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.
Danish modern three-piece side table of Caucasian walnut
By Ernst Kühn
Located in DK
This exquisite three-piece side table of Caucasian walnut with profiled edges is attributed Ernst Kühn (1890-1948). The three-piece consists of one square middle table and two D-sh...
Walnut
Danish modern larger teak coffee table with contrasting birch details
By Seffle Möbelfabrik, Tove & Edvard Kindt-Larsen
Located in DK
This teak coffee table with contrasting birch details is by Tove og Edvard Kindt-Larsen. This Danish architects husband and wife Tove & Edvard Kindt-Larsen designed it for the Sw...
Birch, Teak
Rare pair of Danish modern fumed oak side chairs
By Grete Jalk, Poul Jeppesens Møbelfabrik
Located in DK
This rarely seen pair of side chairs (model 3-1) in slightly fumed oak was designed ca. 1956 by Danish designer Grete Jalk (1920-2006). These examples were executed by Poul Jeppesen,...
Oak
Chinese inspired mahogany coffee table with tiles in white, green, blue nuances
By Frits Henningsen
Located in DK
This Chinese inspired mahogany coffee table was executed by cabinetmaker Frits Henningsen (1889-1965) in the 1930s. The table top is decorated with unique tiles depicting Chinese Fen...
Ceramic, Mahogany
Teak chair with curvy seat upholstered with light fabric and leather details
By Arne Hovmand-Olsen, J.L. Møllers Møbelfabrik
Located in DK
This rare teak easy chair has a curvy seat and the back is upholstered with light fabric. Its armrests, piping and buttons on the back are fitted with Niger leather. The chair was d...
Leather, Fabric, Teak
High back nut wood armchair with leather seat and back by Danish cabinetmaker
By Mostly Danish Furniture
Located in DK
This highback armchair by a Danish cabinetmaker has a frame of nutwood. It is upholstered with patinated leather and fitted with brass nails. Ideal desk chair or head of the table chair.
Brass
Scandinavian Mid-Century Pine Side Table with Two Drawers
Located in Karis, Nyland
Scandinavian mid-century pine side table. Unknown manufacturer. Great simple design with two pull out drawers. Beautiful detailing on handles with all original finish.
Pine
Finn Juhl for Baker Furniture side table with shelf mid century teak walnut USA
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Bridgehampton, NY
RARE production piece from Baker Furniture. Wegner designed for the company in the 1950s in order to gain an international / American presence.
Wood
Borge Mogensen for Soborg Model 149 Danish Teak Expandable Side Table, Ca. 1950s
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Peabody, MA
A rare teak side table with flip top and under-drawers, Model 149, designed by Borge Mogensen for Soborg Mobelfabrik, Denmark, ca. 1950s. In the closed posi...
Teak
Hans Wegner Danish Modern Teak & Oak Drop Leaf End Table for Andreas Tuck
By Hans J. Wegner, Andreas Tuck
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Beautifully crafted early example end or side table designed by Hans Wegner and manufactured in Denmark by cabinet maker, Andreas Tuck. This teak and oak table has two extendable sid...
Oak, Teak
Danish Modern Teak Side Table With Lower Rack
Located in Berkeley, CA
Origin: Denmark Designer: Unknown Manufacturer: Unknown Era: 1950s Materials: Teak Measurements: 22″ wide x 29.5″ deep x 19.5″ tall Condition: In excellent original condition with vi...
Teak
1960s Danish Teak Low Table with Two Drawers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Low teak case piece with two side-by-side drawers, each fitted with a recessed carved pull integrated flush into the drawer face. Straight square-section teak legs connect to a stret...
Teak
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.
