 in D 18.12 in
Rocking Chairs Model GE674 Made In Olied Oak By Hans J. Wegner For Getama
By GETAMA, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Lejre, DK
This rocking chair, model GE674, designed by Hans J. Wegner and manufactured by Getama in the 1970s, is an excellent example of Danish design that combines functionality, comfort and...
Oak
$3,895
H 41.5 in W 24.5 in D 26.5 in
Rocking Chair in Solid Teak & Bouclé, Yngve Ekström for Swedese, Sweden, 1960s
By Yngve Ekström
Located in Deland, FL
This elegant Mid-Century Modern rocking chair, designed by Yngve Ekström for Swedese in the 1960s, exemplifies Scandinavian design with its solid teak frame and newly custom upholste...
Teak
Dining Chairs by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, Set of Six, 1950s
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Amarillo, TX
Edward Wormley, two armchairs, and four side chairs. Dunbar, USA. Mahogany and leather. Signed with applied gold rectangular metal manufacturer's label to the seat bottom [Dunb...
Leather, Mahogany
Charlotte Perriand, Pierre Jeanneret, Le Corbusier LC3 lounge chair for Cassina
By Cassina, Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Charlotte Perriand Cassina
Located in Amarillo, TX
Charlotte Perriand, Pierre Jeanneret and Le Corbusier LC3 lounge chair Cassina France / Italy, 1928 / c. 1995 mohair, chrome-plated steel 24 h × 39 w × 29 d in
Steel
Paul Frankl Custom Sofa, 1940s, Pair Available
By Paul Frankl
Located in Amarillo, TX
Paul Frankl sofa, matched pair available, USA, circa 1944. From an important estate. Silk over oak frame. Measure: 88 W x 27 D x 33 H in. 224 W x ...
Silk, Oak
Paul Frankl Custom Sofa, Pair Available, 1940s
By Paul Frankl
Located in Amarillo, TX
Paul Frankl sofa, matched pair available. USA, circa 1944. From an important estate. Silk over oak frame. Measures: 88 W x 27 D x 33 H in. 224 W x...
Silk, Wood
Florence Knoll stool / bench in leather for Knoll Associates
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Amarillo, TX
Florence Knoll stool Knoll Associates USA 1984 leather, steel 17 h × 18 w × 18 d inches Vintage piece.
Stainless Steel
Edward Wormley Toadstool for Dunbar
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Amarillo, TX
Edward Wormley Toadstool ottoman Dunbar. Stained oak, enameled steel, wool. USA 38 D x 15 H inches. Edward Wormley for Dunbar toadstool ottoman upholstered in wool.
Wool, Wood
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.
