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.
Rocking Chairs Model GE674 Made In Olied Oak By Hans J. Wegner For Getama
By Hans J. Wegner, GETAMA
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
Armchair Model JH 512 "The Fireplace Chair" In Patinated Oak By Hans J. Wegner
By Johannes Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Lejre, DK
Wegner JH512 Fireplace Chair by Johannes Hansen in patinated oak with original cane and manufacturer’s stamp. Danish design 1950s. — Designer: Hans J. Wegner — Model: JH512 “Firepla...
Oak
Armchair Made In Teak, Danish Design From 1960s
Located in Lejre, DK
This armchair from the 1960s is an excellent example of mid-20th century Danish design. The chair is made of teak wood and upholstered in green fabric, which combines natural materia...
Fabric, Teak
Oak Armchair by H. Brockmann-Petersen from 1960s
By H. Brockmann-Petersen
Located in Lejre, DK
1960s Oak Armchair Designed by H. Brockmann-Petersen, Upholstered in Blue Fabric This oak armchair, a design attributed to H. Brockmann-Petersen and crafted around the 1960s, repres...
Oak
Lounge Chair GE 284 in Oak & Blue Wool designed by Hans J. Wegner made by Getama
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Lejre, DK
Lounge chair model GE 284 designed by Hans J. Wegner and produced by Getama. Made with a solid oak frame and loose cushions upholstered in blue wool. A classic Wegner design offering...
Wool, Oak
Easy Chair Made In Teak By Alf Svensson For Fritz Hansen From 1960s
By Alf Svensson, Fritz Hansen
Located in Lejre, DK
This Easy Chair, designed by Alf Svensson and manufactured by Fritz Hansen in the 1960s, is an example of timeless elegance and comfort. The chair is constructed in teak wood and uph...
Teak, Fabric
Classic Hans Wegner Danish "J16" Rocking Chair for FDB Mobler
By Hans J. Wegner, FDB Møbler
Located in Peabody, MA
Hans Wegner “J16” rocker in beech with corded seat for FDB Mobler, Denmark. Created in 1944, this has been one of Wegner’s most widely recognized designs. Marked with a production da...
Papercord, Beech
Scandinavian Modern Rocking Chair Model J16 by Hans Wegner Beechwood & Cord Seat
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Topeka, KS
Handsome vintage Scandinavian Modern rocking chair Model J16 by Hans Wegner composed of a beechwood frame, hand twisted natural cord seat, & a clear lacquered finish. This piece ...
Cord, Wood, Beech, Lacquer
Original Vintage J16 Rocking Chair Hans J Wegner FDB Mobler Danish 1963
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
Ebonised rocking chair designed by Hans J Wegner and manufactured by FDB Mobler. Originally designed 1944, this chair dates from 1963 and is stamped 63 9 2 Made in Denmark, FDB Mob...
Beech
Hans J. Wegner Model J16 Rocking Chair, 1961
By Hans J. Wegner, FDB Møbler
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wonderful model J16 rocking chair by Hans Wegner for FDB Møbler, designed in 1944, in light-gray painted beech with woven paper cord seat. This example was produced in 1961, features...
Papercord, Beech
Hans Wegner Rocking Chair Model J16 in Painted Beech with Woven Paper Cord Seat
By FDB Møbler, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Baambrugge, NL
Wonderful model J16 rocking chair by the Scandinavian Hans Wegner for FDB Møbler, designed in 1944. This original black version has its completely genuine and vintage look. This wond...
Papercord, Beech
Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Rocking Chair Model J16 by Hans Wegner, 1960s
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian rocking chair Model J16 by Hans Wegner. Designer Biography : "Best known for his chairs and 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 Wegner’s best chair designs, seen in dealer listings below, have their roots in traditional seating...
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.
