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.
1950s Maria Flap Gateleg Dining Table by Bruno Mathsson in Sweden in Teak
By Firma Karl Mathsson, Bruno Mathsson
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a gateleg ‘Maria Flap’ folding dining table, initially designed by Bruno Mathsson in 1936. This example was produced by Karl Mathsson in Värnamo, Sweden in the 1950s. Th...
Beech, Teak, Satin
1985 Danish Teak Extension Dining Table in the Ansager Mobler Style
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Teak Extension Dining Table attributed to Ansager Mobler, produced in Denmark in 1985. The table features two leaves that extend the piece by 18 inches on each side, and ha...
Steel
Hans J. Wegner for Andreas Tuck Model AT321 Dining Table in Rosewood and Chrome
By Andreas Tuck, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Philadelphia, PA
We present a rare AT321 extension dining table, designed by Hans J. Wegner and produced by Andreas Tuck circa 1960. This is one of the most luxurious table designs by Wegner in the m...
Steel
1948 George Nakashima for Knoll Associates N-12 Extension Dining Table in Birch
By Knoll, George Nakashima
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a very early, rare N-12 extension dining table, designed by George Nakashima and produced by Knoll Associates. This is one of the earliest examples of furniture pr...
Birch
1960s Poul Cadovius Cado Dining Table in Teak with Two Leaves 94"
By Poul Cadovius, Royal System
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Rectangular Drop-Leaf Dining Table in Teak, designed by Poul Cadovius for Royal System in Denmark in the 1960s. We have had the table freshly refinished, revealing an exqui...
Steel
1960s Goran Strand Lelangs Mobelfrabrik “Kungsbacka” Gate-Leg Dining Table, Teak
By Göran Strand
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a ‘Kungsbacka’ Swedish Gate-Leg Dining Table, designed by Goran Strand for Lelangs Mobelfrabrik in the 1960s. The piece is composed of both solid teak and teak veneer, ha...
Metal
Danish Modern AT-304 Dining Table by Hans J. Wegner in Teak and Oak
By Hans J. Wegner, Andreas Tuck
Located in North Hollywood, CA
An exceptional example of Danish modern design, this iconic AT-304 dining table was designed by Hans J. Wegner for master cabinetmaker Andreas Tuck in Denmark, circa 1955. Celebrated...
Brass
Hans Wegner "AT-309" Drop-Leaf Dining Table for Andreas Tuck, Denmark 1950s
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Utrecht, NL
This rare “AT-309” dining table was designed by Hans Wegner in 1955 and its title of ‘iconic’ is well deserved. As it is no longer produced, this model has become a collector’s item ...
Wood
Hans Wegner by Andreas Tuck Dining Table 303 in Oak and Metal, Denmark, 1950's
By Andreas Tuck, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Uithoorn, NL
Hans J. Wegner “Sawbuck” Dining Table (Model AT-303) for Andreas Tuck, c. 1950s — Oak Version This iconic dining table, often referred to as the “Sawbuck Table” (Model AT-303), was ...
Metal
1960´s Hans Wegner Fully Restored Extension Dining Table in Teak by Andreas Tuck
By Hans J. Wegner, Andreas Tuck
Located in Knebel, DK
1960´s Hans Wegner fully restored extension dining table in teak by Andreas Tuck The well designed and very well crafted rectangular rich grained teak tabletop with two integrated ...
Steel
Hans Wegner for Andreas Tuck AT-318 dining table in teak 2 extensions
By Hans J. Wegner, Andreas Tuck
Located in PARIS, FR
Mid century Danish dining table with a full of grain teak top (and 2 extensions) by the great designer Hans Wegner, in the original edition executed by cabinetmake Andreas Tuck (sign...
Stainless Steel
Early Hans Wegner Oak Dining Table Model AT-304 by Andreas Tuck in Denmark
By Hans J. Wegner, Andreas Tuck
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a rare and early all oak Hans J. Wegner dining table AT-304 with two drop-leaves, cross-legs and stretchers of brass. Designed by Wegner 1950 and manufactured by cabinetmake...
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.
