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.
Palisander sideboard by Arne Vodder, Sibast Furniture, Denmark
By Helge Sibast, Arne Vodder
Located in Hägersten, SE
Sideboard designed by Arne Vodder. produced in Denmark by Sibast Furniture during the 1950s. Very nice quality throughout with sliding tambour doors tapered legs and beautiful detai...
Palisander
Danish carpenter made chrome and walnut cabinet, Denmark, 1960s
Located in Hägersten, SE
Large cabinet/wardrobe by unknown Danish designer and manufacturer. Made around the 1960s. Very nice quality and high level of crafts in all details. beautiful book matched walnut ve...
Chrome
Wall mounted solid teak vanity dresser by Uno & Östen Kristiansson, Sweden 1950s
By Luxus Vittsjö, Uno & Östen Kristiansson
Located in Hägersten, SE
Wall attached vanity dresser designed by Uno & Östen Kristiansson. Produced during the 1950s by Luxus in Vittsjö, Sweden. Made from solid teak with visible zipper joiner and wooden d...
Metal
Extendable Dining Table in Teak by Niels Møller Fro J. L. Møller, Denmark, 1950s
By Niels Otto Møller, J.L. Møllers Møbelfabrik
Located in Hägersten, SE
Dining table designed by Niels Møller. Produced in Denmark by J.L. Møller during the 1960s. Made from teak. "Dutch" inlays that is stored conveniently underneath the main table top. ...
Teak
Teak and Metal Sofa Table Designed by Hans-Agne Jakobsson, Sweden, 1950s
By Hans-Agne Jakobsson
Located in Hägersten, SE
Rare sofa table designed by Hans-Agne Jakobsson. Early production from his own company when they were established in Åhus, Sweden. Done sometime during the 1950s. Black lacquered met...
Metal
Oak and rattan bookshelf by Alf Svensson, Bjästa, Sweden 1950s
By Alf Svensson, Bjästa Möbelfabrik
Located in Hägersten, SE
Bookshelf designed by Alf Svensson. Produced during the 1950s in Sweden by Bjästa Snickeri. Made from teak in the sideboard part with sliding doors in rattan. The inside of the sideb...
Rattan, Beech, Oak, Teak
Sideboard in Oak and Teak by Hans J. Wegner, 1959
By Hans J. Wegner, Ry Møbler
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Sideboard in Oak and Teak by Hans J. Wegner, 1959 Additional Information: Material: Oak and Teak Style: Mid Century, Scandinavian Sideboard Produced by Ry Møbler in Denmark Dimensio...
Oak, Teak
Modell RY 26 Sideboard in Teak by Hans Wegner for Ry Møbler, 1950s
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Kiel, SH
Modell RY 26 Sideboard in Teak by Hans Wegner for Ry Møbler, 1950s in used condition. The sideboard has some signs of use and age. One big spot on the top
Wicker, Wood, Teak
Svend Aage Madsen sideboard in teak K. Knudsen & Son Denmark 1960
By Svend Åge Madsen, K. Knudsen & Son
Located in Etten-Leur, NL
Svend Aage Madsen sideboard in teak, produced by K. Knudsen & Søn, Denmark, 1960s. A beautifully proportioned example of Danish mid-century craftsmanship, combining refined detailing...
Teak
Danish Mid-Century Teak Sideboard by Skovby, 1960s.
By Skovby Møbelfabrik A/S 1
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Mid-Century Teak Sideboard by Skovby, 1960s. Very classic and iconic type of low credenza of the Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern era. This sideboard features three sliding ...
Teak
Danish Teak Sideboard / Credenze, Arne Vodder for Sibast, C. 1960.
By Sibast, Arne Vodder
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A striking example of Danish Mid-Century Modern design, this Model 37 credenza was designed by Arne Vodder for Sibast Møbler around 1960. Crafted in richly grained teak, the piece fe...
Teak
Rare Danish mid century sideboard model RY-26 designed by Hans Wegner, 1950´s
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Rare Hans Wegner RY-26 Sideboard, a mid-century Scandinavian gem. Measuring 200 cm wide, 49 cm deep, and 79 cm high, this 1950s piece from Ry Møbler, Denmark, showcases luxurious woo...
Rosewood
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.
