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.
$6,640
H 69 in W 102.5 in D 16.25 in
Danish Modern Wall Unit of Shelving System by Kai Kristiansen for FM Mobler
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Kai Kristiansen for FM Mobler 3-bay wall unit. 102.5w 16.25d 69 rail length
Smoked Glass, Wood
Mid Century Modern Shelving Unit by Domino Mobler
By Domino Møbler
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Wooden shelving system produced by the Danish company Domino Møbler, one of the major manufacturers of Danish modernist furniture, which combines minimalist lines with natural wood. ...
Wood
$4,950
H 81.5 in W 41.5 in D 21 in
Hans Wegner Danish Teak Single Column Wall Unit / Room Divider with Display Case
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Kensington, MD
Hans Wegner Danish Teak Single Column Wall Unit / Room Divider with Display Case Use alone or add to your wall system with this single column unit in t...
Teak
$2,795
H 61.75 in W 54.5 in D 12 in
Vintage Mid Century Modern Danish Bookcase with Adjustable Shelving
Located in Seattle, WA
This vintage mid century modern bookcase features a clean-lined architectural form with a warm wood grain throughout. The upper case is divided into two vertical sections, each fitte...
Wood
Danish Mid Century Poul Cadovius Cado Wall Unit Bookcase Freestanding
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Rare Poul Cadovius Single Wall Unit or Bookcase. Cabinets and Shelves can be re-arranged. 33wide 17deep 78tall
Brass
$3,960Sale Price|20% Off
H 81 in W 41.5 in D 19.25 in
Hans Wegner Danish Teak Single Column Freestanding Wall Unit Room Divider
Located in Baltimore, MD
A remarkable teak, freestanding, modular, room divider, bookcase, storage cabinet, made in Denmark attributed to Hans Wegner for RY Mobler. This amazing vintage wall unit/ chest of d...
Teak
Hans Wegner for Ry Mobler Oak Shelf Cabinet or Bookcase
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Hans Wegner for RY Møbler Cabinet RY100 in Oak. Top sits on bottom. Rattan fronts.
Rattan, Oak
George Nelson For Mobilier International Paris Mid Century Wall Unit
By Mobilier International
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Probably by George Nelson 1960's. An exceptional large scale wall unit with three compartments. Tall heavy black powder coated adjustable height metal frames with other metal legs. ...
Aluminum, Steel
$2,453Sale 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
$3,526Sale 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 Nils Jonsson, Troeds Bjarnum 1
Located in Mortsel, BE
Very nice wall cabinet, some wear and tear see pictures please
Wood, Rosewood
Borge Mogensen Cabinet Credenza with Sliding Doors Scandinavian Modern Oak Teak
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Chicago, IL
Borge Mogensen chest of drawers. Oak and Teak. Measures: 33"H x 53"W x 22"D Two sliding doors The interior on one side has three removable treys, the other side contains two shel...
Steel
Organic Shaped Modern hanging wall unit cabinet by Last Workshop, Walnut
By Last Workshop
Located in Chicago, IL
Organic Shaped Modern wall unit by Last Workshop, 2023. Shown here in a solid walnut, natural finish. 96" x 18" x 18"H Featuring two doors, one drawer, and one open cubby. With soft-...
Walnut
Modern 'Credenza Three' Cabinet by Last Workshop in Natural Walnut
By Last Workshop
Located in Chicago, IL
"Credenza Three" by Last Workshop. Made-to-order in Chicago, IL. A sturdy yet elegant credenza featuring a matching case and door combination with a steel base. The tear-drop steel ...
Steel
"Credenza Two" in Walnut / Black Ash by Last Workshop
By Last Workshop
Located in Chicago, IL
"Credenza Two" by Last Workshop. Made to order in Chicago, IL. Dimensions shown here: 96"L x 22"D x 24"H Custom dimensions and finishes are available. A sturdy, sleek credenza...
Ash, Walnut
"Credenza Two" in Ash by Last Workshop, 2022
By Last Workshop
Located in Chicago, IL
Shown here in solid ash, silk grey finish. Other finishes and sizes available upon request. Black pulls, soft close hardware, and a steel base. Size shown here is: 84”w x 16”d...
Steel
Rare Warren McArthur Two-Tier Desk with Drawers, Reversible, Machine Age 1930s
By Warren McArthur Corporation, Warren McArthur
Located in Chicago, IL
Warren McArthur two-tier desk with drawers Aluminum and black lacquered wood Warren McArthur Corporation, 1930s Measures: 48" x 24" x 30" desk height D...
Aluminum
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.
