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.
Pair of Kristian Vedel Sheepskin Modus Low Back Lounge Chairs
By Kristian Solmer Vedel
Located in Brooklyn, NY
We took the minimal lines of Kristian Vedel’s Modus lounge chairs and clothed them in a luxuriously plush sheepskin wool reinvigorating this modern design. The sling-like sculpted ba...
Sheepskin, Rosewood
Pair of Hans Wegner Round Chairs
By Johannes Hansen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Known simply as "The Chair," this iconic armchair was designed by famed Danish architect and furniture designer Hans Wegner in 1949. The patinated Danish oak frames have been careful...
Velvet, Oak
Hans J. Wegner JH517 "Buck" Golden Oak Frame Lounge Chair - Holland and Sherry
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Model JH517 "Buck" Lounge Chair in oak, designed by Hans J. Wegner for Johannes Hansen. The robust oak frame is features broad sculptural armrests and a gracefully curved backrest, o...
Oak
Hans J. Wegner AP20 Easy Chair
By A.P. Stolen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A scarce model AP-20 chair, designed by Hans J. Wegner, manufactured by AP Stolen. Classic form is accented by sculptural teak handles at the armrests. Our example has been faithfully restored and upholstered in period-correct Hallingdal 65 in a soft gray hue. Stunning in every way, this makes a wonderful companion to the larger Bear...
Teak
Hans J. Wegner GE1 Adjustable Lounge Chair and Ottoman or Daybed - Set of Two
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An original GE-1 Daybed with Ottoman designed by Hans J. Wegner for Getama, Denmark, 1950s. The design reflects Wegner’s early exploration of adaptable lounge furniture, combining a ...
Brass
Finn Juhl Bwana Lounge Chair and Ottoman in Teak and Holland & Sherry Wool
By France & Daverkosen, Finn Juhl
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Model-152 Bwana Chair with matching ottoman, designed by Finn Juhl for France & Daverkosen. The sculptural teak frame reflects Juhl’s refined shaping, featuring the gently flared hea...
Teak
Danish Modern "Papa" Bear set of 2 armchairs, 1950's
By Hans J. Wegner, A.P. Stolen
Located in Uccle, BE
This unique set features two early Papa Bear AP 19 chairs, designed by Hans J. Wegner and crafted by A.P. Stolen in Denmark around 1951. Priced as a pair, we are also open to selling...
Oak
Hans Wegner for AP Stolen AP19 Mid Century Papa Bear Chair and Ottoman - Pair
By A.P. Stolen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Hans Wegner for AP Stolen AP19 Mid Century Papa Bear Chair and Ottoman - Pair Each chair measures: 35.25 wide x 35 deep x 39 high, with a seat height of 14.5 inches and arm height/c...
Upholstery, Wood
Hans Wegner Papa Bear Chairs, AP Stolen, Denmark, 1950s for Re-Upholstery, Pair
By A.P. Stolen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
A rare original pair of Hans Wegner papa bear chairs designed in 1947 and produced by AP Stolen in Denmark in the 1950s. The fabric shows excess signs of wear so these are offered in...
Fabric, Teak
Midcentury Kurt Østervig Model 58 Lounge Chairs for Henry Rolschau Mobler
By Kurt Østervig
Located in Shepperton, Surrey
A very hard to find pair of Model 58 lounge chairs designed in the late 50s by Kurt Østervig for Rolschau Mobler, Denmark. An incredibly handsome design wi...
Rosewood, Teak
Aksel Bender Madsen Karen pair wingback chairs Bovenkamp Holland 1960
By Ejner Larsen and Aksel Bender Madsen, Bovenkamp
Located in Den Haag, NL
Beautiful pair of lounge chairs model Karen designed by Aksel Bender Madsen & Schubell and manufactured by Bovenkamp, The Netherlands 1960. Aksel Bender Madsen was contracted by ...
Teak
Pair of Wilhelm Knoll Lounge Chairs
By Wilhelm Knoll
Located in Kiel, SH
Rare pair of lounge chairs by the famous designer and company holder Wilhelm Knoll. upholstered with the original 100% sheep wool very comfortable
Wool, Wood
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.
