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.
$9,581Sale Price / set|35% Off
H 71.26 in W 98.43 in D 19.3 in
Large wall unit by Hans Wegner for Ry møbler, Denmark 1970s
By Hans J. Wegner, Ry Møbler
Located in ECHT, NL
Large modular wall unit. Designed by legendary designer Hans Wegner and made by Ry møbler. The unit has 2 low cabinets. Topped of with a low bookcase and a tall cabinet with two slid...
Oak
$2,461Sale Price|57% Off
H 76.78 in W 96.66 in D 18.12 in
Mid-Century Modern Wall Unit "Made to Measure" by Cees Braakman for Pastoe
By Cees Braakman
Located in Doornspijk, NL
Wall-filling 'Made to Measure' storage unit designed by Cees Braakman for Pastoe. The 'Made to Measure' series is called like that because it completely dismountable and could be mad...
Wood
$9,995
H 81 in W 122.5 in D 19.5 in
Teak Model RY-100 Wall Unit / Room Divider by Hans Wegner for Ry Møbler, c. 1965
By Ry Møbler, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Deland, FL
Introducing a rare Model RY-100 three bay wall unit by Hans J. Wegner for Ry Møbler. Constructed from a mix of solid and veneered teak this cleverly designed and expertly crafted pie...
Metal
1960s wall system, Kai Kristiansen, FM Møbler, vintage
By FM Møbler, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Neuss, NW
The wall system designed by Kai Kristiansen for FM Møbler in the 1960s revolutionized the spatial design of its time. With its sophisticated wall mounting, it creates an airy room at...
Teak
Kurt Østervig Wall Unit
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Modular wall unit, constructed in teak with brass supports, designed by Kurt Østervig for K.P. Møbler. Freestanding, the unit can be placed against a wall or function as a room divi...
Teak
Danish Modern Modular 4 Bay Wall Unit by Lyby Mobler, c. 1960
By Lyby Mobler
Located in Deland, FL
A rare find and truly an exceptional design is this wall unit by Lyby Mobler. The unit is assembled with steel poles, accented with teak caps. The unit can be adjusted to several con...
Teak
Kai Kristiansen Wall Unit for FM Møbler, 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen, FM Møbler
Located in Puslinch, ON
Condition: Great Vintage Condition Dimensions: 68.75” L x 11” D x 79.5” H Description: A vintage oak wall unit by Kai Kristiansen for FM Møbler. Freshly imported from Denmark. Comp...
Metal
Hans Wegner for Ry Møbler Mid Century Danish Teak Credenza and Hutch
By Hans J. Wegner, Ry Møbler
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Hans Wegner for Ry Møbler Mid Century Danish Teak Credenza and Hutch This credenza with hutch measures: 71 wide x 20.5 deep x 71 inches high Fair Vintage Condition - Piece has stai...
Teak
$3,537Sale Price|20% Off
H 71.86 in W 70.87 in D 19.69 in
Mid Century Wall Unit Cabinet by Nils Jonsson for Troeds
By Troeds Bjarnum 1, Nils Jonsson
Located in Mortsel, BE
Very nice wall cabinet, some wear and tear see pictures please
Wood, Rosewood
Danish Modern Modular 2 Bay Wall Unit by Lyby Mobler, C. 1960s
By Lyby Mobler
Located in Deland, FL
A rare find and truly an exceptional design is this wall unit by Lyby Mobler. The unit is assembled with steel poles, accented with teak caps. The unit can be adjusted to several con...
Teak
Paul Frankl " Station Wagon " Tall Dresser for Johnson Furniture, c.1945
By Johnson Furniture Co., Paul Frankl
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Paul Frankl " Station Wagon " Tall Dresser for Johnson Furniture, c.1945.
Brass
Arthur Umanoff Wine Rack for Shaver Howard, c.1954
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Arthur Umanoff Iron & Leather Wine Rack for Shaver Howard, c.1954.
Iron
Edward Wormley #4809 Trapezoid Side Table for Dunbar, c.1955
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Edward Wormley #4809 Trapezoid Side Table for Dunbar, c.1955.
Glass, Mahogany
Jens Quistgaard Rosewood Box for Dansk, Denmark, c.1960
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Jens Quistgaard Lidded Rosewood Box for the Dansk Rare Wood Collection, Denmark, c.1960.
Wood
Didier Gomez Hemp & Leather " Wicky " Chairs for Ligne Roset, France, c.1995
By Didier Gomez, Ligne Roset
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Didier Gomez Hemp & Leather " Wicky " Lounge Chairs for Ligne Roset, France, c.1995. This pair is located at our Pasadena, California location.
Leather, Hemp, Rope
Edward Wormley Murano Tile Occasional Table for Dunbar, c.1955
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Edward Wormley Murano Tile Occasional Table for Dunbar, circa 1955.
Brass
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.
