Skip to main content

Hans J. Wegner

Danish, 1914-2007

Best known for his chairs and seating pieces — though a master of many furniture types like sofas and tablesHans 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 Wegner’s best chair designs, seen in dealer listings below, 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.

Average Sold Price
$5,381
Styles
Materials
Related Creators
Iconic Designs from Hans J. Wegner
Explore timeless pieces that have earned their place in history.
Papa Bear Chair
Papa Bear Chair
Hans Wegner Round Chair
Hans Wegner Round Chair
Wishbone Chair
Wishbone Chair
Hans Wegner China Chair
Hans Wegner China Chair
Hans Wegner GE-525 Dining Chair, Lacquered Oak
By GETAMA, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Berkeley, CA
Designed by Hans Wegner in 1970, the GE 525 dining chair offers a beautifully rounded design sculpted in wood. The chair is hand built at GETAMA’s factory in Ge...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Mid-Century Modern Hans J. Wegner

Materials

Oak

Hans Wegner GE-240 Lounge Chair
By GETAMA, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Berkeley, CA
Designed by Hans Wegner for GETAMA in 1955, the 240 lounge chair features unparalleled craftsmanship and ergonomics. Sculpted “cigar” shaped arms show off the natural beauty of wood ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Mid-Century Modern Hans J. Wegner

Materials

Oak

Hans Wegner GE-240 Lounge Chair
Hans Wegner GE-240 Lounge Chair
H 26.75 in W 25.25 in D 28 in
Hans Wegner GE-284A Highback Lounge Chair, Treated Oak
By GETAMA, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Berkeley, CA
Designed by Hans Wegner, the 284A high back lounge chair provides clean, crisp lines for the modern home. The chair is handcrafted at GETAMA’s factory in Gedsted, Denmark by skilled ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Mid-Century Modern Hans J. Wegner

Materials

Oak

Lounge Chair Flag Halyard PP 225 by Hans Wegner New Edition
By PP Møbler, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Courbevoie, FR
Flag Halyard chair lounge chair PP 225 new edition. The Flag Halyard Hans Wegner is a tribute to the modernist Le Corbusier, Mies Van Der Rohe and Marcel Bre...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Hans J. Wegner

Materials

Steel

Set of Four Hans Wegner Dining Chairs CH30 for Carl Hansen & Søn in Oak
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. Wegner
Located in London, GB
Hans J. Wegner Dining Chair produced by Carl Hansen & Søn in Denmark, model 'CH 30', in solid oak and reupholstered in light grey textured linen, designed in 1954, later production. ...
Category

1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Hans J. Wegner

Materials

Linen, Oak

Vintage Danish Mid Century Modern "Cigar" Ge-240 Sofa by Hans Wagner for Getama
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in San Marcos, CA
Here is a beautiful Scandinavian modern sofa model GE-240 aka "Cigar" sofa designed by Hands Wenger and manufactured by Getama Mobelfabrik in Denmark in the 1950's. This exquisite pi...
Category

1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Hans J. Wegner

Materials

Teak

Hans Wegner Papa Bear Chair in Lambs Wool Hide
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in London, GB
“Papa bear chair”. Easy chair with legs of beech, “nails” of teak. Seat, sides and button fitted back upholstered with natural colour lambs wool hide. Model AP 19. Designed 1951. Ma...
Category

1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Hans J. Wegner

Materials

Sheepskin

Hans Wegner Papa Bear Chair in Lambs Wool Hide
Hans Wegner Papa Bear Chair in Lambs Wool Hide
H 39.77 in W 35.44 in D 37.41 in
Hans J. Wegner Versatile Chaise Lounge or Daybed in Oak
By GETAMA, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Hans J. Wegner for GETAMA, chaise lounge with ottoman model GE01, oak, metal, fabric, Denmark, design 1954 This chaise lounge consists out of two sections. An adjustable lounge chai...
Category

1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Hans J. Wegner

Materials

Metal

Browse all Furniture from Hans J. Wegner
Shop Now

Creators Similar to Hans J. Wegner

More Hans J. Wegner Designs
Papa Bear Chair
Papa Bear Chair
Average Price
$25,765
Number Available
38
Papa Bear Chair
By Hans J. Wegner
Materials
Wood, Fabric, Hardwood, Teak, Wool, Oak
Styles
Scandinavian Modern, Mid Century Modern
The wingback Papa Bear chair, also known as the Teddy Bear chair, has two outstretched arms with wood detailing once described by a critic as “great bear paws embracing you from behind” — hence the name. The piece was designed by Hans Wegner (1914–2007), a pioneer of Danish modernism who crafted nearly 500 chairs over the course of his long career. Not many of them, however, have the anthropomorphic qualities that this one does. Wegner was raised in the south of Denmark, where he served as an...
Shop All
Hans Wegner Round Chair
Hans Wegner Round Chair
Average Price
$11,011
Number Available
31
Hans Wegner Round Chair
By Hans J. Wegner
Materials
Wood, Hardwood, Teak, Natural Fiber, Oak, Cane
Styles
Scandinavian Modern
In September of 1960, when Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy sat down for the first nationally televised presidential debate, the two candidates rested on one of the most celebrated designs of the 20th century. Often called simply “The Chair,” the Round chair is one of hundreds designed by Hans J. Wegner (1914–2007). As he once said, “The good chair is a task one is never completely done with.” Nicknamed the “Master of the Chair,” influential Danish designer Wegner inventively used natural ma...
Shop All
Wishbone Chair
Wishbone Chair
Average Price
$3,875
Number Available
21
Wishbone Chair
By Hans J. Wegner
Materials
Wood, Natural Fiber, Oak, Papercord
Styles
Mid Century Modern, Scandinavian Modern
Although Hans Wegner’s (1914–2007) Wishbone chair stands as a classic exemplar of mid-century Danish design, its aesthetic roots actually begin farther east. In the 1940s, Wegner, then a recent graduate of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and working for Arne Jacobsen and Erik Møller, was inspired by a series of photos of Danish merchants sitting in Chinese Ming Dynasty–era armchairs. The chairs were recognizable for the single, curved shape that made up their back and arms, a simplified...
Shop All
Hans Wegner China Chair
Hans Wegner China Chair
Average Price
$20,367
Number Available
17
Hans Wegner China Chair
By Hans J. Wegner
Materials
Wood, Animal Skin, Leather
Styles
Scandinavian Modern
When he designed the first edition of his modest Chinese chair — or China chair — Denmark native Hans Wegner (1914–2007) had been reportedly moved by portraits he’d seen of Danish businessmen relaxing in traditional round-backed Ming dynasty–era chairs. While the legendary furniture maker’s tribute to East Asian seating — a minimal cherrywood chair with a curved bentwood back support and removable leather seat cushion — called on Oriental forms that preceded him by hundreds of years, it merge...
Shop All

Read More

The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs

You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.

Design Icon Ilse Crawford on Her Colorful New Hans Wegner Chairs

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.

Hans Wegner’s Wishbone Chair Still Feels Fresh, 70 Years after Its Debut

To celebrate the Wishbone’s 70th anniversary, Carl Hansen & Søn’s third-generation CEO, Knud Erik Hansen, shares some of the secrets behind the beloved chair.

113 Chairs That Prove Danish Design Isn’t Limited to Denmark

In an innovative display, the Designmuseum Danmark is permanently exhibiting the 20th century's most iconic seats.

John Pawson’s New Jaffa Hotel Brings Contemporary Design to an Ancient Israeli Neighborhood

The architect has imbued the minimalist-chic Tel Aviv stay with his signature style, while at the same time honoring the site's long history.

The Married Collectors behind Stockholm’s Newest Design Museum

Kersti Sandin and Lars Bülow want their new endeavor to educate both students and professionals about furniture design.

Architect Blaze Makoid Does Chic, Not Shingles, in the Hamptons

The home designer has a knack for camouflaging the volume of sprawling houses and making their interiors feel intimate.

1970s Corporate America Has Never Looked So Chic

Photographer Susan Ressler revisits the office life of decades past, whose style still resonates.

Hans J. Wegner furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Hans J. Wegner furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Hans J. Wegner furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 1,167 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 368 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Hans J. Wegner were created in the Scandinavian Modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Fritz Hansen, Arne Jacobsen, and Børge Mogensen. Prices for Hans J. Wegner furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $170 and can go as high as $110,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $5,031.
Questions About Hans J. Wegner
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Hans Wegner is indeed a real person. He was a prolific furniture designer affectionately referred to as “the master of the chair”. Throughout his lifetime, he created 500 chairs, all considered masterpieces. Shop a collection of Hans Wegner’s furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    To pronounce Hans Wegner, say "Hans VEG-ner." His last name is Danish. Native speakers of the language may say the surname like "VAY-ner," but "VEG-ner" is the standard in English. Find a selection of Hans Wegner furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    To identify a Hans Wegner chair, look for hallmarks of his style. Most joints feature mortise and tenon construction, and armrests and seat supports are often hand-sculpted. Nearly all of his chair frames are solid wood. A piece fashioned out of wood composites is unlikely to be genuine. Find a collection of expertly vetted Hans Wegner chairs on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Whether or not Hans Wegner chairs are comfortable is largely a matter of personal opinion. The Danish furniture designer did design his pieces with functionality in mind, striving to craft chairs that users would enjoy sitting in. Many of his chairs built upon traditional designs, such as the Peacock chair inspired by the classic Windsor chair. On 1stDibs, find a large selection of Hans Wegner chairs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Hans J. Wegner was famous for creating chairs and other types of seating. Some of the Danish designer's most well-known pieces include the Papa Bear chair, the Round chair, the Wishbone chair and the China chair. Find a collection of Hans J. Wegner chairs on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    What pairs well with the CH07 chair by Hans Wegner is largely a matter of personal preference. To keep the eye focused on its dramatic curves, some interior decorators pair it with simple boxy sofas and tables. Feel free to experiment and create your own furniture layouts using the CH07 or shell chair. Find a collection of Hans Wegner CH07 shell chairs on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    You can cord a Hans Wegner peacock chair in a number of ways. Traditionally, the chair featured an over-under weave created by first wrapping the seat with vertical pairs of cord running from the back to the front. Then, artisans worked horizontally, pulling the cord through the vertical pairs. However, you can find many other patterns to try online. On 1stDibs, shop a range of Hans Wegner peacock chairs.

Recently Viewed

View All